Hall acted in the theatre from the age of 4 through 1914, when he began to work in silent movies.

Following his military service in World War I, he returned to Hollywood and pursued a career in film production.

From 1937 to 1947, he was a contract director at Columbia Pictures, where he earned a reputation for sophisticated comedies.

[2] In the late 1930s, he was engaged briefly to Lucille Ball, who left him when she met Desi Arnaz.

Years later, the couple later hired him to direct their 1956 film Forever, Darling.