Motion picture almanac (1932)

190 The MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC 1932 "Winners of the Wilderness." "Spoilers of the West," "Wyoming," "Eyes of the Totem," "Under the Black Eagle." "Heart of the Yukon," also directed "White Shadows in the South Seas" and "The Pagan" for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Went to Africa to make "Trader Horn" for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, for whom he is now under contract. VIOOR. KING WALLIS: 1). Galveston. Texas.. February 8, 1895; h. 5 feet 11% inches; black hair and blue eyes; w. 189 pounds; p. Kate Wallis and Charles Shelton Vidor, non-professionals; e. private school at Galveston, Texas, and the Peacock Military Academy, San Antonio, Texas, and Tome College, Port Depot it. Md. ; m. Eleanor Boardman, professional ; hy. tennis and boating. He has directed "Turn in the Road," "The Jack Knife Man." "Peg 0' Mv Heart," "Three Wise Fools." "The Sky Pilot." "Wild Oranges," "La lioheme. "Bardelys the Magnificent," "The Big Parade," "The Crowd." "The Patsy." "Hallelujah." "Show People." "Billy the Kid," "Not So Dumb," "Street Scene," "The Champ." VIETROL, BERTHOLD: b. Vienna. 1885. Edited books of poems; directed plays In Vienna for three years; was called to Berlin by Max Reinhardt; had his own theatre in Berlin and also acted and wrote plays; was first German to produce Eugene O'Neill plays in Berlin; wrote "our Devils"; was brought to Coast by Winfleld Sheehan; directed for Fox in 1929; under contract to Paramount in 1931. VIGNOLA. ROBERT C. : b. Italy; e. Albany, New York; hy. hunting and swimming. Was on stage seven years with Shapespearean repertoire; entered pictures in 1907 with Kalem; went to call on Sidney Olcott when he needed an actor for a particularly eccentric role and Olcott offered to give him start; went abroad in Olcott's company. "From the Manger to the Cross"; directed "The World and His Wife." "When Knighthood Was in Flower." "Fifth Avenue," "Cabaret," "Tropical Madness," "The Red Sword," VON STERNBERG, JOSEPH: b. Vienna, Austria; h. 5 feet 5 inches; black hair and grey eyes; w. 145 pounds; stage training in Vienna; m. Riza Royce, non-professional; by. golf, music and art. Directed "Salvation Hunters," "Underworld." "The Last Command." "Dragnet." "Docks of New York" and "The Case of Lena Smith." "Thunderbolt" 1929 for Paramount, then "The Blue Angel" (UFA) and "Madame Nobody" for Paramount in 1930. VON STROHEIM. ERICH: b. Vienna. Austria. 1885; e. Austrian Military Academy, Austria; not married. Stage experience with Orpheum circuit in own play. Assisted John Emerson on "Old Heidelberg." Screen experience consists of assisting on Pickford and Fairbanks pictures, and making appearances in the following plays: D. W. Griffith's "Hearts of the World." leading role in "The Great Gabbo" for James Cruze, Inc.. Cruze directing. Directed, wrote, starred in "Blind Husbands" for Universal and made the "Wedding March" for Paramount. Was expert on detail in "Hearts of Humanity," directed by Alan Holubar. Made the talker version of "Blind Husbands" for Universal after a several months' trip abroad in 1930. w WALKER. STUART: b. Augusta. Ky. : e. public schools, Cincinnati. University of Cincinnati. Specialized in engineering; hy. tennis, baseball, boating, antiques, history, geography and motoring. Directed repertory theatres in Buffalo and Detroit for Jessie Bonstelle in his earlier days in the theatre, after a six year association with David Belasco as actor, play reader, manager of the play bureau and stage manager. Became an independent manager in 1915, invented the Portmanteau Theatre, acted and wrote plays for It; produced and completed dramatization of Booth Tarkington's "Seventeen" and became director of the Indianapolis Repertory Theatre and of the Repertory Theatre in Cincinnati. During the summer of 1930 wrote and adapted a number of scenarios, for Columbia. Under contract to Paramount as a director. WALLACE. RICHARD: b. Sacramento, Cal.; h. 6 feet; curly brown hair and blue eyes; w. 170 pounds; e. received early schooling in Sacramento, high school, and then entered Rush Medical college in Chicago. His ambition was to become a medical surgeon. Insufficient funds made it necessary that he leave school and go to work. He took a Job with a carnival company as operator of the merry-go-round. His first job in the film city was an assistant cutter at the Sennett studio. It started him on a picture career that during the years has placed him in every studio capacity save that of actor. He has worked for every leading producer in the business. He claims to dislike directing and would rather be a writer, but in spite of this he has directed some of the most successful pictures made, among them "McFadden's Flats." "The Texas Steer." "Man Must Fight," "The Shopworn Angel" and "Innocents of Paris." starring Maurice Chevalier, and "Anybody's War." "Seven Days' Leave," "Right to Love" in 1930 for Paramount. WALSH. RAOUL: b. New York City. March 11. 1892; e. New York City at Seton Hall University: m. Lorraine Walker, professional; h. 5 feet, 1H4 inches: w. 185 pounds; black hair, blue eyes; hy. horses, has a stable of horses at Agua Callente. Toured Europe for two years after graduation; returned to America to study playwritlng under the late Paul Armstrong: first on the stage in 1910. Started pictures in 1912 as an actor with the Blograph Players; his associates were Mary Pickford. Owen Moore. Gish Sisters: first important role, John Wilkes Booth In Griffith's "Birth of a Nation"; has directed more than 100 film productions, 28 of them for Fox; outstanding productions: "Kindred of the Dust." "Thief of Bagdad." "East of Suez," "The Wanderer." "The Lady of the narem." "Sadie Thompson," "What Prlre Glnry." "The Cock Evcd World." "Loves of Carmen," "The Red Dance," "The Man Who Came Back" and more recently. "Women of All Nations," "Me. Gangster." "In Old Arizona." "Women of All Nations," and "The Big Trail" and "Seas Beneath" In 1930. WATERS, JOHN: b. New York City, 1894; married; hy. golf. No stage experience. Was with Reliance Company In 1910, Blograph In 1913 and Paramount In 1921 as assistant director. Became director for Paramount In 1920 and directed all Zane Grey Westerns for Paramount. With Mctro-C.oldwyn-Mavcr In 1928 and 1929 and has directed the following plays: "Born to the West," "Forlorn River," "Man of the Forest," "Mysterious Rider," "Arizona Bound." "Nevada." "Two Flaming Youths." "Beau Sabreur," "Vanishing Pioneer." "Overland Telegraph" and "Sioux Blood." At present is freelancing. WEBB, MILLARD: b. Clay City. Ky.. December 6. 1893; e. Nevada School of Mining and Engineering; ra. Mary Eaton, professional; hy. golf. Some stage experience. Screen experience started in 1915 with D. W. Griffith as an extra player. He also wrote original stories and adaptations. Director of the following: "The Sea Beast," for Warner Bros., and the following for Paramount in 1929: "Gentlemen of the Press," "Glorifying the American Girl," "The Love Thrill." "Golden Cocoon," "Honeymoon Hate," "Affairs of the Follies," 1 'Naughty but Nice," "The Drop Kick" and "Honeymoon Flats." Under contract to Paramount, made "Gentlemen of the Press." "Painted Angel," and ' Golden Calf." WEIGHT. HARMON F.: b. Salt Lake City, July 1, 1887; e. L. D. S. College in Salt Lake City; hy. all outdoor sports. Was on stage for 16 years. Entered pictures in 1918 due to slackness in theatrical business; has directed "Drusilla with a Million," "Ruling Passion," "Man Who Played God." "Hard Boiled Rose," "Frozen River" and "Midnight Madness," Pathe. WELLMAN, WILLIAM: b. Brookline. Mass.; e. in Boston; m. Marjorie Crawford, noni-professional ; hy. all sports, boxing particularly. He started in motion pictures as a juvenile when Douglas Fairbanks made "The Knickerbocker Buckaroo." and played just the one role when he realized that his desire was to become a director. Having an offer from a friend in the Fox Company at that time be accepted a job as property man and worked himself up to the position of assistant director in a period of four years. B. P. Schulberg. then producing independently, gave him a chance handling the megaphone. When Schulberg joined Paramount he insisted that young Wellman be taken along with him. He was, and his first attempt for Paramount was "The Cat's Pajamas." After that was "You Never Know Women," which was hailed as a "different picture" by critics all over the country, he was assigned to direct "Wings." Being an ace himself, be knew every phase and turn of the aviator's mind. Following "Wings" Wellman directed "The Legion of the Condemned," "Ladies of the Mob," "Beggars of Life," "Chinatown Nights." "The Man I Love," "Young Eagles," "Woman Trap." "Dangeious Paradise," "Steel Highway," "Maybe It's Love," "Public Enemy," "Night Nurse," "Star Witness," "The Honorable Mr. Wong' and "So-Big." WERKER, ALFRED LOUIS: b. Deadwood. S. D.. December 2. 1896; e. San Diego. Cal.: hy. handball. Entered picture business in 1917 at Triangle Studio, Culver City; directed "Sunset Legion," "Pioneer Scout," "Kit Carson," "Jazz Cowboy": co-directed "Chasing Through Europe." directed "Blue Skies," "Double Crossroads," and "Fair Warning," all Fox. WEST, ROLAND: b. Cleveland. Ohio, 1887. Played juvenile parts in stock, leads at 17: starred in own company for several years touring country, under management of Joseph M. Schenck; produced playlets for Loew Circuit; produced acts on his own and booked over Loew time; started producing jointly with Joseph M. Schenck, becoming general manager of unit and directing Norma Talmadge; left films to produce "Unknown Purple" on stage; two years later rejoined Schenck as associate producer at United Artists; made "The Bat" and in 1929 made "Alibi"; 1931 directed "The Bat Whispers," United Artists. WHALE, JAMES: b. Dudley. Staffs, Great Britain, July 22, 1896; e. English schools, after which he became a cartoonist on the London periodical, "The Bystander." Was a lieutenant of the famous Seventh Worcester Infantry Regiment. Returning to England with the Armistice, he made his first professional stage appearance with the Birmingham Repertory Company in a role of "Abraham Lincoln." Played in "A Comedy of Good and Evil," "The Cherry Orchard." "Prisoners of War," "The Sea Gull," "Mr. Godly Beside Himself." "The Would-Be Genetlemen." "Paul Among the Jews" and "Love at Second Sight." Produced "The Lady from Alfaqueque," "Fortunata" and "Journey's End." In 1929 came to Hollywood to picturize "Journey's End." Co-directed "Hell's Angels"; directed "Waterloo Bridge." "Frankenstein" and "Impatient Maiden." WHEELER, CLIFF: r. n. Alexander Thurn-Taxis; b. Springfield. Mass.. May 27, 1894; e. New York City. Syracuse and Yale University, Class of 1914; p. Prince Sasha Thurn-Taxis. Was chief of staff for General Milan Stefanic of the French Army, has been in military and diplomatic service as captain in French, Czechoslovak and Imperial Russian Armies; as aide to Admiral Koltchak; entered pictures in 1916 at Universal City through Rex Ingram, former classmate at Yale; directed "Comrades." "One Splendid Hour." "Bit of Heaven." "Into No Man's Land," "Havana Shadows." WHITE, JULES J.: b. Budapest, Austria-Hungary. September 17, 1900; h. 5 feet 9 inches; brown hair and blue eyes; w. 155 pounds; p. non-professionals: e. in Germany; m. non-professional; hy. riding, hunting and fishing. A juvenile actor with Pathe in 1910. then film editor with Educational in 1920. continuing as such until 1925. Started directing comedies for Educational in 1925, Directed for Fox one year (1926-27), returning to Educational in 1927, until 1929. Next became co-director with Zion Myers on Talking Dog comedies for MGM ; directed several Sport Shorts for MOM : co-directed with Zion Myers on "Sidewalks of New York," MGM. WHITMAN, PHIL: First affiliation In pictures was In the old Keystone-Sennett organization, 1918 as staff writer; joined Fox in 1918: 1918-24 specialized in trick and effect work with the following organizations: Universal productions. Cosmopolitan, Eastern Studio, Douglas Fairbanks, Famous Players New York Studio; 1925-26: with Mack Sennett Studio writing and directing comedies: 1927: Assistant Supervisor of comedies at Fox Studio; 1928: wrote and directed a scries of Six all-star comedies far Mack Sennett, then for six months writing on staff for Hal Roach Studio: 1929: staff writer with Mack Sennett: directed H. C. Witwor Scries for Larry Darmour. Radio releases: 1930: took over the writing and directing of feature length pictures for Continental Release, remade "The Second Honeymoon" directed "The Fourth Alarm": 1931; rejoined the Larry Dar mour Studio, directed "The Mystery Train," Continental release; joined the Universal Studiu, directed "Monkey Shines"; rejoined the Larry Darmour Studio, directed "Air Eagles." WILDE, TED: b. New York City. December 10. 1889; p. non-professionals; e. Columbia college. New York; m. Phyllis Byrne, professional: hy. football and horse racing. Stage experience as actor and producer, in 1912 and played comedy leads, also in musical and stock. Was also with Manhattan Stock Company and then served in the World war. On returning he directed Harold Lloyd in 1922 in "Speedy" and "Kid Brother," and for First National directed Babe Ruth in "Babe Comes Home" and "Battling Orioles." He also directed for llal Roach, and became a freelance director. He died in 1930. WILLAT, IRVIN: b. Stamford, Conn.; h. 5 feet 11 inches: brown hair and blue eyes; w. 170 pounds; p. Agnes and August Willat; e. in Florida and Georgia; uiv. Billie Dove, proiessiunai; hy. cartooning, photography, art and printing. No stage experience. Entered pictures in 1910 with Imp. Company. Pictures directed by him include "Behind the Door." "North of 30." "Back to God's Country," "Submarine." "The Isle of Lost Ships" for First National, became a freelance director in 1930. WINDEMERE, FRED: Began directing features in 1924 for Goldstone. making two; same year made one for Schulberg Productions and one for Tiffany Truart, followed by two in 1926 for Tiffany; 1927. directed "She's My Baby" for Sterling Productions, and then to Krelbar Pictures; work contlned mostly to independent product; directed "The Rolling Stone." PauAmerican. WOOD. SAM: b. Philadelphia. Pa.. July 10, 1883; h. 6 feet; brown hair and eyes; w. 170 pounds; p. Katherin Corn and William H. Wood, non-professionals; e. M. Hall Stanton school, Philadelphia. Pa., and had some stage training; m. Clara L. Roush. nonprofessional; hy. football, rowing and bridge. Directed Wallace Reid in "Double Speed," "Excuse My Dust," "What's Your Hurry?" "Sick Abed" and "The Dancin' Fool"; Wanda Hawley in "Her First Elopement," "The Snob" and "The Beloved Villain"; Ethel Clayton in "The City Sparrow"; Jackie Coogan in "Peck's Bad Boy"; Gloria Swanson in "The Great Moment," "Under the Lash." "Her Husband's Trademark." "The Gilded Cage." "My American Wife." "The Prodigal Daughter." "Blackbeard's Eighth Wife," "Beyond the Rocks" and "Don't Tell Everything." Also directed an all-star cast in "His Children's Children." "The Next Corner Bluff": Harold Bell Wright's "Mine with the Iron Door," "The Recreation of Brian Kent"; as well as the Paramount School novices in "Fascinating Youth" : Red Grange in "One Minute to Play" ; Karl Dane and George K. Arthur in "Rookies"; Marion Davies in "The Fair Co-Ed"; Norma Shearer in "The Latest from Paris": William Haines in "Telling the World." also "So This Is College." "Imperfect Ladies." "It's a Great Life." "They Learned About Women." "Richest Man in the World." "The Girl Said No" and "Within the Law." WORNE. DUKE: Was associated with many Hollywood independent production companies, in various capacities, finally becoming freelance director among the independents; directed for Arrow, Universal, own producing company producing shorts and westerns released through Rayart; directed "The Phantom of the Turf." "The Danger Patrol," "The Cruise of the Hellion," "Wheels of Destiny." "Heroes in Blue," "Ships of the Night," "Some Mother's Boy." "When Dreams Come True,* "Bride of the Desert" and "The Midnight Special." WORSLEY, WALLACE: b. Wappinger's Falls. N. Y.. December 8. 1880. Was juvenile leading man and stage director in companies of Charles Fronman. Kirke La Shelle Company and many other stock companies. Entered pictures in 1916; directed "The Penalty." "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." "The Power of Silence." WYLER, ROBERT: b. Mulhouse, France. September 25, 1900; h. 5 feet 8 inches; black hair and dark eyes: w. 145 pounds; p. Melanie Auerbach and Leopold Wyler, non-professionals; e. Gymnase Scientific, Lausanne, Switzerland, Polytechnical School, Zurich, Switzerland; not married; hy. tennis, swimming and all outdoor sports, also literature, theatre, and music. Stage experience consists of the following: president for two years of the "Academical Dramatio Society," in Zurich, Switzerland. Acted in the capacity of stage director, producer and performer from 1921 to 1923. Produced and directed "Czardasfuerstin," "Hedda Gabler." "Rosmersholm" and many others. From 1923 to 1926 assistant director to Edw. Sedgwick. Dupont. Melville Brown, Irving Cummings, Buckowetzky, Clarence Brown and Rupert Julian. 1926-27 comedy constructionist on "Her Big Night," Laura La Plante vehicle directed by Mel Brown. In 1927 wrote treatment on "Fast and Furious." Reginald Denny vehicle, and acted in capacity of production supervisor for Universal, and during this period produced "Buck Privates." directed by Mel Brown with Lya De Putti, Eddy Gribbon and M. McGregor, "Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly." with Tom Moore and Bessie Love, directed by Wm. Wyler. "The Shakedown," with James Murray and Barbara Kent, also directed by Wm. Wyler. Was made a director in 1929 by Carl Laemmle, president of Universal. WYLER, WILLIAM: b. Mulhouse. France. July 1. 1902; e. Lausanne. Switzerland, and College of Paris. France: hy. tennis, golf and swimming. Screen experience started by doing foreign publicity for Universal, for a period of one year. He went to Hollywood in 1920 as assistant director, then became director. In 1928 he directed the following productions: "Lazy Lightning." "Hard Fists," "Thunder Riders," "Desert Dust." "Border Cavalier," "Straight Shootin'." "Blazing Days." and "Stolen Ranch." in 1929 "The Lone Trap." "Anybody Here Seen Kelly." "Come Across" and "The Shakedown." and in 1930 "The Storm" and "Hell's Heroes." Under contract to Universal; 1931: "A House Divided." Y YOUNG. JAMES: b. Baltimore. Md.. e Baltimore City College, Johns Hopkins University. Was on the stage. Entered picture business in 1910; made first real feature picture in America. "My Official Wife." for Vitagraph: directed first picture released by First National, "On Trial": also directed "Hearts In Exile." "Oliver Twist." "Without Benefit of Clergy" and "The Devil."