The world film encyclopedia (1933)

208 (VID-VON) Biographies of Film Directors D. W. Griffith's assistant for Intolerance (U.A., 1916). Has since worked for almost every well-known producing company in Hollywood. Will be remembered by this generation for his magnificent direction in the heart of Africa of Trader Horn (M.G.M., 193 1). Is now under contract to M.G.M. Also Directed : Gentle Cyclone (Fox). War Paint (M.G.M.) , California (M.G.M. ), Winners 0/ the Wilderness (M.G.M.), Spoilers of the West (M.G.M.), Wyoming (M.G.M.), Eyes of the Totem (M.G.M.). Under the Black Eagle (M.G.M.), Heart of the Yukon (M.G.M.), White Shadows in the South Seas (M.G.M.), The Pagan (M.G.M.), Never the Twain Shall Meet (M.G.M.), Tarzan the Ape Man (M.G.M.), Guilty Hands (M.G.M.), Cuban Love Song (M.G.M.), Justice For Sale (M.G.M.). VIDOR, King Wallis. B. Galveston, Texas, Feb. 8, 1S95. Black hair, blue eyes. Ht. 5 ft. 11 1 in. Wt. 13 st. 7 lb. Ed. private school at Galveston, San Antonio ; Peacock Military Academy, Texas. M. Eleanor Boardman. In the early days of motion pictures wrote a film story, sold it to a small company, acted the principal role, as well as directing it. Realized he knew little or nothing about motion pictures and decided to learn his business from the beginning. The positions of studio carpenter, property-man, and camera-man soon followed, and in time he again handled the director's megaphone. The Crowd (M.G.M., 1929) is one of his outstanding successes, but he earned worldwide fame for his handling of Street Scene (Col., 1932). Also Directed : Better Times (Brentwood Mutual), Turn of the Road (Vita), Three Wise Fools (Goldwyn), Peg O' My Heart (Metro), Sky Pilot (F.N.), Wild Oranges (M.G.), La Boheme (M.G.M.), Bardelys the Magnificent (M.G.M.), The Big Parade (M.G.M.), The Patsy (M.G.M.), The Crowd (M.G.M.), Hallelujah (M.G.M.), Show People (M.G.M.), Billy the Kid (M.G.M.), Not So Dumb (M.G.M.), The Champ (M.G.M.), Bird of Paradise (Radio), I Have Been Faithful (U.A.). VON STERNBERG, Joseph. B. Vienna. Black hair, grey eyes. Ht. 5 ft. 5 in. Wt. 10 St. 5 lb. M. Riza Royce. Was taken to America by his parents when seven years of age and, after com[pleting his schooling, tried almost every known occupation in film production. Gained his first opportunity as director by directing The Salvation Hmitcrs (U.A., 1925) on his own initiative. While he and G. K. Arthur, the leading man, were engaged on this, the greatest adventure of their lives, Hollywood was not a little amused, but when it was released, it had to be admitted by the most experienced that Sternberg had in him a touch of genius. Has often been acclaimed one of the ten most popular directors in America. In 1930 directed The Blue Angel for U.F.A. in Berlin. This was the film which made Marlene Dietrich a world-renowned star. Has directed this same star in every picture she has produced in America. Also Directed : Last Command (PaiTa), Underworld (Para), Drag Net (Para), Docks of New York (Para), Case of Lena Smith (Para), Thunderbolt (Para), Madame Nobody (Para), American Tragedy (Para, not shown in Britain), Morocco {FdiVTi), Dishonoured (Para), Shanghai Express (Para), Blonde Venus (Para). VON STROHEIM, Erich. Real name, Count Erich Oswald Hans Carl Marie Stroheim von Nordenwald. B. Vienna, Austria, Sept. 22, 1885. Brown eyes. Ht. 5 ft. 7 in. Ed. Austrian Military Academy. At one time an officer in the army of Franz Josef of Austria. Went to New York, where he worked alternately as dish-washer, ostler, gardener, newspaper man and magazine writer. Screen debut as the Pharisee in Griffith's Intolerance (U.A., 1916). Learnt his early cinema from Griffith. His first great achievement did not come until he directed and acted in Blind Husbands (Univ, 1919), the stage version of which he had previously written. He also assisted in the direction of various Pickford and Fairbank pictuixs. One of his finest productions was Greed (M.G.M., 1923), in which he directed Zasu Pitts in her greatest role. Selected one of the best ten directors in 1926. Member of the Academy of ^Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Also Directed : Foolish Wives (Univ), Merry-Go-Round (Univ, left unfinished by Von Stroheim), Merry Widow (M.G.), Wedding March (Para), Blind Husbands (Univ). Also Played in : Foolish Wives (Univ), Blind Husbands (Univ, talkie version). Wedding March (Para, silent and talkie versions). Great Gabbo (W.W.), Three Faces East (Warner), Friends and Lovers (Radio), Lost Squadron (Radio), As You Desire Me (M.G.M.), Walking Down Broadway (Fox).