Arthur Alexander (1909–1989) was an American

independent film An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is produced outside the major film studio system, in addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies (or, i ...

producer. He worked with his brother Max and produced.films through.various studios including their own Beacon Productions, Colony Pictures, and Max Alexander Productions.

Biography

Alexander was born in Germany. He began his Hollywood career in 1934 and produced about 50 films through 1949, many westerns, all with low budgets and with no connection to the established Hollywood studios (other than the fact that his uncle was

Carl Laemmle Carl Laemmle (; born Karl Lämmle; January 17, 1867 – September 24, 1939) was a film producer and the co-founder and, until 1934, owner of Universal Pictures. He produced or worked on over 400 films. Regarded as one of the most important o ...

, long-time head of

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

). With his brother Max, Alexander founded Beacon Productions, Colony Pictures, and Max Alexander Productions. He was active as producer at the short-lived

Grand National Pictures Grand National Films, Inc (or Grand National Pictures, Grand National Productions and Grand National Film Distributing Co.) was an American Poverty Row motion picture production-distribution company in operation from 1936 to 1939. The company ha ...

from 1936 through 1939, and released through

Producers Releasing Corporation Producers Releasing Corporation was the smallest and least prestigious of the Hollywood film studios of the 1940s. It was considered a prime example of what was called "Poverty Row": a low-rent stretch of Gower Street in Hollywood where shoest ...

afterward. Much of his work is in public domain today and accessible online.

Partial filmography

* ''

Thunder Over Texas ''Thunder Over Texas'' is a 1934 American populist contemporary Western film directed by Edgar G. Ulmer under the alias Joen Warner (the name of Ulmer's previous wife) and produced by two nephews of Universal Pictures head Carl Laemmle, Arthur ...

'' (1934) * ''

Cowboy Holiday ''Cowboy Holiday'' is a 1934 American Western film directed by Robert F. Hill, produced by Max Alexander and Arthur Alexander for Beacon Productions and starring Guinn "Big Boy" Williams and Richard Alexander. Plot Buck Sawyer's friend, S ...

'' (1934) * ''

Gun Play ''Gun Play'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Albert Herman and starring Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, Marion Shilling and Frank Yaconelli.Pitts, p. 53. Plot summary Cast * Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Bill Williams * Marion Shilling ...

'' (1935) * ''

Big Boy Rides Again ''Big Boy Rides Again'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Albert Herman. Cast *Guinn "Big Boy" Williams as Tom Duncan *Constance Bergen as Nancy Smiley *Charles K. French as John Duncan * Lafe McKee as Tap Smiley *Victor Potel as Ra ...

'' (1935) * ''

The Law of 45's ''The Law of the 45's'' (also known as ''The Mysterious Mr. Sheffield'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1935 American Western (genre), Western film directed by John P. McCarthy. The screenplay was based on the 1933 novel of the same name by Willia ...

'' (1935) * ''

Law and Lead ''Law and Lead'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Robert F. Hill that is a remake of '' Cowboy Holiday'' (1934). Plot Range Detective Jimmy Sawyer has earned time off after apprehending four offenders. He overhears one his fellow ...

'' (1936) * ''

Idaho Kid ''Idaho Kid'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Robert F. Hill and starring Rex Bell, Marion Shilling and David Sharpe.Pitts p.118 Plot Following the death of his mother in childbirth, Todd Hollister's father has nothing to do with h ...

'' (1936) *''

Men of the Plains ''Men of the Plains'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Robert F. Hill and written by Robert Emmett Tansey. The film stars Rex Bell, Joan Barclay, George Ball, Charles King, Forrest Taylor and Roger Williams. The film was released on ...

'' (1936) * ''

The Shadow Strikes ''The Shadow Strikes'' is a 1937 black and white American film based on the story ''Ghost of the Manor'' written by Walter B. Gibson under the pen name Maxwell Grant The Shadow was featured on a popular radio show and also as a pulp magazine crim ...

'' (1937) * '' International Crime'' (1938) * ''

Here's Flash Casey ''Here's Flash Casey'' is a 1937 American film directed by Lynn Shores and starring Eric Linden and Boots Mallory. Plot Flash Casey is able finally to get the job as photographer at Globe Press. And he would like to marry newspaper woman Kay Lann ...

'' (1938) * ''

Songs and Saddles ''Songs and Saddles'' is a 1938 American Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser. Plot Cast *Gene Austin as Gene Austin *Lynne Berkeley as Carol Turner *Henry Roquemore as Lawyer Jed Hill *Walter Wills as Pop Turner *Ted Claire as Mark Bo ...

'' (1938) * ''

Death Rides the Range ''Death Rides the Range'' is a 1939 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Sam Newfield. It was a Colony Pictures film. Plot A group of international scientists are after helium used for airships of a foreign power. FBI Special Age ...

'' (1939) * ''

Phantom Rancher ''Phantom Rancher'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and starring Ken Maynard. Plot summary When Ken Mitchell inherits his late uncle's cattle ranch he finds the community hates him for trying to drive farmers off ...

'' (1940) * '' Hard Guy'' (1941) * ''

I'll Sell My Life ''I'll Sell My Life'' is a 1941 American crime film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Rose Hobart, Michael Whalen and Joan Woodbury.Fetrow p.224 Cast * Rose Hobart as Dale Layden * Michael Whalen as Mordecai Breen * Stanley Fields a ...

'' (1941) * ''

Today I Hang Today (archaically to-day) may refer to: * Day of the present, the time that is perceived directly, often called ''now'' * Current era, present * The current calendar date Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Today'' (1930 film), a 1930 A ...

'' (1942) *'' Bombs Over Burma'' (1942) * ''

The Dawn Express ''The Dawn Express'' (aka ''Dawn Express'' and ''Nazi Spy Ring'' (working title) is a 1942 American film directed by Albert Herman. The film stars Michael Whalen, Anne Nagel, William Bakewell and Constance Worth. Plot In the middle of World Wa ...

'' (1942) * ''

The Ghost and the Guest ''The Ghost and the Guest'' is a 1943 American black-and-white comedy-mystery film directed by William Nigh and starring James Dunn, Florence Rice, Robert Dudley, and Sam McDaniel. The plot finds a newlywed couple honeymooning in a house they th ...

'' (1943) * '' The Underdog'' (1943) * ''

Spook Town ''Spook Town'' is a 1944 American Western film written and directed by Elmer Clifton. The film stars Dave O'Brien, James Newill and Guy Wilkerson, with Mady Lawrence, Dick Curtis and Harry Harvey. The film was released on 3 June 1944, by Pro ...

'' (1944) * ''

Gangsters of the Frontier ''Gangsters of the Frontier'' (also known as ''Raiders of the Frontier'' in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off t ...

'' (1944) * ''

Brand of the Devil ''Brand of the Devil'' is a 1944 American Western film written by Elmer Clifton and directed by Harry L. Fraser. The film stars Dave O'Brien, James Newill and Guy Wilkerson, with Ellen Hall, I. Stanford Jolley and Charles King. The film was re ...

'' (1944) * ''

Seven Doors to Death ''Seven Doors to Death'' (also known as ''Vanishing Corpses'' in its American reissue title) is a 1944 American film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Chick Chandler, June Clyde and George Meeker. The film is a comedy/mystery film that was w ...

'' (1944) * '' Waterfront'' (1944) * ''

Guns of the Law ''Guns of the Law'' is a 1944 American Western film written and directed by Elmer Clifton. The film stars Dave O'Brien, James Newill and Guy Wilkerson, with Jennifer Holt, Budd Buster and Charles King. The film was released on 31 March 1944, ...

'' (1944)

Colony Pictures

*''

Stormy Trails ''Stormy Trails'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Phil Dunham. It is based on the 1934 novel ''Stampede'' by E.B. Mann. The film stars Rex Bell, Bob Terry, Lois Wilde, Lane Chandler, Earl Dwire and Lloyd ...

'' (1936) *''

West of Nevada ''West of Nevada'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Robert F. Hill and starring Rex Bell, Joan Barclay and Al St. John. Plot Cast * Rex Bell as Jim Carden, posing as Jim Lloyd * Joan Barclay as Helen Haldain * Al St. John as Wa ...

'' (1936) *''

'' (1939) *''

Flaming Lead ''Flaming Lead'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Joseph O'Donnell. The film stars Ken Maynard, Eleanor Stewart, Dave O'Brien, Walter Long, Tom London and Reed Howes. The film was released on November 1, ...

'' (1939) *''

Lightning Strikes West ''Lightning Strikes West'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and written by Martha Chapin. The film stars Ken Maynard, Claire Rochelle, Bob Terry, Michael Vallon, Charles King and Reed Howes. The film was released on ...

'' (1940) *''

'' (1940)

Beacon Productions

*''

'' (1934) *''

Ticket to a Crime ''Ticket to a Crime'' is a 1934 American mystery film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Ralph Graves, Lois Wilson and Lola Lane.Langman & Finn p.270 A private detective and his assistant solve a murder at a country club. Cast * Ralph Gr ...

'' (1934) *''

I Can't Escape ''I Can't Escape'' is a 1934 American film directed by Otto Brower. The film is also known as ''The Magic Vault'' (American alternative title). Cast *Onslow Stevens as Steve Nichols, alias Steve Cummings *Lila Lee as Mae Nichols *Russell Glea ...

'' (1934) *''

The Fire Trap ''The Fire Trap'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Burt P. Lynwood and starring Norman Foster, Evalyn Knapp and Sidney Blackmer.Pitts p.146 An insurance investigator goes on the trail of a gang of arsonists. Cast * Norman Foster as Bill F ...

'' (1935) *''

What Price Crime ''What Price Crime'' or ''What Price Crime?'' is a 1935 American crime film directed by Albert Herman and starring Charles Starrett, Noel Madison and Virginia Cherrill.Pitts p.57 Cast * Charles Starrett as Allen Grey * Noel Madison as Douglas W ...

'' (1935)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Arthur 1909 births 1989 deaths American film producers 20th-century American businesspeople German emigrants to the United States