Arthur Rosson
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Arthur Henry Rosson (24 August 1886 – 17 June 1960) was an English
film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...
. From 1917 to 1948, Rosson directed 61 feature films (including co-direction of '' Red River''). He also worked on many major films as a
second unit director Second unit is a discrete team of filmmakers tasked with filming shots or sequences of a production, separate from the main or "first" unit. The second unit will often shoot simultaneously with the other unit or units, allowing the filming stag ...
until 1960, particularly for
Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American film director, producer and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of the American cine ...
.


Biography

Arthur Rosson was born on 24 August 1886 in
London, England London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major s ...
. He was the first child born of a jockey horse trainer, Arthur Richard Rosson, and a French woman, Hellen Rochefort Rosson. Rosson came from a film-making family. His brother,
Harold Rosson Harold G. "Hal" Rosson, A.S.C. (April 6, 1895 – September 6, 1988) was an American cinematographer who worked during the early and classical Hollywood cinema, in a career spanning some 52 years, starting from the silent era in 1915. He is bes ...
, was an
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
-nominated cinematographer and several other family members were involved in the early film industry. He was also the brother of silent film actress
Helene Rosson Helene M. Rosson (June 14, 1897 – May 5, 1985), also known as Hellene M. Rosson, was an American silent film actress. Biography Hellene M. Rosson, born June 14, 1897, was the sixth child and third daughter of jockey and horse trainer Arthur ...
and actor and director
Richard Rosson Richard Rosson (April 4, 1893 – May 31, 1953) was an American film director and actor. As an actor, he was known for the nearly 100 films he was in during the silent era. As a director, he directed the logging sequences in the 1936 film ''Co ...
. Rosson graduated from Rogers High School in
Newport, Rhode Island Newport is an American seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, ...
in 1902. Rosson was a stock-exchange clerk, who wanted to make a career for himself in film. He married Louise (Lucille) Irana Niedermeyer on 2 June 1912. At the time of their marriage, Louise was three months pregnant. After their first child was born, they moved to
California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
. The couple later divorced. Rosson began his career in film in 1917 as an assistant director and screenwriter. In 1920, Rosson collaborated with his brother Hal on the film ''Polly of the Storm Country.'' The film was shot on location at the Selig Zoo. He also worked with his brother again in 1922 on the film ''Garrison's Finish''. Throughout the 1920s, Rosson worked with
Allan Dwan Allan Dwan (born Joseph Aloysius Dwan; April 3, 1885 – December 28, 1981) was a pioneering Canadian-born American motion picture director, producer, and screenwriter. Early life Born Joseph Aloysius Dwan in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Dwan, was ...
on his silent films throughout his career. Rosson wrote the scripts for Dwan's films ''
Bloodhounds of the North ''Bloodhounds of the North'' is a 1913 American silent short drama film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush, and Lon Chaney. The film is now considered lost. Some sources state the film was edited down to one ...
'' and '' The Honor of the Mounted.'' While shooting them on Mt. Lowe in 1913, Rosson got lost in a canyon with
Lon Chaney Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...
. Rosson also write ''The Picket Guard''. He and his brother Dick were actors in the 1913 film ''Criminals.'' Rosson was the actual director of '' Cheating Cheaters,'' while Dwan oversaw the production; however, most reviews mentioned Dwan as the director Rosson also helped with staging Dwan's production of '' Soldiers of Fortune'' in 1919. Rosson again handles the duties of director for Dwan's film ''
A Splendid Hazard ''A Splendid Hazard'' is a 1920 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Henry B. Walthall. The film is based on the 1910 book of the same name. The film was produced by the Mayflower Photoplay Company. It is n ...
'' that was produced in 1920. Rosson later went to Britain to direct ''
Ebb Tide Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon (and to a much lesser extent, the Sun) and are also caused by the Earth and Moon orbiting one another. Tide tabl ...
'' and ''Women Who Pay'' in 1932. The films were produced by
Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. The following busin ...
-British productions. Shortly after, in 1934 he directed ''
Forbidden Territory ''Forbidden Territory'' is a 1934 British thriller film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Gregory Ratoff, Ronald Squire and Binnie Barnes. It was based on the 1933 novel '' The Forbidden Territory'' by Dennis Wheatley.Shaw p.15 The film, abo ...
'' He also worked as the second unit director of all of
Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American film director, producer and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of the American cine ...
's films beginning in the 1930s. He died in 1960 and is buried in the
Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles ...
with other members of his family.


Selected filmography

* ''The Spirit of the Flag'' (1913) script * ''The Picket Guard'' (1913) script * ''The Criminals'' (1913) script * ''
Bloodhounds of the North ''Bloodhounds of the North'' is a 1913 American silent short drama film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush, and Lon Chaney. The film is now considered lost. Some sources state the film was edited down to one ...
'' (1913) script * ''
The Gratitude of Wanda ''The Gratitude of Wanda'' is a 1913 American short drama silent black and white film directed by Wallace Reid, written by Bess Meredyth and starring Pauline Bush, Arthur Rosson, Jessalyn Van Trump and Frank Borzage. Reid also appears in th ...
'' (1913) * '' The Mystery of Yellow Aster Mine'' (1913) * '' The Lie'' (1914) actor * '' The Honor of the Mounted'' (1914) script * ''
Discord and Harmony ''Discord and Harmony'' is a 1914 American silent short romantic drama film directed by Allan Dwan and featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush, and Lon Chaney. The film's scenario, written by Arthur Rosson, was based on an event experience ...
'' (1914) script * ''
Panthea ''Panthea'' is a genus of the owlet moth family, Noctuidae. The word ''Panthea'' is from Greek, meaning "all of gods" .''Panthea''
'' (1917) * ''
American - That's All ''American - That's All'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Jack Devereaux, Winifred Allen and Walter Walker.Phillips & Vincendeau p.410 Cast * Jack Devereaux as Monte Boggs * Winifred Allen as Haz ...
'' (1917) director * ''
A Successful Failure ''A Successful Failure'' is a 1934 American film directed by Arthur Lubin. It was Lubin's first film as director. There is no connection between the fictional radio personality "Uncle Dudley" in this film, and the 1935 comedy film ''Your Uncle ...
'' (1917) director * ''
Cassidy Cassidy may refer to: Personal names * Cassidy (given name) * Cassidy (surname) People * Cassidy (musician) (born 1979), lead singer of Antigone Rising * Cassidy (rapper) (born 1982), American rapper * DJ Cassidy (born 1981), New York DJ * Jame ...
'' (1917) director * ''
Grafters ''Grafters'' was a British drama–comedy programme originally broadcast in the UK on ITV from 27 October 1998 to 20 December 1999 for 16 episodes over two series. ''Grafters'' relates the lives of the Purvis brothers Joe ( Robson Green) and ...
'' (1917) director * ''
Her Father's Keeper ''Her Father's Keeper'' is a 1917 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Arthur Rosson and Richard Rosson and starring Irene Howley, Jack Devereaux and Frank Currier.Lombardi p.76 Cast * Irene Howley as Claire Masters * Jack Devereau ...
'' (1917) director * ''
The Man Who Made Good ''The Man Who Made Good'' is a 1917 American silent comedy drama film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Jack Devereaux, Winifred Allen and Henry Dixon.Connelly p.163 Cast * Jack Devereaux as Tom Burton * Winifred Allen as Frances Clayton ...
'' (1917) director * '' A Case at Law'' (1917) director * '' Headin' South'' (1918) director * ''
The Knickerbocker Buckaroo ''The Knickerbocker Buckaroo'' is a 1919 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western/romantic comedy film directed by Albert Parker (director), Albert Parker and starring Douglas Fairbanks, who also wrote (under the pseudonym Elton Tho ...
'' (1918) * ''
The Coming of the Law ''The Coming of the Law'' is a 1919 American silent Western film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Tom Mix, Agnes Vernon and George Nichols.Langman, Larry. ''A Guide to Silent Westerns''. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1992. p. 86. . . Cast ...
'' (1919) director * ''
Married in Haste ''Married in Haste'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Albert Ray, Elinor Fair and Robert Klein.Connelly, Robert B. ''The Silents: Silent Feature Films, 1910-36'' 40(2). December Press, 1998. p. 384. C ...
'' (1919) director * '' Soldiers of Fortune'' (1919) associate director * ''
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'' (1919) director * '' Polly of the Storm Country'' (1920) director * '' Desert Blossoms'' (1921) director * ''
For Those We Love ''For Those We Love'' is a 1921 American silent romantic drama film produced by and starring Betty Compson, and featuring Lon Chaney and Richard Rosson. Written and directed by Arthur Rosson, the film was based on a story by Perley Poore Sheeh ...
'' (1921) director * ''
The Fire Bride ''The Fire Bride'' is a 1922 American silent adventure film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Ruth Renick, Edward Hearn and Walt Whitman.Connelly p.347 Cast * Ruth Renick as Lois Markham * Edward Hearn as Steve Maitland * Walt Whitman ...
'' (1922) director *''
The Satin Girl ''The Satin Girl'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Mabel Forrest, Norman Kerry and Marc McDermott. The main themes of the film are amnesia and brainwashing. Lenore Vance, the main character, loses her ...
'' (1923) director * '' Garrison's Finish'' (1923) director * ''
Condemned Condemned or The Condemned may refer to: Legal * Persons awaiting execution * A condemned property, or condemned building, by a local authority, usually for public health or safety reasons * A condemned property seized by power of eminent domain ...
'' (1923) director *'' The Measure of a Man'' (1924) * ''
The Burning Trail ''The Burning Trail'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring William Desmond, Albert J. Smith, and Mary McIvor. After accidentally killing a man in a fight, a boxer heads West West or Occident is o ...
'' (1925) director * ''
The Fighting Demon ''The Fighting Demon'' is a 1925 American silent melodrama film. Directed by Arthur Rosson, the film stars Richard Talmadge, Lorraine Eason, and Dick Sutherland Dick Sutherland (born Archibald Thomas Johnson, December 23, 1881 – Febr ...
'' (1925) director * ''
Tearing Through ''Tearing Through'' is a 1925 American silent action film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Richard Talmadge, Kathryn McGuire, and Herbert Prior Herbert Prior (2 July 1867 – 3 October 1954) was an English silent film actor. He appea ...
'' (1925) director *''
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'' (1925) director * ''
You'd Be Surprised "You'd Be Surprised" is a song written by Irving Berlin in 1919 which Eddie Cantor interpolated it into Ziegfeld's ''Follies of 1919''. Cantor soon recorded it and it became a major hit. Other popular versions in 1920 were by the All-Star Trio a ...
'' (1926) * '' Stranded in Paris'' (1926) * '' Set Free'' (1927) * '' The Long Long Trail'' (1929) * ''
Women Who Play ''Women Who Play'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Mary Newcomb, Benita Hume and George Barraud. It was produced by Walter Morosco and Alexander Korda and has a screenplay by Basil Mason and Gilbert Wakefie ...
'' (1932) * ''
Ebb Tide Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon (and to a much lesser extent, the Sun) and are also caused by the Earth and Moon orbiting one another. Tide tabl ...
'' (1932) * ''
Trailin' Trouble ''Trailin' Trouble'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Ken Maynard, Lona Andre, and Roger Williams. It was released on November 12, 1937. During production its working title was ''Alias Blackie Burke''. Pl ...
'' (1937) * '' The Buccaneer'' (1938) second unit director * ''
Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind most often refers to: * ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell * ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel Gone with the Wind may also refer to: Music * ''Gone with the Wind'' ...
'' (1939) second unit director * '' North West Mounted Police'' (1940) second unit director * '' The Story of Dr. Wassell'' (1944) second unit director * '' Red River'' (1948) co-director * ''
Samson and Delilah Samson and Delilah are Biblical figures. Samson and Delilah may also refer to: In music * ''Samson and Delilah'' (opera), an opera by Camille Saint-Saëns * ''Samson & Delilah'' (album), released in 2013 by V V Brown * "Samson and Delilah" (t ...
'' (1949) unit director * '' The Greatest Show on Earth'' (1952) unit director * ''
The Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments (Biblical Hebrew עשרת הדברים \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים, ''aséret ha-dvarím'', lit. The Decalogue, The Ten Words, cf. Mishnaic Hebrew עשרת הדיברות \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְ ...
'' (1956) unit director


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rosson, Arthur 1886 births 1960 deaths Film directors from London Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery