Bernard Benny Ray (born Benjamin Shamrayevsky, November 18, 1895 - December 10, 1964) was a Russian-born American film producer and

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

. He is closely associated with the production of low-budget B films of

Poverty Row Poverty Row is a slang term used to refer to Hollywood films produced from the 1920s to the 1950s by small (and mostly short-lived) B movie studios. Although many of them were based on (or near) today's Gower Street in Hollywood, the term did ...

, involved with companies such as Reliable Pictures during the 1930s. In some film credits, like ''

Rio Rattler ''Rio Rattler'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Bernard B. Ray. Plot summary A dying Marshal gives his identification papers to Tom. After Tom arrives in town, the papers drop and are found during a fight so Tom decides to assum ...

'' (1935), he has used the pseudonym "Franklin Shamray".

Death

On December 10, 1964, after what appears to have been a long illness, Ray died of undisclosed causes at the Motion Picture Country Home Hospital. He was preceded in death by his wife Georgia Mae Tallant, to whom he was married between 1927 and 1958.

Selected filmography

* ''

Bitter Sweets ''Bitter Sweets'' is a 1928 American silent crime film directed by Charles Hutchison and starring Barbara Bedford, Ralph Graves and Crauford Kent.Munden p.62 Cast * Barbara Bedford as Bett Kingston * Ralph Graves as Ralph Horton * Crauford ...

'' (1928) * '' Women Men Marry'' (1931) * '' At Twelve Midnight'' (1933) * ''

Rawhide Mail ''Rawhide Mail'' is a 1934 American Western film directed by Bernard B. Ray and starring Jack Perrin, Nelson McDowell and Chris-Pin Martin.Pitts, p. 310. Plot Cast * Jack Perrin as Jack Reed * Nelson McDowell as Judge * Chris-Pin Martin as P ...

'' (1934) * '' Mystery Ranch'' (1934) * ''

Ridin' Thru ''Ridin' Thru'' is a 1934 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Tom Tyler, Ruth Hiatt and Lafe McKee.Pitts p.311 Cast * Tom Tyler as Tom Saunders * Ruth Hiatt as Dolores Brooks * Lafe McKee as Elmer ' ...

'' (1934) * '' Fighting Hero'' (1934) * ''

Terror of the Plains ''Terror of the Plains'' is a 1934 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Tom Tyler, Roberta Gale and William Gould.Pitts p.315 Main cast * Tom Tyler as Tom Lansing - Posing as Tom Smith * Roberta Gale as Bess Roberts ...

'' (1934) * ''

Unconquered Bandit ''Unconquered Bandit'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Tom Tyler, Lillian Gilmore and Slim Whitaker.Pitts p.312 The film is a remake of '' Dynamite Ranch'' (1932), Main cast * Tom Tyler as Tom Morgan * ...

'' (1935) * '' The Cactus Kid'' (1935) * ''

Tracy Rides ''Tracy Rides'' is a 1935 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Tom Tyler, Virginia Brown Faire and Edmund Cobb.Pitts p.313 Plot Cast * Tom Tyler as Sheriff Tom Tracy * Virginia Brown Faire as Molly H ...

'' (1935) * ''

The Fighting Pilot ''The Fighting Pilot'' (aka ''Fighting Pilot'') is a 1935 American action film directed by Noel M. Smith and starring Richard Talmadge, Gertrude Messinger and Robert Frazer. When an inventor develops a new type of aircraft, a crooked businessman ...

'' (1935) * '' Silent Valley'' (1935) * '' Now or Never'' (1935) * '' Trigger Tom'' (1935) * '' Texas Jack'' (1935) * ''

North of Arizona ''North of Arizona'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Jack Perrin, Blanche Mehaffey and Lane Chandler.Pitts p.306 It was a low-budget B film made by Reliable Pictures. Main cast * Jack Perrin as Jack ...

'' (1935) * '' Wolf Riders'' (1935) * '' Kentucky Blue Streak'' (1935) * ''

Midnight Phantom ''Midnight Phantom'' is a 1935 American film directed by Bernard B. Ray. Plot summary Cast * Reginald Denny as Prof. David Graham * Claudia Dell as Diana Sullivan (misspelled Diane Sullivan in opening credits) * Lloyd Hughes as Police Lt ...

'' (1935) * '' Never Too Late'' (1935) * ''

Skull and Crown ''Skull and Crown'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Elmer Clifton. It was the final film of cast member Molly O'Day. Cast * Rin Tin Tin, Jr. as Rinty *Regis Toomey as Bob Franklin posing as Rocky Morgan *Jack Mulhall as Border Pa ...

'' (1935) * ''

Loser's End ''Loser's End'' is a 1935 American Western film produced by Harry S. Webb for Reliable Pictures and directed by Bernard B. Ray. Plot summary A cowboy meets up with a bandit gang. Taken captive, he is rescued by a man called Don Carlos, and ...

'' (1935) * '' The Test'' (1935) * '' Born to Battle'' (1935) * ''

Coyote Trails ''Coyote Trails'' is a 1935 American Western film produced and directed by Bernard B. Ray starring Tom Tyler. There are no coyotes or their trails featured in the film. Plot A ranch is having their horses disappear with it believed that a w ...

'' (1935) * '' The Live Wire'' (1935) * ''

'' (1935) * '' Santa Fe Bound'' (1936) * ''

Fast Bullets ''Fast Bullets'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Tom Tyler, Rex Lease and Margaret Nearing. It was the 14th of Tom Tyler's 18 Westerns for Reliable Pictures. Plot The Texas Rangers are hot on the trail o ...

'' (1936) * '' Ambush Valley'' (1936) * '' Step on It'' (1936) * ''

I'll Name the Murderer ''I'll Name the Murderer'' is a 1936 American crime film produced by C.C. Burr for Puritan Pictures, directed by Raymond K. Johnson and starring Ralph Forbes, Marion Shilling and Malcolm McGregor. The story and screenplay was written by Phil Dun ...

'' (1936) * ''

Roamin' Wild ''Roamin' Wild'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Bernard B. Ray and starring Tom Tyler and Max Davidson. It was produced and released by the independent Reliable Pictures. Plot Traveling peddler Abe Wineman is robbed by outlaws. R ...

'' (1936) * '' Ridin' On '' (1936) * '' The Speed Reporter'' (1936) * ''

The Reckless Way ''The Reckless Way'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Raymond K. Johnson and starring Marian Nixon, Kane Richmond and Inez Courtney.Pitts p.292 The film's sets were designed by the art director Vin Taylor. Synopsis A woman working as ...

'' (1936) * '' Pinto Rustlers'' (1936) * ''

The Millionaire Kid ''The Millionaire Kid'' is a 1936 American drama film produced and released by Reliable Pictures with former silent stars Bryant Washburn and Betty Compson in the leads and with several other familiar silent personalities in supporting roles.''Th ...

'' (1936) * ''

Caryl of the Mountains ''Caryl of the Mountains'' is a 1936 American northern (genre), northern film directed by Bernard B. Ray. It was made for Reliable Pictures and shot at Big Bear Lake, California. The film is also known as ''Get That Girl'' in the United Kingdom ...

'' (1936) * '' Vengeance of Rannah'' (1936) * '' The Silver Trail'' (1937) * ''

Santa Fe Rides ''Santa Fe Rides'' is a 1937 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Bernard B. Ray and starring Bob Custer, Eleanor Stewart and David Sharpe (actor), David Sharpe.Pitts p.320-21 Partial cast * Bob Custer as Santa Fe Evans * Eleano ...

'' (1937) * ''

It's All in Your Mind "It's All in Your Mind" is a single by Beck, released in 1995. Although then a non-album single (being a 7" of outtakes from his album '' One Foot in the Grave''), a later version was recorded and included on his album '' Sea Change'' (2002); this ...

'' (1938) * ''

Smoky Trails ''Smoky Trails'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Bernard B. Ray and written by George H. Plympton. The film stars Bob Steele, Jean Carmen, Murdock MacQuarrie, Bruce Dane, Carleton Young and Ted Adams. The film was released on M ...

'' (1939) * '' Fangs of the Wild'' (1939) * ''

Port of Hate ''Port of Hate'' is a 1939 American adventure film directed by Harry S. Webb and written by Joseph O'Donnell. The film stars Polly Ann Young, Kenneth Harlan, Carleton Young, Shia Jung, Monte Blue and Frank LaRue. The film was released on August 2 ...

'' (1939) * ''

The Pal from Texas ''The Pal from Texas'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and written by Carl Krusada. The film stars Bob Steele, Claire Rochelle, Josef Swickard, Betty Mack, Ted Adams and Carleton Young. The film was released on Novem ...

'' (1939) * '' Broken Strings'' (1940) * '' Dangerous Lady'' (1941) * '' Law of the Timber'' (1941) * '' Too Many Women'' (1942) * ''

House of Errors ''House of Errors'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Bernard B. Ray and written by Ewart Adamson and Eddie Davis. The film stars Harry Langdon, Charley Rogers, Marian Marsh, Ray Walker, Betty Blythe and John Holland. The film was ...

'' (1942) * ''

Buffalo Bill Rides Again ''Buffalo Bill Rides Again'' is a 1947 American Western film starring Richard Arlen. It is also known as Return of Buffalo Bill. Plot Cast *Richard Arlen as Buffalo Bill *Jennifer Holt Jennifer Holt (born Elizabeth Marshall Holt; Novembe ...

'' (1947) * '' Timber Fury'' (1950) * '' Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory'' (1952) * '' Hollywood Thrill Makers'' (1954) * '' Spring Affair'' (1960)

References

Bibliography

* Michael R. Pitts. ''Poverty Row Studios, 1929–1940: An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies, with a Filmography for Each''. McFarland & Company, 2005.

External links

* 1895 births 1964 deaths American film producers American film directors Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States {{US-film-producer-stub

Death

Selected filmography

References

Further reading

Bibliography

External links