Bayard Veiller (January 2, 1869 – January 16, 1943) was an American playwright, screenwriter, producer and film director. He wrote for 32 films between 1915 and 1941.

Biography

He was born on January 2, 1869, in

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, New York to Philip Bayard Veiller. He was married to English actress

Margaret Wycherly Margaret De Wolfe Wycherly (born Margaret De Wolfe, 26 October 1881 – 6 June 1956) was an English stage and film actress. She spent many years in the United States and is best remembered for her Broadway roles and Hollywood character parts. On ...

from 1901 to 1922; their son, Anthony Veiller, was also a screenwriter. Veiller first broke into

Broadway theatre Broadway theatre,Although ''theater'' is generally the spelling for this common noun in the United States (see American and British English spelling differences), 130 of the 144 extant and extinct Broadway venues use (used) the spelling ''Th ...

with ''The Primrose Path'', a play that he wrote and produced. It was a failure and left him broke, although it later served as the basis for the 1920 film, '' Burnt Wings''. His first success as a playwright was '' Within the Law'', a hit on Broadway in 1912-1913. It was later adapted as a movie five times. Veiller continued to write plays as he began screenwriting. His later Broadway hits included ''The Thirteenth Chair'' and ''

The Trial of Mary Dugan ''The Trial of Mary Dugan'' is a play written by Bayard Veiller. The 1927 melodrama concerns a sensational courtroom trial of a showgirl accused of killing her millionaire lover. Her defense attorney is her brother, Jimmy Dugan. It was first pres ...

'', which were adapted as films. The play ''The Thirteenth Chair'' had been licensed for production in Britain in 1917. Veiller wrote an autobiography, ''The Fun I've Had'', published in 1941 by Reynal and Hitchcock. He died on January 16, 1943, in New York City at age 74.

Selected filmography

* ''

The Deadlier Sex ''The Deadlier Sex'' is a 1920 American silent drama-comedy film directed by Robert Thornby which stars Blanche Sweet and features Boris Karloff, and was distributed by Pathé Exchange. The screenplay was written by Fred Myton, based on a short ...

'' (1920) * '' Alias Ladyfingers'' (1921) * ''

The Lure of Youth ''The Lure of Youth'' is a 1921 American silent romance film, directed by Phil Rosen. It stars Cleo Madison, William Conklin, and Gareth Hughes, and was released on January 10, 1921. Cast list * Cleo Madison as Florentine Fair * William Con ...

'' (1921) * ''

There Are No Villains ''There Are No Villains'' is a lost 1921 American silent crime melodrama film starring Viola Dana and produced and directed by Bayard Veiller. Cast *Viola Dana - Rosa Moreland *Gaston Glass - John King *Edward Cecil - George Sala *DeWitt Jennin ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Last Card ''The Last Card'' is an extant 1921 silent romantic drama film directed by Bayard Veiller and starring May Allison. It was produced and distributed by Metro Pictures to poor audience reception. Cast *May Allison * Alan Roscoe *Stanley Goethals ...

'' (1922) * ''

The Face Between ''The Face Between'' is a 1922 American silent melodrama film. Directed by Bayard Veiller, the film stars Bert Lytell, Andrée Tourneur, and Sylvia Breamer. It was released on April 17, 1922. Cast * Bert Lytell as Tommy Carteret, Sr./Tommy Ca ...

'' (1922) * ''

The Right That Failed ''The Right That Failed'' is a 1922 American silent melodrama film directed by Bayard Veiller. Based on a short story by John Phillips Marquand, the film stars Bert Lytell, Virginia Valli, and De Witt Jennings. It was released by Metro Picture ...

'' (1922) * ''

Sherlock Brown ''Sherlock Brown'' is a 1922 American silent comedy-drama film. Directed by Bayard Veiller, the film stars Bert Lytell, Ora Carew, and Sylvia Breamer. It was released on June 26, 1922. Cast list * Bert Lytell as William Brown * Ora Carew as B ...

'' (1922) * ''

Smooth as Satin ''Smooth as Satin'' is a 1925 American silent drama film based upon the stage play, ''The Chatterbox'', by Bayard Veiller. It was directed by Ralph Ince and stars Evelyn Brent. The film was remade in 1930, entitled ''Alias French Gertie''. P ...

'' (1925) * ''

'' (1929) * '' The Thirteenth Chair'' (1929) * '' Paid'' (1930) * '' The Eagle and the Hawk'' (1933) producer * ''

Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen ''Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen'' is a 1934 pre-Code American comedy-drama film, starring Dorothea Wieck, Alice Brady, and Baby LeRoy, written by Adela Rogers St. Johns and Jane Storm from a novel and story by Rupert Hughes, and directed by Alexa ...

'' (1934) * ''

The Notorious Sophie Lang ''The Notorious Sophie Lang'' is a 1934 American crime drama film directed by Ralph Murphy and starring Gertrude Michael, Paul Cavanagh and Alison Skipworth.The Trial of Mary Dugan ''The Trial of Mary Dugan'' is a play written by Bayard Veiller. The 1927 melodrama concerns a sensational courtroom trial of a showgirl accused of killing her millionaire lover. Her defense attorney is her brother, Jimmy Dugan. It was first pres ...

'' (1941)

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Veiller, Bayard 1869 births 1943 deaths American male screenwriters Film producers from New York (state) Writers from Brooklyn Film directors from New York City Screenwriters from New York (state) 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters