Fanchon Royer (1902–1986) was an American film producer, active during the 1930s. She was one of the few woman producers in Hollywood during the era, associated with low-budget
independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independ ...
studios such as
Mayfair Pictures.
After graduating from the
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in C ...
, she entered films during the
silent era
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, wh ...
as an
extra
Extra or Xtra may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Film
* ''The Extra'' (1962 film), a Mexican film
* ''The Extra'' (2005 film), an Australian film
Literature
* ''Extra'' (newspaper), a Brazilian newspaper
* ''Extra!'', an American me ...
. Later work as a film journalist and publicity agent led on to her career as a
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 n ...
producer. In 1936 she was production assistant to
Nat Levine
Nat Levine (July 26, 1899 – August 6, 1989), was an American film producer. He produced 105 films between 1921 and 1946. He was personal secretary to Marcus Loew, formed Mascot Pictures in 1927, and merged Mascot with Herbert Yates's Rep ...
at
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City an ...
, but resigned to establish her own company. However this only produced one film.
[Pitts p.330]
Following her film career, she moved to Mexico and upon the suggestion of Monsignor Edward R. Kirk, she became a successful writer. Her work focused on Catholic themes in the American Southwest and Mexico with her most noted titles being: The Franciscans Came First (St. Anthony Guild, 1951), The Tenth Muse: Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (St. Anthony Guild, 1952), St. Francis Solanus, Apostle to America (St. Anthony Guild, 1955), Padre Pro (Kenedy, 1954), The Power of Little Children (Academy Library Guild, 1954), and St. Anthony Claret (Farrar, 1957).
She was married to the actor
Raymond Cannon from 1920 until they divorced in 1931.
Selected filmography
* ''
Cannonball Express'' (1932)
* ''
The Heart Punch'' (1932)
* ''
Behind Jury Doors
''Behind Jury Doors'' is a 1932 American pre-Code mystery film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring Helen Chandler, William Collier Jr. and Blanche Friderici.Pitts, p. 329
Cast
* Helen Chandler as Elsa Lanfield
* William Collier Jr. as ...
'' (1932)
* ''
The Honor of the Press
''The Honor of the Press'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code crime film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring Edward J. Nugent, Rita La Roy and Dorothy Gulliver.Pitts p.329 It was produced as a second feature for release by Mayfair Pictures. The fil ...
'' (1932)
* ''
Revenge at Monte Carlo
''Revenge at Monte Carlo'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring June Collyer, José Crespo (actor), José Crespo and Wheeler Oakman.Pitts, p. 329 It is also known by the alternative title of ''Mystery ...
'' (1933)
* ''
Neighbors' Wives
''Neighbors' Wives'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring Dorothy Mackaill, Tom Moore and Mary Kornman.Dooley, p. 338
Cast
* Dorothy Mackaill as Helen McGrath
* Tom Moore as John McGrath
* Mary Kornm ...
'' (1933)
*''
Her Resale Value
''Her Resale Value'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring June Clyde, George J. Lewis and Noel Francis.Pitts, p. 253 The film's sets were designed by the art director Paul Palmentola.
Bored of her lif ...
'' (1933)
* ''
Alimony Madness'' (1933)
* ''
Fighting Lady
''Fighting Lady'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Carlos F. Borcosque and starring Peggy Shannon, Jack Mulhall and Marion Lessing.Pitts p.329 The film was a low-budget Poverty Row production, distributed in some regions by Majestic Pic ...
'' (1935)
* ''
Ten Laps to Go
''Ten Laps to Go'' (''King of the Speedway'') is a 1938 American action/drama film directed by Elmer Clifton. The film stars Rex Lease as a champion race car driver, Duncan Renaldo as his rival, and Muriel Evans as the romantic interest. Former si ...
'' (1936)
* ''
Mile-a-Minute-Love
''Mile-a-Minute-Love'' is a 1937 American drama film written by Duncan Renaldo who also stars as phony Spanish Count Ribalto. The ersatz count steals a racing boat and swindles Wynne Drexel (Duncan) out of $100,000. When Bob (Bakewell) solves the ...
'' (1937)
* ''
A Million to One
"A Million to One" is a song written by Phil Medley and first recorded by Jimmy Charles and the Revellettes.
Chart history
The single, released by Promo Records (P-1002), peaked at number five on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 singles chart.
C ...
'' (1937)
* ''
Death in the Air
''Death in the Air'' (aka ''Pilot X'' and ''The Mysterious Bombardier'') is a 1937 American film directed by Elmer Clifton and stars Lona Andre, John Carroll, Leon Ames and Henry Hall. The film is also known as ''Murder in the Air'' in the Unite ...
'' (1937)
* ''
Turn Off the Moon
''Turn Off the Moon'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Lewis Seiler, written by Mildred Harrington, Marguerite Roberts, Paul Gerard Smith and Harlan Ware, and starring Charlie Ruggles, Eleanore Whitney, Johnny Downs, Kenny Baker, Phi ...
'' (1937)
* ''
Religious Racketeers
Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...
'' (1938)
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
*
Fanchon Royerin The Women Film Pioneers Project
1902 births
1986 deaths
American film producers
People from Des Moines, Iowa
Women film pioneers
{{US-film-producer-stub