George Archainbaud (May 7, 1890 – February 20, 1959) was a
French-
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
film
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
and
television director
A television director is in charge of the activities involved in making a television program or section of a program. They are generally responsible for decisions about the editorial content and creative style of a program, and ensuring the prod ...
.
Biography
In the beginning of his career he worked on stage as an actor and manager. He came to the United States in January 1914, and started his film career as an assistant director to
Emile Chautard
Emil or Emile may refer to:
Literature
*'' Emile, or On Education'' (1762), a treatise on education by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
* ''Émile'' (novel) (1827), an autobiographical novel based on Émile de Girardin's early life
*'' Emil and the Detecti ...
at the
World Film Company
The World Film Company or World Film Corporation was an American film production and distribution company, organized in 1914 in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
Short-lived but significant in American film history, World Film was created by financier and fil ...
in
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough at the eastern border of Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, situated along the Hudson River atop the Palisades.
As of the 2020 U.S. census, the borough's population was 40,191. As of the 2010 U.S. census, t ...
. In 1917 he made his own directorial debut ''
As Man Made Her''. During the next three and a half decades he directed over one hundred films. After the beginning of the 1950s he moved to television.
While working at
RKO Radio Pictures
RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orph ...
in the beginning of the 1930s, he showed some artistic and skillful eye with many of his films. The finest examples include ''
Thirteen Women
''Thirteen Women'' is a 1932 American pre-Code psychological thriller film, produced by David O. Selznick and directed by George Archainbaud. It stars Myrna Loy, Irene Dunne and Ricardo Cortez. The film is based on the 1930 bestselling novel of ...
'' (1932), a story of ethnic discrimination and revenge, with
Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. Trained as a dancer, Loy devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. ...
as a half-caste Hindu; ''
The Lost Squadron
''The Lost Squadron'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama, action, film starring Richard Dix, Mary Astor, and Robert Armstrong, with Erich von Stroheim and Joel McCrea in supporting roles, and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Based on the nove'' ...
'' (1932), a memorable thriller about Hollywood stunt flyers, who risk their lives under the direction of monstrous
Erich von Stroheim; ''
Penguin Pool Murder
''The Penguin Pool Murder'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy/mystery film starring Edna May Oliver as Hildegarde Withers, a witness in a murder case at the New York Aquarium, with James Gleason as the police inspector in charge of the case, wh ...
'' (1932) and ''
Murder on the Blackboard
''Murder on the Blackboard'' is a 1934 American pre-Code mystery/comedy film starring Edna May Oliver as schoolteacher Hildegarde Withers and James Gleason as Police Inspector Oscar Piper. Together, they investigate a murder at Withers' school. I ...
'' (1934), the first two films of the RKO trilogy starring
Edna May Oliver
Edna May Oliver (born Edna May Nutter, November 9, 1883 – November 9, 1942) was an American stage and film actress. During the 1930s, she was one of the better-known character actresses in American films, often playing tart-tongued spinsters. ...
as Miss Hildegarde Withers, a teacher and amateur investigator created by American writer
Stuart Palmer; and later in his career the RKO drama ''
Hunt the Man Down
''Hunt the Man Down'' is a 1951 American crime film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Gig Young.
Plot
Public defender Paul Bennett dedicates himself to defending a destitute man accused of murder. Piano player Richard Kincaid was broug ...
'' (1950), a film noir starring
Gig Young
Gig Young (born Byron Elsworth Barr; November 4, 1913 – October 19, 1978) was an American actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in ''Come Fill the Cup'' (1952) and '' Teacher's Pet'' ...
which seems more concerned in showing the post-war transformation of seven characters since 1938, than the investigation to solve a murder case.
Although Archainbaud directed films of all genres, he is nowadays mainly linked with westerns. In fact, it was not until the last decade of his directorial career until he specialized in them. With the producer
Harry Sherman
Harry "Pop" Sherman was an American film producer known for his work in the Western genre during the 1930s and 1940s. He introduced the character Hopalong Cassidy to the silver screen, and is the father of screenwriter Teddi Sherman.
Biograph ...
he made several Hopalong Cassidy oaters. Later he was also one of the principal directors of
Gene Autry's Flying A Productions, at which he made several episodes for such weekly television series as ''
Buffalo Bill, Jr.'', ''
Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) was an American sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.
Oakley developed hunting skills as a child to provide for her impoverished family in western ...
'' and ''
The Adventures of Champion
''The Adventures of Champion'' is an American adventure serial radio drama directed by William Burch about screen cowboy Gene Autry's horse Champion. Each 15-minute episode was broadcast weekday afternoons on the Mutual Broadcasting System in 194 ...
''.
In 1921 he married actress Katherine Johnston (1890 – 1969), whose last film was ''
The Flapper
''The Flapper'' is a 1920 American silent comedy film starring Olive Thomas. Directed by Alan Crosland, the film was the first in the United States to portray the "flapper" lifestyle, which became a cultural craze or fad in the 1920s.
Plot
Si ...
'' (1920). He died in 1959 and is buried at
Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale).
[Wilson, Scott. ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons'', 3d ed.: 2. McFarland & Company (2016) ]
Partial filmography
* ''
As Man Made Her'' (1917)
* ''
A Maid of Belgium
''A Maid of Belgium'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Alice Brady, Louise de Rigney and George MacQuarrie.Parish & Pitts p.7
Cast
* Alice Brady as Adoree
* Louise de Rigney as Claire Hudson
* Ge ...
'' (1917)
* ''
The Awakening'' (1917)
* ''
The Iron Ring
''The Iron Ring'' is a 1997 fantasy novel for children by American author Lloyd Alexander. It features a young king Tamar who leaves Sundari Palace on a quest in a land of humans and talking animals, which are inspired by Indian mythology. Th ...
'' (1917)
* ''
Yankee Pluck
''Yankee Pluck'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Ethel Clayton, Montagu Love, and Johnny Hines.''Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema'', p. 149
Cast
* Ethel Clayton as Polly Pollard
* Ed ...
'' (1917)
* ''
The Brand of Satan'' (1917)
* ''
Diamonds and Pearls
''Diamonds and Pearls'' is the thirteenth studio album by American recording artist Prince, and the first with his new backing band The New Power Generation. It was released on October 1, 1991, by Paisley Park Records and Warner Bros. Record ...
'' (1917)
* ''
The Divine Sacrifice'' (1918)
* ''
The Love Cheat
''The Love Cheat'' is a 1919 silent American film written by Peggy McCall and directed by George Archainbaud. It stars June Caprice and Creighton Hale.
Plot
Henry Calving is a struggling artist in New York City. When a potential client asks to ...
'' (1919)
* ''
The Shadow of Rosalie Byrnes
''The Shadow of Rosalie Byrnes'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Elaine Hammerstein, Edward Langford and Alfred Hickman.Connelly p.408
Cast
* Elaine Hammerstein as Leontine Maddern / Leona Mad ...
'' (1920)
* ''
The Pleasure Seekers'' (1920)
* ''
Marooned Hearts
''Marooned Hearts'' is a lost 1920 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud. It starred Conway Tearle and Zena Keefe.
Plot
As described in a film magazine, Dr. Paul Carrington (Tearle), a young surgeon looked to for great thing ...
'' (1920)
* ''
In Walked Mary'' (1920)
* ''
Handcuffs or Kisses'' (1921)
* ''
Clay Dollars'' (1921)
* ''
The Girl from Nowhere'' (1921)
* ''
A Man of Stone
''A Man of Stone'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Conway Tearle, Betty Howe, and Martha Mansfield.
Plot
As described in a film magazine, after returning to London, Captain Deering (Tearle) of th ...
'' (1921)
* ''
One Week of Love
''One Week of Love'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Elaine Hammerstein, Conway Tearle and Kate Lester.Munden p.572
Cast
* Elaine Hammerstein as Beth Wynn
* Conway Tearle as Buck Fearnley
* Kate ...
'' (1922)
* ''
Evidence
Evidence for a proposition is what supports this proposition. It is usually understood as an indication that the supported proposition is true. What role evidence plays and how it is conceived varies from field to field.
In epistemology, evidenc ...
'' (1922)
* ''
The Power of a Lie
''The Power of a Lie'' is a 1922 American drama film directed by George Archainbaud and written by Charles Kenyon. It is based on the 1908 novel ''The Power of a Lie'' by Johan Bojer. The film stars Mabel Julienne Scott, David Torrence, Maud ...
'' (1922)
* ''
Under Oath'' (1922)
* ''
The Common Law'' (1923)
* ''
The Shadow of the Desert
''The Shadow of the Desert'' (also released under its original title ''The Shadow of the East'') is a 1924 American silent horror film directed by George Archainbaud. The film is based upon the novel ''The Shadow of the East'' by Edith Maude ...
'' (1924)
* ''
The Plunderer'' (1924)
* ''
Single Wives
''Single Wives'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and produced by and starring Corinne Griffith. It was distributed by First National Pictures.
Cast
Preservation status
''Single Wives'' is preserved at the ...
'' (1924)
* ''
Christine of the Hungry Heart
''Christine of the Hungry Heart'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Florence Vidor. It was produced by Thomas H. Ince and released through First National Pictures.
Plot
As described in a review in ...
'' (1924)
* ''
What Fools Men
''What Fools Men'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Lewis Stone, Shirley Mason, and Ethel Grey Terry.
Plot
As described in a film magazine review, Joseph Greer has invented a new linen-making pr ...
'' (1925)
* ''
The Silent Lover
''The Silent Lover'' is a 1926 American silent adventure film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Milton Sills, Natalie Kingston and Viola Dana.Munden p.717
Cast
* Milton Sills as Count Pierre Tornal
* Natalie Kingston as Vera Sherman ...
'' (1926)
* ''
Puppets
A puppet is an object, often resembling a human, animal or mythical figure, that is animated or manipulated by a person called a puppeteer. The puppeteer uses movements of their hands, arms, or control devices such as rods or strings to mov ...
'' (1926)
* ''
Easy Pickings'' (1927)
* ''
Night Life
Nightlife is a collective term for entertainment that is available and generally more popular from the late evening into the early hours of the morning. It includes pubs, bars, nightclubs, parties, live music, concerts, cabarets, theatre, ...
'' (1927)
* ''
A Woman Against the World
''A Woman Against the World'' is a lost 1928 American drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Harrison Ford, Georgia Hale, and Lee Moran.
Cast
* Harrison Ford as Schuyler Van Loan
* Georgia Hale as Carol Hill
* Lee Moran a ...
'' (1928)
* ''
The Tragedy of Youth
''The Tragedy of Youth'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Patsy Ruth Miller, Warner Baxter and William Collier Jr.Munden p.825 It was produced and released by Tiffany Pictures, one of the largest ...
'' (1928)
* ''
Ladies of the Night Club
''Ladies of the Night Club'' is a 1928 American comedy film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Ricardo Cortez, Barbara Leonard and Lee Moran.Munden p.413 It was produced during the transition to sound film and is essentially a silent fil ...
'' (1928)
* ''
The Man in Hobbles
''The Man in Hobbles'' is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by George Archainbaud and starring John Harron, Lila Lee and Lucien Littlefield.Babington & Barr p.133 The film's sets were designed by the art director Hervey Libbert.
Ca ...
'' (1928)
*''
George Washington Cohen'' (1928)
* ''
Bachelor's Paradise
''Bachelors' Paradise'' (german: Paradies der Junggesellen) is a 1939 German comedy film directed by Kurt Hoffmann and starring Heinz Rühmann, Josef Sieber, and Hans Brausewetter. It was based on a novel by Johannes Boldt. It was shot at the B ...
'' (1928)
* ''
The College Coquette'' (1929)
* ''
Broadway Scandals
''Broadway Scandals'' is a 1929 American Pre-Code musical film.
Cast
* Sally O'Neil - Mary
* Jack Egan - Ted Howard
* Carmel Myers - Valeska
* J. Barney Sherry - Le Claire
* Charles C. Wilson - Jack Lane
* Doris Dawson - Bobby
* Wild Bill Ell ...
'' (1929)
* ''
Two Men and a Maid'' (1929)
* ''
Framed'' (1930)
* ''
Shooting Straight'' (1930)
* ''
The Silver Horde'' (1930)
* ''
The Lady Refuses
''The Lady Refuses'' is a 1931 American pre-Code melodrama film, directed by George Archainbaud, from a screenplay by Wallace Smith, based on an original story by Guy Bolton and Robert Milton. It stars Betty Compson as a destitute young woman ...
'' (1931)
* ''
Thirteen Women
''Thirteen Women'' is a 1932 American pre-Code psychological thriller film, produced by David O. Selznick and directed by George Archainbaud. It stars Myrna Loy, Irene Dunne and Ricardo Cortez. The film is based on the 1930 bestselling novel of ...
'' (1932)
* ''
The Lost Squadron
''The Lost Squadron'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama, action, film starring Richard Dix, Mary Astor, and Robert Armstrong, with Erich von Stroheim and Joel McCrea in supporting roles, and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Based on the nove'' ...
'' (1932)
* ''
The Penguin Pool Murder
''The Penguin Pool Murder'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy/mystery film starring Edna May Oliver as Hildegarde Withers, a witness in a murder case at the New York Aquarium, with James Gleason as the police inspector in charge of the case, ...
'' (1932)
* ''
Men of Chance
''Men of Chance'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Archainbaud, starring Ricardo Cortez, Mary Astor, and John Halliday.
Plot
A destitute Marthe Preston is in dire straits in Paris until gambler Richard Dorval comes to ...
'' (1932)
* ''
State's Attorney'' (1932)
* ''
After Tonight
''After Tonight'' is a 1933 American pre-Code World War I spy film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Constance Bennett and Gilbert Roland. The studio considered firing Bennett after the film lost $100,000 at the box office.
Plot
With ...
'' (1933)
* ''
Murder on the Blackboard
''Murder on the Blackboard'' is a 1934 American pre-Code mystery/comedy film starring Edna May Oliver as schoolteacher Hildegarde Withers and James Gleason as Police Inspector Oscar Piper. Together, they investigate a murder at Withers' school. I ...
'' (1934)
* ''
Hotel Haywire
''Hotel Haywire'' is a 1937 American comedy film written by Preston Sturges with uncredited rewrites by Lillie Hayward. It was directed by George Archainbaud and stars Leo Carrillo, Lynne Overman, Spring Byington, Benny Baker and Colette Lyons.
...
'' (1937)
* ''
Her Jungle Love
''Her Jungle Love'' is a 1938 American south seas adventure film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Dorothy Lamour and Ray Milland. Portions of the film were shot at Palm Springs, California.here for Table of Contents
Plot
Two pilot ...
'' (1938)
* ''
Thanks for the Memory
"Thanks for the Memory" (1938) is a popular song composed by Ralph Rainger with lyrics by Leo Robin. It was introduced in the 1938 film ''The Big Broadcast of 1938'' by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross, and recorded by Shep Fields and His Orchestr ...
'' (1938)
* ''
Night Work'' (1939)
* ''
Some Like It Hot'' (1939)
* ''
Boy Trouble
''Boy Trouble'' is a 1939 American film starring Charles Ruggles, Mary Boland, Donald O'Connor, and Billy Lee.
Plot
In the story, Sybil Fitch (Boland) adopts two orphan boys (O'Connor, Lee). Her husband (Ruggles) is infuriated. However, when th ...
'' (1939)
* ''
Opened by Mistake
''Opened by Mistake'' is a 1940 film starring Charlie Ruggles and Janice Logan.
Plot
Journalist buddies Jimmie Daniels and Buzz Nelson have decided to spend their vacation together at the Latonia horse race track on Yucatán, Mexico. Their plans ...
'' (1940)
* ''
The Kansan'' (1943)
* ''
Girls of the Big House
''Girls of the Big House'' is a 1945 American drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Lynne Roberts, Virginia Christine and Marion Martin.LoBrutto p.449
The film's sets were designed by the art director Gano Chittenden.
Plot
A ...
'' (1945)
* ''
Hunt the Man Down
''Hunt the Man Down'' is a 1951 American crime film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Gig Young.
Plot
Public defender Paul Bennett dedicates himself to defending a destitute man accused of murder. Piano player Richard Kincaid was broug ...
'' (1950)
* ''
The Old West'' (1952)
* ''
Last of the Pony Riders'' (1953)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Archainbaud, George
1890 births
1959 deaths
American film directors
French emigrants to the United States
Mass media people from Paris
Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)