Henry Alexander MacRae (August 29, 1876 – October 2, 1944) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

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 ...

, producer, and

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

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 ...

, working on many film serials for

Universal Studios Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

. One of a number of

Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood Motion pictures have been a part of the culture of Canada since the industry began. History Around 1910, the East Coast filmmakers began to take advantage of the mild California winter climates, and after Nestor Studios, run by Canadian Al Christi ...

, MacRae was credited with many innovations in

film production Filmmaking (film production) is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, starting with an initial story, idea, or commission. It then continues through screenwriting, casti ...

, including artificial light for interiors, the

wind machine The wind machine (also called an aeoliphone or aelophon) is a friction idiophone used to produce the sound of wind for orchestral compositions and musical theater productions. Construction The wind machine is constructed of a large cyli ...

double exposure In photography and cinematography, a multiple exposure is the superimposition of two or more exposures to create a single image, and double exposure has a corresponding meaning in respect of two images. The exposure values may or may not be ide ...

s and shooting at night.

Biography

Henry MacRae was born in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, Canada on August 29, 1876, and died in

Beverly Hills Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Bev ...

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 ...

, United States on October 2, 1944, aged 68. He was active as a director from 1912 to 1933, making more than 130 films, most of them silent. In addition to the many

westerns The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...

and adventure films to his credit, he directed the first

Thai Thai or THAI may refer to: * Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia ** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand ** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand *** Thai script *** Thai (Unicode block ...

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

co-production, ''

Miss Suwanna of Siam ''Miss Suwanna of Siam'' ( th, นางสาวสุวรรณ; ), was a 1923 romance film written and directed by Henry MacRae, set in Thailand (then Siam) and starring Thai actors. It was one of the first feature films to be made in Thail ...

'', in 1923. His first "

talkie A sound film is a motion picture 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, percep ...

" was the first ''

Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...

'' movie with sound, ''

Tarzan the Tiger ''Tarzan the Tiger'' (1929) is a Universal movie serial based on the novel '' Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar'' by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It stars Frank Merrill as Tarzan, Natalie Kingston as Jane, and Al Ferguson. It was directed by Henry M ...

'' in 1929. He also directed several westerns starring

Hoot Gibson Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson (August 6, 1892 – August 23, 1962) was an American rodeo champion, film actor, film director, and producer. While acting and stunt work began as a sideline to Gibson's focus on rodeo, he successfully transitione ...

, a

Tom Mix Thomas Edwin Mix (born Thomas Hezikiah Mix; January 6, 1880 – October 12, 1940) was an American film actor and the star of many early Western films between 1909 and 1935. He appeared in 291 films, all but nine of which were silent films. He w ...

western and movies featuring Rex the Wonder Horse. His producer credits in the 1940s include such serial films as ''

The Green Hornet The Green Hornet is a superhero created in 1936 by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell. Since his 1930s radio debut, the character has appeared in numerous serialized dramas in a wide variety of media ...

'' and ''

Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe ''Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe'' is a 1940 American black-and-white science fiction 12-chapter movie serial from Universal Pictures, produced by Henry MacRae and co-directed by Ford Beebe and Ray Taylor. The serial stars Buster Crabbe, Ca ...

''.

Selected filmography

* '' In the Coils of the Python'' (1913) * ''

The Girl and the Tiger ''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite ...

'' (1913) * ''

In the Secret Service ''In the Secret Service'' is a 1913 American short silent Western film directed by Henry MacRae. Cast * Charles Bartlett * Phyllis Gordon as Edith * Richard Stanton as Frank Armor (unconfirmed) * Hoot Gibson * Bertha Blanchard See also * ...

'' (1913) * '' The Werewolf'' (1913) * ''

The Trey o' Hearts ''The Trey o' Hearts'' is a 1914 American 15-chapter action film serial directed by Wilfred Lucas and Henry MacRae. It was written by Allan Dwan and Bess Meredyth, based on a story of the same name by Louis Joseph Vance. The first chapter ran 3 ...

'' (1914) * ''

Coral Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Coral species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and sec ...

'' (1915) * '' The Conspiracy'' (1916) * '' Behind the Lines'' (1916) * ''

Liberty Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom. In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...

'' (1916) * ''

Guilty Guilty or The Guilty may refer to: * Guilt (emotion), an experience that occurs when a person believes they have violated a moral standard Law *Culpability, the degree to which an agent can be held responsible for action or inaction *Guilt (law) ...

'' (1916) * ''

The Mystery Ship ''The Mystery Ship'' is a 1917 American adventure film serial directed by Harry Harvey and Henry MacRae. The film is considered to be lost. Cast Chapter titles # The Crescent Scar # The Grip of Hate # Adrift # The Secret of the Tomb # The Fir ...

'' (1917) * '' Man and Beast'' (1917) * ''

The Bronze Bride ''The Bronze Bride'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Henry MacRae and starring Claire McDowell, Frank Mayo, and Edward Clark.Ingraham p. 248 Cast * Claire McDowell as A-Che-Chee * Frank Mayo as Harvey Ogden * Edward Clark as Wi ...

'' (1917) * '' Money Madness'' (1917) * '' Bull's Eye'' (1917) * ''

The Phantom Riders ''The Phantom Riders'' is a 1918 silent American Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost. Plot As described in a film magazine, Dave Bland (Steele), head of a band of cattle rustlers op ...

'' (1918) * ''

Elmo the Mighty ''Elmo the Mighty'' is a 1919 American silent Western film serial directed by Henry MacRae and J. P. McGowan. The film is now considered to be lost. Cast * Elmo Lincoln as Captain Elmo Armstrong * Grace Cunard as Lucille Gray * Fred Starr * V ...

'' (1919) * ''

The Dragon's Net ''The Dragon's Net'' is a 1920 action film serial directed by Henry MacRae. It was adapted from J. Allan Dunn's "The Petals of Lao-Tze," from the December 18, 1917 issue of ''Adventure''. Many scenes were shot in the Far East and Hawaii. ''The ...

'' (1920) * ''

Cameron of the Royal Mounted ''Cameron of the Royal Mounted'' is a 1921 Canadian silent action film directed by Henry MacRae and starring Gaston Glass, Irving Cummings and Vivienne Osborne.Langman p.531 Part of the tradition of Northerns, it is based on the story ''Corporal ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Man from Glengarry ''The Man from Glengarry'' is a 1922 American-Canadian silent drama film directed by Henry MacRae and starring Anders Randolf, Warner Richmond, and Pauline Garon. It is based on the 1901 novel of the same title by Ralph Connor. The film was dist ...

'' (1922) * ''

'' (1923) * ''

Glengarry School Days ''Glengarry School Days'' is a 1923 Canadian silent drama film directed by Henry MacRae and starring Harlan Knight, James Harrison and Pauline Garon. It is based on the novel of the same title by Ralph Connor.Goble p.780 It was distributed in the ...

'' (1923) * ''

Racing for Life ''Racing for Life'' is a 1924 American silent action film directed by Henry MacRae and starring Eva Novak, William Fairbanks and Philo McCullough.Munden p.627 Cast * Eva Novak as Grace Danton * William Fairbanks as Jack Grant * Philo McCullo ...

'' (1924) *''

A Fight for Honor ''A Fight for Honor'' is a lost film, lost 1924 American silent film, silent action film directed by Henry MacRae and starring William Fairbanks, Eva Novak and Claire McDowell.Connelly p.346 Cast * William Fairbanks as Jack Adams * Eva Novak as Ma ...

'' (1924) *'' The Price She Paid'' (1924) * ''

Tainted Money ''Tainted Money'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Henry MacRae and starring William Fairbanks, Eva Novak and Bruce Gordon. Cast * William Fairbanks as Chester Carlton * Eva Novak as Adams' Daughter * Bruce Gordon as Marston * E ...

'' (1924) * ''

Ace of Spades The Ace of Spades (also known as the Spadille and Death Card) is traditionally the highest and most valued card in the deck of playing cards in English-speaking countries. The actual value of the card varies from game to game. Design The orn ...

'' (1925) * '' The Scarlet Streak'' (1925) *''

The Fearless Lover ''The Fearless Lover'' is a lost 1925 American silent drama film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and Henry MacRae and starring William Fairbanks, Eva Novak, and Tom Kennedy. Plot As described in a film magazine reviews, Patrick Michael Casey, son o ...

'' (1925) * ''

Strings of Steel ''Strings of Steel'' is a 1926 action film serial directed by Henry MacRae. The film is considered to be lost. Cast * William Desmond as Ned Brown * Eileen Sedgwick as Gloria Van Norton * Albert J. Smith as Peter Allen * Arthur Morrison as Jim ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Trail of the Tiger ''The Trail of the Tiger'' is a 1927 American film serial directed by Henry MacRae. The film is considered to be lost. Cast * Jack Dougherty as Jack Stewart (as Jack Daugherty) * Frances Teague as Trixie Hemingway * Jack Mower as Tiger Jordan ...

'' (1927) * ''

Wild Beauty ''Wild Beauty'' is a 1946 American action film directed by Wallace Fox and written by Adele Buffington. The film stars Don Porter, Lois Collier, Jacqueline deWit, Robert Wilcox, George Cleveland, Dick Curtis and Robert 'Buzz' Henry. The film w ...

'' (1927) * ''

Two Outlaws ''Two Outlaws'' is a 1928 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film directed by Henry MacRae and starring Jack Perrin and Kathleen Collins (actress), Kathleen Collins.Langman, p. 473 Cast * Jack Perrin as Phil Manners / The Lon ...

'' (1928) * '' Wild Blood'' (1928) * ''

Burning the Wind ''Burning the Wind'' is a 1928 American romantic drama film, directed by Herbert Blaché and Henry MacRae, starring Hoot Gibson and featuring Boris Karloff. The film is considered to be lost.Tarzan the Tiger ''Tarzan the Tiger'' (1929) is a Universal movie serial based on the novel '' Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar'' by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It stars Frank Merrill as Tarzan, Natalie Kingston as Jane, and Al Ferguson. It was directed by Henry M ...

'' (1929) * '' The Ace of Scotland Yard'' (1929) * ''

The Harvest of Hate ''The Harvest of Hate'' is a 1929 American silent Western film directed by Henry MacRae and written by George H. Plympton and Gardner Bradford. The film stars Rex the Wonder Horse, Jack Perrin, Helen Foster, Tom London and Starlight the Horse ...

'' (1929) * ''

Smilin' Guns Smilin' Guns is a 1929 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film, directed by Henry MacRae and starring Hoot Gibson. Plot Cowboy Jack "Dirty Neck" Purvin travels to San Francisco to learn how to become a refined gentleman to im ...

'' (1929) * ''

Plunging Hoofs ''Plunging Hoofs'' is a 1929 American silent Western film directed by Henry MacRae and written by George Morgan and Gardner Bradford. The film stars Starlight the Horse, Rex the Wonder Horse, Jack Perrin, Barbara Worth, J. P. McGowan and D ...

'' (1929) * ''

The Indians Are Coming ''The Indians Are Coming'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code Universal movie serial based on ''The Great West That Was'' by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The serial was the first "all-talking" (complete sound rather than a silent movie with occasiona ...

'' (1930) * ''

The Jade Box ''The Jade Box'' (1930) is a Universal movie serial. It was a partial sound film with long silent sequences. Only an incomplete version survives today in Universal's vault, with incomplete footage and some missing sound discs. Plot John Lama ...

'' (1930) * ''

The Lost Special "The Story of the Lost Special", sometimes abbreviated to "The Lost Special", is a mystery short story by Arthur Conan Doyle first published in ''The Strand Magazine'' in August 1898. A minor character in the story is possibly implied to be Doyle ...

'' (1932) * ''

Flash Gordon Flash Gordon is the protagonist of a space adventure comic strip created and originally drawn by Alex Raymond. First published January 7, 1934, the strip was inspired by, and created to compete with, the already established ''Buck Rogers'' adve ...

'' (1936) * ''

'' (1940)

References

* Richardson, Thomas (1993) ,

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...

. (Cached page retrieved October 13, 2005)

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Macrae, Henry 1876 births 1944 deaths Film directors from Toronto People from Old Toronto Writers from Toronto Cinema pioneers Film serial crew Canadian expatriate film directors in the United States