Harry Beaumont (10 February 1888 – 22 December 1966) was an American film director, actor, and screenwriter. He worked for a variety of production companies including

Fox Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelve sp ...

, Goldwyn,

Metro Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to: Geography * Metro (city), a city in Indonesia * A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center Public transport * Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urba ...

Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American Film studio, film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, Califo ...

, and

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by amazon (company), Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded o ...

Career

Beaumont's greatest successes were during the

silent film 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, when ...

era, when he directed films including

John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly att ...

's ''

Beau Brummel George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (7 June 1778 – 30 March 1840) was an important figure in Regency England and, for many years, the arbiter of men's fashion. At one time, he was a close friend of the Prince Regent, the future King George IV, but ...

'' (1924) and the silent youth movie ''

Our Dancing Daughters ''Our Dancing Daughters'' is a 1928 American silent drama film starring Joan Crawford and John Mack Brown about the "loosening of youth morals" that took place during the 1920s. The film was directed by Harry Beaumont and produced by Hunt Str ...

'' (1928), featuring

Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, ncertain year from 1904 to 1908was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway. Crawford was signed to a motion pict ...

. He then directed MGM's 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 ...

musical, ''

The Broadway Melody ''The Broadway Melody'', also known as ''The Broadway Melody of 1929'', is a 1929 American pre-Code musical film and the first sound film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. It was one of the first musicals to feature a Technicolor sequen ...

'' (1929). The latter film won the

Best Picture This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

that year, and Beaumont was nominated for

Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * BA ...

Personal life and death

Beaumont was married to actress Hazel Daly. The couple had twin daughters Anne and Geraldine, born in 1922. On 22 December 1966, Beaumont died at St. John's Hospital in

Santa Monica, California Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

. His gravesite is at

Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park is a privately owned cemetery in Glendale, California. It is the original and current flagship location of Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries, a chain of six cemeteries and four additional mortuaries in Southern Cal ...

Filmography

Director

* ''

The Truant Soul ''The Truant Soul'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Henry B. Walthall, Mary Charleson and Patrick Calhoun.Connelly p.424 Cast * Henry B. Walthall as Dr. John Lancaster / Dr. Lawson * Mary Charleson as ...

'' (1916) * '' Skinner's Dress Suit'' (1917) * ''

Burning the Candle ''Burning the Candle'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Henry B. Walthall, Mary Charleson and Frances Raymond.Langman p.389 Cast * Henry B. Walthall as James Maxwell * Mary Charleson as Molly Carringto ...

'' (1917) * ''

Skinner's Bubble ''Skinner's Bubble'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Bryant Washburn, Hazel Daly and James C. Carroll.Frykholm p.10 It was created as a sequel to '' Skinner's Dress Suit''. Cast * Bryant Washburn ...

'' (1917) * ''

Filling His Own Shoes ''Filling His Own Shoes'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Bryant Washburn, Hazel Daly and Rod La Rocque.Goble p.400 Cast * Bryant Washburn as William Ruggles * Hazel Daly as Ruth Downing * Rod ...

'' (1917) * ''

Skinner's Baby ''Skinner's Baby'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film starring Bryant Washburn, Hazel Daly, James C. Carroll, and U.K. Haupt. This film projected Washburn out of obscurity; it was quite a success.Lahue, Kalton CGentlemen to the Rescue p. 23 ...

'' (1917) * ''

Go West, Young Man Go west, young man may refer to: * "Go West, young man", a quote often attributed to American author Horace Greeley concerning America's expansion westward Film and television * ''Go West, Young Man'' (1918 film), an American comedy western film ...

'' (1918) * ''

Thirty a Week ''Thirty a Week'' is a lost 1918 silent film drama directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Tom Moore and sixteen year old ingenue Tallulah Bankhead in one of her first screen appearances. It was produced and distributed by Goldwyn Pictures. Cas ...

'' (1918) * '' Brown of Harvard'' (1918) * '' A Wild Goose Chase'' (1919) *''

The Little Rowdy ''The Little Rowdy'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Hazel Daly, Harry Hilliard, and Sidney Ainsworth. The film was released by Triangle Film Corporation on March 23, 1919. Plot Cast * Hazel Daly ...

'' (1919) * ''

One of the Finest ''One of the Finest'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Tom Moore, Seena Owen and Peaches Jackson.Langman p.396 Cast * Tom Moore as Larry Hayes * Seena Owen as Frances Hudson * Peaches Jackson as Mar ...

'' (1919) * ''

Heartsease ''Viola tricolor'' is a common European wild flower, growing as an annual or short-lived perennial. The species is also known as wild pansy, Johnny Jump up (though this name is also applied to similar species such as the yellow pansy), heartsea ...

'' (1919) * ''

A Man and His Money ''A Man and His Money'' is a 1919 American Silent film, silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Tom Moore (actor), Tom Moore and Seena Owen. It was produced and distributed by Goldwyn Pictures. Cast *Tom Moore (actor), Tom Moor ...

'' (1919) * ''

The City of Comrades ''The City of Comrades'' is a lost film, lost 1919 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Harry Beaumont with Tom Moore (actor), Tom Moore and Seena Owen in the leads. It was produced by Sam Goldwyn and released by Goldwyn Pictures. ...

'' (1919) * '' The Gay Lord Quex'' (1919) * '' Lord and Lady Algy'' (1919) * ''

Toby's Bow ''Toby's Bow'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Tom Moore, Doris Pawn, Macey Harlam, Arthur Housman, Colin Kenny, and Augustus Phillips. It is based on the 1919 play of the same name by John Taintor F ...

'' (1919) * '' Dollars and Sense'' (1920) * ''

The Great Accident ''The Great Accident'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Tom Moore, Jane Novak and Willard Louis.Langman p.20 Cast * Tom Moore as Wint Chase * Jane Novak as Joan Caretall * Andrew Robson as Winthrop C ...

'' (1920) * ''

Going Some ''Going Some'' is a lost 1920 silent film directed by Harry Beaumont. It stars Cullen Landis, Helen Ferguson, Kenneth Harlan and Lillian Hall. It was released by Goldwyn Pictures.''Pictorial History of the Silent Film'', p.195 c.1953 by Daniel ...

'' (1920) * ''

Stop Thief! ''Stop Thief!'' is a 1901 British short silent drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually q ...

'' (1920) * '' The Fourteenth Man'' (1922) * ''

June Madness ''June Madness'' is a 1922 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Viola Dana, Bryant Washburn, and Gerald Pring.Munden p. 398. Cast * Viola Dana as Clytie Whitmore * Bryant Washburn as Ken Pauling * Gerald Pr ...

'' (1922) * '' The Five Dollar Baby'' (1922) * ''

The Ragged Heiress ''The Ragged Heiress'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Shirley Mason, John Harron and Edwin Stevens.Parish & Pitts p.22 Cast * Shirley Mason as Lucia Moreton * John Harron as Glen Wharton * Edwin ...

'' (1922) * ''

They Like 'Em Rough ''They Like 'Em Rough'' is a 1922 silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Viola Dana, W.E. Lawrence and Hardee Kirkland.Parish & Pitts p.22 Cast * Viola Dana as Katherine * W.E. Lawrence as Richard Wells Jr. * Hardee Kirkla ...

'' (1922) * '' Love in the Dark'' (1922) * ''

Seeing's Believing ''Seeing's Believing'' is a 1922 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Viola Dana, Allan Forrest, and Gertrude Astor.Parish & Pitts p. 22. Plot As described in a film magazine, Diana Webster (Dana), a willful youn ...

'' (1922) * '' Glass Houses'' (1922) * ''

Very Truly Yours ''Very Truly Yours'' is a 1922 American silent romance film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Shirley Mason, Allan Forrest and Charles Clary.Parish & Pitts p.22 Cast * Shirley Mason as Marie Tyree * Allan Forrest as Bert Woodmansee * Ch ...

'' (1922) * ''

Lights of the Desert ''Lights of the Desert'' is a 1922 American silent Western film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Shirley Mason, Allan Forrest and Edmund Burns.Parish & Pitts, p. 22. When her theatrical troupe is stranded in Nevada, a young woman rema ...

'' (1922) * ''

Crinoline and Romance ''Crinoline and Romance'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Viola Dana, Claude Gillingwater, and John Bowers. Plot As described in a film magazine, Colonel Charles E. Cavanaugh (Gillingwater) lives i ...

'' (1923) * '' Main Street'' (1923) * ''

A Noise in Newboro ''A Noise in Newboro'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Viola Dana, David Butler and Eva Novak.MacKinnon p.188 Cast * Viola Dana as Martha Mason * David Butler as Ben Colwell * Eva Novak as Anne ...

'' (1923) * '' The Gold Diggers'' (1923) * ''

'' (1924) * ''

Babbitt Babbitt may refer to: Fiction * ''Babbitt'' (novel), a 1922 novel by Sinclair Lewis ** ''Babbitt'' (1924 film), a 1924 silent film based on the novel ** ''Babbitt'' (1934 film), a 1934 film based on the novel *Babbit, the family name of the titl ...

'' (1924) * ''

The Lover of Camille ''The Lover of Camille'' is a 1924 American silent romantic drama film directed by Harry Beaumont, and starring Monte Blue. The film was based on the French play '' Deburau'' by Sacha Guitry, which was also adapted into a Broadway play by Ha ...

'' (1924) * ''

Don't Doubt Your Husband ''Don't Doubt Your Husband'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Viola Dana, Allan Forrest and Winifred Bryson.Parish & Pitts p.22 Cast * Viola Dana as Helen Blake * Allan Forrest as Richard Blake * W ...

'' (1924) * ''

A Lost Lady ''A Lost Lady'' is a 1923 novel by American writer Willa Cather. It tells the story of Marian Forrester and her husband, Captain Daniel Forrester, who live in the Western town of Sweet Water along the Transcontinental Railroad. Throughout the st ...

'' (1924) * '' His Majesty, Bunker Bean'' (1925) * '' Rose of the World'' (1925) * '' Recompense'' (1925) * '' Sandy'' (1926) * ''

Womanpower ''Womanpower'' is a 1926 American comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and written by Kenneth B. Clarke. The film stars Ralph Graves, Katherine Perry, Margaret Livingston, Ralph Sipperly, Will Walling and David Butler. The film was released o ...

'' (1926) * ''

One Increasing Purpose ''One Increasing Purpose'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Harry Beaumont and written by Bradley King. It is based on the 1925 novel ''One Increasing Purpose'' by A. S. M. Hutchinson. The film stars Edmund Lowe, Lila Lee, Ho ...

'' (1927) * ''

Forbidden Hours ''Forbidden Hours'' is a 1928 American silent romantic drama film directed by Harry Beaumont as a vehicle for Mexican-born star Ramon Novarro. It was the second of four films to pair Novarro with leading lady Renée Adorée. Plot Set in the fic ...

'' (1928) * ''

A Single Man ''A Single Man'' is a 2009 American period romantic drama film based on the 1964 novel of the same name by Christopher Isherwood. The directorial debut of fashion designer Tom Ford, the film stars Colin Firth, who was nominated for the Acad ...

'' (1929) * ''

Speedway Speedway may refer to: Racing Race tracks *Edmonton International Speedway, also known as Speedway Park, a former motor raceway in Edmonton, Alberta *Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a motor raceway in Speedway, Indiana Types of races and race cours ...

'' (1929) * '' Great Day'' (1930) * ''

Our Blushing Brides ''Our Blushing Brides'' is a 1930 American pre-Code society comedy/ romantic melodrama directed and produced by Harry Beaumont and starring Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, Anita Page and Dorothy Sebastian. The film follows ''Our Dancing Daug ...

'' (1930) * ''

The Florodora Girl ''The Florodora Girl'' is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film directed by Harry Beaumont and written by Ralph Spence (screenwriter), Ralph Spence, Al Boasberg and Robert E. Hopkins. The film stars Marion Davies, Lawrence Gray, Walter Catlett, an ...

'' (1930) * ''

Children of Pleasure ''Children of Pleasure '' is a 1930 American pre-Code MGM musical comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont, originally released with Technicolor sequences. It was adapted from Crane Wilbur's 1929 play, ''The Song Writer''. Plot Danny, an acclai ...

'' (1930) * ''

Lord Byron of Broadway ''Lord Byron of Broadway'' (1930), also known as ''What Price Melody?'', is an American Pre-Code musical drama film, directed by Harry Beaumont and William Nigh. It was based on a best selling book by Nell Martin, which "was widely praised by c ...

'' (1930) * ''

Those Three French Girls ''Those Three French Girls '' is a 1930 American Pre-Code comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Fifi D'Orsay, Reginald Denny, and Cliff Edwards. The dialogue was written by P. G. Wodehouse.Dance, Fools, Dance ''Dance, Fools, Dance'' is a 1931 pre-Code Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer drama film starring Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and Lester Vail in a story about a reporter investigating the murder of a colleague. Story and dialogue were created by Aurania Rouve ...

'' (1931) * ''

Laughing Sinners ''Laughing Sinners'' is a 1931 American pre-Code Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature film starring Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in a story about a cafe entertainer who experiences spiritual redemption. The dialogue by Martin Flavin was based upon the p ...

'' (1931) * '' The Great Lover'' (1931) * ''

West of Broadway ''West of Broadway'' is a lost 1926 American silent romantic comedy Western film directed by Robert Thornby and starring Priscilla Dean. It was released through Producers Distributing Corporation. The film was based on the short story "New Yor ...

'' (1931) * ''

Faithless Faithless are an English band that formed in 1995, with its core members being Rollo, Sister Bliss and Maxi Jazz. Their first album, '' Reverence'', was released in 1996 and their most recent, ''All Blessed'', in 2020. They have sold millions ...

'' (1932) * '' Are You Listening?'' (1932) * '' Unashamed'' (1932) * ''

Made on Broadway ''Made on Broadway'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and written by Courtney Terrett. The film stars Robert Montgomery (actor), Robert Montgomery, Sally Eilers, Madge Evans, Eugene Pallette, ...

'' (1933) * ''

Should Ladies Behave ''Should Ladies Behave'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and written by Bella Spewack and Sam Spewack, adapted from the play, "The Vinegar Tree" by Paul Osborn. The film stars Lionel Barrymore, Alice Brady, Conw ...

'' (1933) * '' When Ladies Meet'' (1933) * ''

Murder in the Private Car ''Murder in the Private Car'' is a 1934 American pre-Code mystery romance film starring Mary Carlisle, Charles Ruggles and Una Merkel. Directed by Harry Beaumont, the production is based on the play ''The Rear Car'' by Edward E. Rose. David ...

'' (1934) * '' Enchanted April'' (1935) * ''

The Girl on the Front Page ''The Girl on the Front Page'' is a 1936 American comedy crime film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Edmund Lowe, Gloria Stuart and Reginald Owen.Gates p.106-7 It was produced and distributed by Hollywood major Universal Pictures. Synop ...

'' (1936) * ''

When's Your Birthday? ''When's Your Birthday?'' is a 1937 American romantic comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Joe E. Brown. While original prints of this film had a cartoon sequence in Technicolor directed by Bob Clampett and Leon Schlesinger, mos ...

'' (1937) * ''

Maisie Goes to Reno ''Maisie Goes to Reno'' is the eighth film starring Ann Sothern as Maisie Ravier, preceded by '' Swing Shift Maisie'' and followed by ''Up Goes Maisie''. John Hodiak plays her love interest in this 1944 romantic comedy. Plot Overworked World Wa ...

'' (1944) * ''

Twice Blessed ''Twice Blessed'', also known as ''Twice Blessed: A Novel'', is a 1992 novel written by Filipino author Ninotchka Rosca. It won the 1993 American Book Award for “excellence in literature”. It is one of Rosca’s novels that recreated the div ...

'' (1945) * ''

Up Goes Maisie ''Up Goes Maisie'' is a 1946 American comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont. Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it is the ninth of 10 films starring Ann Sothern as ex-showgirl Maisie Ravier, characterized as "that double trouble doll with the sa ...

'' (1946) * ''

The Show-Off ''The Show-Off'' is a 1924 stage play by George Kelly about a working-class North Philadelphian family's reluctance to accept their daughter's suitor Aubrey Piper, an overly confident Socialist buffoon. The play has been revived five times on Bro ...

'' (1946) * ''

Undercover Maisie ''Undercover Maisie'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Ann Sothern, Barry Nelson, and Mark Daniels. It was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the final film of the ten film Maisie series starring Ann Sothern ...

'' (1947) * ''

Alias a Gentleman ''Alias a Gentleman'' is a 1948 American romantic comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Wallace Beery. The supporting cast includes Dorothy Patrick, Tom Drake, Gladys George and Sheldon Leonard. Plot Jim Breedin has been in priso ...

'' (1948)

Writer

* ''

'' (1917) * ''

'' (1917) * '' Brown of Harvard'' (1918) * ''

'' (1919) * ''

'' (1922)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Beaumont, Harry 1888 births 1966 deaths 20th-century American male actors Male actors from Kansas American film producers American male silent film actors American male screenwriters Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) People from Abilene, Kansas Silent film directors Film directors from Kansas Screenwriters from Kansas 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters