Maxwell Karger (1879–1922)''The First One Hundred Noted Men and Women of the Screen''
by Carolyn Lowrey, c.1920 was an important movie producer and motion picture director during the silent film era of the 1910s.

Biography

Karger's approach to making pictures was similar to contemporary

Thomas H. Ince Thomas Harper Ince (November 16, 1880 – November 19, 1924) was an American silent film - era filmmaker and media proprietor. Ince was known as the "Father of the Western" and was responsible for making over 800 films. He revolutionized the mo ...

. Both died relatively young, but where Ince is remembered for his streamlined productions and circumstances surrounding his death, Karger is completely forgotten today. Karger was a founder of

Rolfe Photoplays Rolfe Photoplays Inc. was an American motion picture production company established by musical entertainer B.A. Rolfe. Its productions were primarily filmed on the East Coast, usually in and around Fort Lee, New Jersey, although the company also ...

in New York but later worked primarily at the

Metro Pictures Metro Pictures Corporation was a Film, motion picture production company founded in early 1915 in Jacksonville, Florida. It was a forerunner of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The company produced its films in New York, Los Angeles, and sometimes at leas ...

studios and was later a personal assistant to

Rudolph Valentino Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla (May 6, 1895 – August 23, 1926), known professionally as Rudolph Valentino and nicknamed The Latin Lover, was an Italian actor based in the United States who starred ...

. Karger died of heart disease while on a train between New York and

Fort Wayne Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Censu ...

, Indiana. His son Fred Karger (1916-1979) was a voice coach at

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...

and was the fourth and final husband of actress

Jane Wyman Jane Wyman ( ; born Sarah Jane Mayfield; January 5, 1917 – September 10, 2007)"Actress, P ...

after her marriage to

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

ended.

Selected filmography

As director *''Hate'' (1922) * '' Kisses'' (1922) *''

The Golden Gift ''The Golden Gift'' is a 1922 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Maxwell Karger and starring Alice Lake, John Bowers (actor), John Bowers, and Harriet Hammond.Munden, p. 303 Plot As described in a film magazine, Nita Gordon (Lak ...

'' (1922) *'' The Idle Rich'' (1921) *'' The Hole in the Wall'' (1921) *'' A Trip to Paradise'' (1921) *''

The Man Who ''The Man Who'' is the second studio album by the Scottish rock band Travis. The album was released on 24 May 1999 through Independiente. It saw a change in musical direction for the band, moving away from the rockier tone of their debut '' ...

'' (1921) *'' A Message from Mars'' (1921) * ''

'' (1922) As producer *''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

'' (1916) *'' Outwitted'' (1917) *'' The Adopted Son'' (1917) *''

Red, White and Blue Blood ''Red, White and Blue Blood'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film, directed by Charles Brabin. It stars Francis X. Bushman, Beverly Bayne, and Adella Barker, and was released on December 24, 1917. Cast list * Francis X. Bushman as John Spau ...

'' (1917) *''

Social Hypocrites ''Social Hypocrites'' is a 1918 silent film drama directed by Albert Capellani and starring May Allison. It was produced and distributed by Metro Pictures. Cast * May Allison - Leonore Fielding * Marie Wainwright - Maria, Duchess of St. Keverne ...

'' (1918) *'' Pay Day'' (1918) *'' The Winning of Beatrice'' (1918) *'' A Successful Adventure'' (1918) *'' Flower of the Dusk'' (1918) *'' Secret Strings'' (1918) *'' Sylvia on a Spree'' (1918) *'' The Shell Game'' (1918) *'' With Neatness and Dispatch'' (1918) *'' Social Quicksands'' (1918) *''

The House of Gold ''The House of Gold'' is a 1918 American silent drama film, directed by Edwin Carewe. It stars Emmy Wehlen, Joseph Kilgour, and Hugh Thompson, and was released on June 17, 1918. Cast * Emmy Wehlen as Pamela Martin * Joseph Kilgour as Douglas M ...

'' (1918) * '' A Man's World'' (1918) * ''

Opportunity Opportunity may refer to: Places * Opportunity, Montana, an unincorporated community, United States * Opportunity, Nebraska, an unincorporated community, United States * Opportunity, Washington, a former census-designated place, United States * 3 ...

'' (1918) * ''

A Pair of Cupids ''A Pair of Cupids'', also known by its pre-release title of ''Both Members'', is a 1918 American silent comedy-drama film, directed by Charles Brabin. It stars Francis X. Bushman, Beverly Bayne, and Charles Sutton, and was released on July 29, ...

'' (1918) * '' The Silent Woman'' (1918) * ''

His Bonded Wife ''His Bonded Wife'' is a lost 1918 silent film comedy drama directed by Charles Brabin and starring Emmy Wehlen. It was produced by Maxwell Karger and distributed through Metro Pictures. Cast *Emmy Wehlen as Doris Morse *Frank Currier as Digby ...

'' (1918) * ''

Five Thousand an Hour ''Five Thousand an Hour'' is a 1918 American silent comedy-drama film, directed by Ralph Ince. It stars Hale Hamilton, Lucille Lee Stewart, and Gilbert Douglas, and was released on November 25, 1918. Cast list * Hale Hamilton as Johnny Gamble * ...

'' (1918) * '' The Gold Cure'' (1919) *''

Johnny-on-the-Spot ''Johnny-on-the-Spot'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film. Directed by Harry L. Franklin, the film stars Hale Hamilton, Louise Lovely, and Philo McCullough. It was released on February 17, 1919. Cast list * Hale Hamilton as Johnny Rutledge * ...

'' (1919) *''

Peggy Does Her Darndest ''Peggy Does Her Darndest'' is a lost 1919 silent film comedy directed by George D. Baker and starring May Allison. It was produced and distributed by Metro Pictures. Melodramatic comedy of an athletic girl Peggy Ensloe played by May Allison. ...

'' (1919) * ''

The Great Victory ''The Great Victory'' or ''The Great Victory, Wilson or the Kaiser? The Fall of the Hohenzollerns'' is a 1919 American silent war drama film directed by Charles Miller and starring Creighton Hale, Florence Billings and Helen Ferguson.Balogh p.18 ...

'' (1919) *'' That's Good'' (1919) *''

The Amateur Adventuress ''The Amateur Adventuress'' is a lost 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Henry Otto and starring Emmy Wehlen. It is based on a short story by Thomas Edgelow that appeared in ''Young's Magazine'' (Oct. 1918). Maxwell Karger produced with ...

'' (1919) *''

The Island of Intrigue ''The Island of Intrigue'' is a lost 1919 American silent drama film, directed by Henry Otto. It stars May Allison, Jack Mower, and Frederick Vroom, and was released on April 7, 1919. Cast list * May Allison as Maida Waring * Jack Mower as Gi ...

'' (1919) *''

The Brat ''The Brat'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code comedy film directed by John Ford, starring Sally O'Neil, and featuring Virginia Cherrill. The film is based on the 1917 play by Maude Fulton. A previous silent film had been made in 1919 with Alla Nazim ...

'' (1919) * ''

Satan Junior ''Satan Junior'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film, directed by Herbert Blaché and John H. Collins. It was Collins' final involvement in film. Collins began directing the film, production of which had to be suspended due to the flu epidem ...

'' (1919) * ''

Please Get Married ''Please Get Married'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film directed by John Ince and starring Viola Dana, Antrim Short and Margaret Campbell. It was based on the Broadway play of the same title by Lewis Allen Browne and James F. Cullen.Goble ...

'' (1919) * ''

Blind Man's Eyes ''Blind Man's Eyes'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by John Ince and starring Bert Lytell, Frank Currier, and Naomi Childers, based on the 1916 novel '' The Blind Man's Eyes'' by Edwin Balmer and William MacHarg. It was released ...

'' (1919) *'' The Way of the Strong'' (1919) * ''

The Parisian Tigress ''The Parisian Tigress'', also known by its working title ''Jeanne of the Gutter'', is a 1919 American silent drama film, directed by Herbert Blaché. It stars Viola Dana, Darrell Foss, and Henry Kolker, and was released on March 31, 1919. Cast ...

'' (1919) * ''

Blackie's Redemption ''Blackie's Redemption'', also known by its working title ''Powers That Pray'', is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by John Ince. It stars Bert Lytell, Alice Lake, and Henry Kolker, and was released on April 14, 1919. Plot Boston Bla ...

'' (1919) *''

Full of Pep ''Full of Pep'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film, directed by Harry L. Franklin. It stars Hale Hamilton, Alice Lake, and Alice Knowland, and was released on May 26, 1919. Cast list * Hale Hamilton as Jimmy Baxter * Alice Lake as Felicia ...

'' (1919) * ''

One-Thing-at-a-Time O'Day ''One-Thing-at-a-Time O'Day'' is a lost film, lost 1919 American silent comedy film, directed by John Ince (actor), John Ince. It stars Bert Lytell, Joseph Kilgour, and Eileen Percy, and was released on June 23, 1919. Cast * Bert Lytell as Strad ...

'' (1919) * ''

The Uplifters The Uplifters may refer to: * The Uplifters (club) The Lofty and Exalted Order of Uplifters or simply The Uplifters is an invitation-only social club at the Los Angeles Athletic Club founded by Harry Marston Haldeman in 1913. The club is still i ...

'' (1919) * ''

The Microbe ''The Microbe'' is a 1919 American silent comedy-drama film, directed by Henry Otto. It stars Viola Dana, Kenneth Harlan, and Arthur Maude, and was released on July 21, 1919. Cast list * Viola Dana as Happy O'Brien, aka "The Microbe" * Kenneth ...

'' (1919) *''

Stronger Than Death ''Stronger Than Death'' is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Black Label Society. It was initially released in Japan on March 7, 2000, with 11 tracks and in a blood red jewel case. It was released outside Japan almost a mont ...

'' (1920) *'' The Willow Tree'' (1920) *''The Walk-Offs'' (1920) *'' The Right of Way'' (1920) *'' Alias Jimmy Valentine'' (1920) *''

Dangerous to Men ''Dangerous to Men'' is a lost 1920 American silent comedy film directed by William C. Dowland and starring Viola Dana. It was distributed through Metro Pictures.Love, Honor and Obey'' (1920) *''

Clothes Clothing (also known as clothes, apparel, and attire) are items worn on the human body, body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials ...

'' (1920) *'' The Fatal Hour'' (1920) *'' The Misleading Lady'' (1920) * '' Puppets of Fate'' (1921) *'' Fine Feathers'' (1921) *'' The Hole in the Wall'' (1921)

References

External links

Maxwell Karger at IMDb.comMaxwell Karger at allmovie.comMaxwell Karger
Kinotv) {{DEFAULTSORT:Karger, Maxwell 1879 births 1922 deaths American film studio executives Silent film producers