Sam Taylor (August 13, 1895 – March 6, 1958) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer, most active in the silent film era. Taylor is best known for his comedic directorial work with

Harold Lloyd Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films.Obituary '' Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55. One of the most influential film c ...

and

Mary Pickford Gladys Marie Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American stage and screen actress and producer with a career that spanned five decades. A pioneer in the US film industry, she co-founde ...

, and also later worked with Laurel and Hardy. He was born in New York City. A notorious cinematic legend over the decades has suggested that Taylor's 1929 adaptation of

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

's ''

The Taming of the Shrew ''The Taming of the Shrew'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken ...

'' had the screen credit "additional dialogue by Sam Taylor". However, no extant prints of the film contain this credit, and there is no documentary evidence that it ever existed. Taylor directed seven feature films with Lloyd as star, second only to Fred C. Newmeyer (the two co-directed Lloyd in five features). He also directed Pickford in her first "

talkie A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

" feature with '' Coquette'' (1929), which garnered the latter an

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 ...

. Taylor died at the age of 62 in

Santa Monica Santa Monica (; Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 U.S. Census population was 93,076. Santa Monica is a popular resort town, owing to i ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

Partial filmography

* '' Over the Garden Wall'' (1919) * ''

In Honor's Web ''In Honor's Web'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Paul Scardon, written by Sam Taylor (scenario) and Perry N. Vekroff (story). The film stars Harry T. Morey, Gladden James, and George Backus George may refer to: People * ...

'' (1919) * ''

Human Collateral ''Human Collateral'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Lawrence C. Windom and starring Corinne Griffith, Webster Campbell and Maurice Costello.Connelly p.365 It is now considered to be a lost film. Cast * Corinne Griffith as Pat ...

'' (1920) * '' Now or Never'' (1921) * ''

Never Weaken ''Never Weaken'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film starring Harold Lloyd and directed by Fred Newmeyer. It was Lloyd's last short film, running to three reels, before he moved permanently into feature-length production. It was also one o ...

'' (1921) * ''

Princess Jones ''Princess Jones'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Gustav von Seyffertitz and starring Alice Calhoun, Vincent Coleman and Helen Dubois.Connelly p.398 Synopsis Princess Jones, the niece of a country store keeper, dreams of bei ...

'' (1921) * '' The Mohican's Daughter'' (1922) * '' Safety Last!'' (1923) * '' Why Worry?'' (1923) * '' Girl Shy'' (1924) * '' The Freshman'' (1925) * '' Exit Smiling'' (1927) * '' My Best Girl'' (1927) * ''

Tempest Tempest is a synonym for a storm. '' The Tempest'' is a play by William Shakespeare. Tempest or The Tempest may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Films * ''The Tempest'' (1908 film), a British silent film * ''The Tempest'' (1911 film), a ...

'' (1928) * '' The Woman Disputed'' (1928) * ''

Lady of the Pavements ''Lady of the Pavements'' (UK title: ''Lady of the Night'') is a 1929 American silent romantic drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lupe Vélez, William Boyd, and Jetta Goudal. The screenplay was written by Sam Taylor, with contrib ...

'' (1929) * ''

'' (1929) * '' Coquette'' (1929) * ''

Du Barry, Woman of Passion ''Du Barry, Woman of Passion'' is a 1930 American pre-Code dramatic film starring Norma Talmadge, produced by her husband Joseph Schenck, released through United Artists, and based on a 1901 stage play ''Du Barry'' written and produced by David ...

'' (1930) * ''

Skyline A skyline is the outline or shape viewed near the horizon. It can be created by a city’s overall structure, or by human intervention in a rural setting, or in nature that is formed where the sky meets buildings or the land. City skyline ...

'' (1931) * '' Ambassador Bill'' (1931) * '' Kiki'' (1931) * ''

Devil's Lottery ''Devil's Lottery'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Sam Taylor and written by Guy Bolton. The film stars Elissa Landi, Victor McLaglen, Alexander Kirkland, Ralph Morgan, Paul Cavanagh and Barbara Weeks. The film was releas ...

'' (1932) * '' Out All Night'' (1933) * '' The Cat's-Paw'' (1934) * '' Nothing but Trouble'' (1944)

External links

* * * American film directors American film producers American male screenwriters 1895 births 1958 deaths 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters {{US-screen-writer-stub