Henry Lehrman
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Henry Lehrman (March 30, 1881 – November 7, 1946) was an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer. Lehrman was a very prominent figure of Hollywood's
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, working with such cinematic pioneers as D. W. Griffith and
Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American film actor, director, and producer, and studio head, known as the 'King of Comedy'. Born in Danville, Quebec, in 1880, he started in films in the ...
. He directed, as well as co-starred in,
Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...
's very first film, ''
Making a Living ''Making a Living'' (also known as ''Doing His Best'', ''A Busted Johnny'', ''Troubles'', and ''Take My Picture'') is the first film starring Charlie Chaplin. A one-reel comedy short, it was completed in three days at Keystone Studios in Los An ...
''. Lehrman was notoriously careless of the safety of the actors who worked for him. He was the lover of the actress
Virginia Rappe Virginia Caroline Rappe (; July 7, 1891 – September 9, 1921) was an American model and silent film actress. Working mostly in bit parts, Rappe died after attending a party with actor Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, who was accused of manslaughter a ...
, for whose death
Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle Roscoe Conkling "Fatty" Arbuckle (; March 24, 1887 – June 29, 1933) was an American silent film actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He started at the Selig Polyscope Company and eventually moved to Keystone Studios, where he worked w ...
(whom Lehrman had directed in about a dozen films in the early 1920s), in a highly publicized series of trials, was accused, and later acquitted, of
manslaughter Manslaughter is a common law legal term for homicide considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is sometimes said to have first been made by the ancient Athenian lawmaker Draco in the 7th cen ...
.


Life and career

Born in
Sambir Sambir ( uk, Самбір, pl, Sambor, yi, סאמבאָר, Sambor) is a city in Sambir Raion, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine. It serves as the administrative center of Sambir Raion (district) and is located close to the border with Poland. Sambir hosts t ...
,
Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
(now
Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
) or Vienna, Lehrman emigrated to the United States in 1908 or December 1906 and although he is best remembered as a film director, he began his career as an actor in a 1909
Biograph Studios Biograph Studios was an early film studio and laboratory complex, built in 1912 by the Biograph Company at 807 East 175th Street, in The Bronx, New York City, New York. History Early years The first studio of the Biograph Company, formerly ...
production directed by D. W. Griffith. He gained the nickname "Pathé", reportedly because he told an executive at Biograph he had been sent there from Europe by France's
Pathé Frères Pathé or Pathé Frères (, styled as PATHÉ!) is the name of various French businesses that were founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France starting in 1896. In the early 1900s, Pathé became the world's largest film equipme ...
to get a job. While the executive may not have believed him, Biograph gave him his first acting work in film, appearing as one of many in a mob scene with another aspiring actor named
Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American film actor, director, and producer, and studio head, known as the 'King of Comedy'. Born in Danville, Quebec, in 1880, he started in films in the ...
. A few years later Lehrman was a successful actor, and made his directorial debut, co-directing a 1911 Biograph production with Sennett. When Sennett left to found
Keystone Studios Keystone Studios was an early film studio founded in Edendale, California (which is now a part of Echo Park) on July 4, 1912 as the Keystone Pictures Studio by Mack Sennett with backing from actor-writer Adam Kessel (1866–1946) and Charle ...
, Henry Lehrman joined him, working as an actor, a screenwriter, and as the first director of
Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...
. In 1915, Lehrman established his own film company called the
L-KO Kompany The L-KO Kompany, or L-KO Komedies, was an American motion picture company founded by Henry Lehrman that produced silent one-, two- and very occasionally three-reel comedy shorts between 1914 and 1919. The initials L-KO stand for "Lehrman KnockOu ...
to make two-reel comedies 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 ...
. He was notorious for his low regard for actors, such as for Charlie Chaplin in the actor's earliest films, and his willingness to place his actors in dangerous situations earned him the nickname "Mr. Suicide". Author Kalton C. Lahue noted that bit players and extras actually refused calls from L-KO. In 1916, Lehrman gave up acting to devote himself fully to directing and producing. He left the L-KO Kompany the following year and moved to
Fox Film Corporation The Fox Film Corporation (also known as Fox Studios) was an American Independent film production studio formed by William Fox (1879–1952) in 1915, by combining his earlier Greater New York Film Rental Company and Box Office Attractions Film ...
as producer of its "Sunshine Comedies" unit. In 1919, he met a young actress named
Virginia Rappe Virginia Caroline Rappe (; July 7, 1891 – September 9, 1921) was an American model and silent film actress. Working mostly in bit parts, Rappe died after attending a party with actor Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, who was accused of manslaughter a ...
and a personal relationship ensued that resulted in their engagement. However, in September 1921, Rappe, 30, died after attending a private party hosted by
Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle Roscoe Conkling "Fatty" Arbuckle (; March 24, 1887 – June 29, 1933) was an American silent film actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He started at the Selig Polyscope Company and eventually moved to Keystone Studios, where he worked w ...
at a hotel in San Francisco. Arbuckle was accused of raping her and was charged with her murder; Lehrman used the trial for his own personal publicity. Eventually Arbuckle was found not guilty. For the two years following his fiancée's death, Lehrman was virtually inactive in the film business. He went through a short-lived marriage in 1922 to Jocelyn Leigh. In 1924 he accepted an offer from Fox Film Corporation to return to directing its "Sunshine Comedies" unit. Lehrman continued as a successful director until the introduction of
talkies 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 ...
at the end of the 1920s. He directed two sound films for Fox in 1929, one a short comedy, the other a feature-length production titled ''New Year's Eve'' starring
Mary Astor Mary Astor (born Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke; May 3, 1906 – September 25, 1987) was an American actress. Although her career spanned several decades, she may be best remembered for her performance as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in '' The Maltese ...
. The films demonstrated Lehrman's difficulty adapting to directing with sound, and he was dropped by Fox. Two years later he made his final attempt at sound films, writing and directing a comedy short for Universal Studios. Lehrman died of a stroke at his home in Hollywood on November 8, 1946. He was interred in the
Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles ...
next to Virginia Rappe. He was 65.


Partial directing filmography

* ''
The Poor Millionaire ''The Poor Millionaire'' is a 1930 American silent drama film directed by George Melford and starring Richard Talmadge, Constance Howard and George Irving. Made after the sound film revolution, it was the last Hollywood film to be released w ...
'' (1930) * ''
New Year's Eve In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries, is the evening or the entire day of the last day of the year, on 31 December. The last day of the year is commonly referred to ...
'' (1929)  * '' Homesick'' (1929) * '' Chicken a La King'' (1928) * ''
Why Sailors Go Wrong ''Why Sailors Go Wrong'' is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by Henry Lehrman and written by Randall Faye and Delos Sutherland. The film stars Sammy Cohen, Ted McNamara, Sally Phipps, Nick Stuart, E. H. Calvert, and Carl Miller. Th ...
'' (1928) * '' Husbands for Rent'' (1927) * ''
For Ladies Only ''For Ladies Only'' is the sixth studio album by Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. The album was released in November 1971, by Dunhill Records. It is a political concept album mainly about feminism but with several more conventional so ...
'' (1927) * ''
Sailor Izzy Murphy ''Sailor Izzy Murphy'' is a 1927 comedy-drama film released from Warner Bros. Pictures starring George Jessel, Audrey Ferris, Warner Oland and John Milijan. The film was a follow up to a previous film starring Jessel titled '' Private Izzy Mu ...
'' (1927) * ''
The Fighting Edge ''The Fighting Edge'' is a 1926 American silent action film directed by Henry Lehrman and written by Edward T. Lowe Jr. and Jack Wagner. It is based on the 1922 novel ''The Fighting Edge'' by William MacLeod Raine. The film stars Kenneth Har ...
'' (1926) * ''
On Time ''On Time'' is the debut studio album by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad. The album was released on August 25, 1969, by Capitol Records. Recorded at Cleveland Recording Company, the album was produced by Terry Knight. "Time Machine", th ...
'' (1924) * '' Reported Missing'' (1922) * ''
Twixt Love and Fire ''Twixt Love and Fire'' is a 1914 short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle. Cast * Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle * Peggy Pearce * Cecile Arnold * Charles Avery * Harold Lloyd See also * List of American films of 1914 * Fatty Arbuckle filmograph ...
'' (1914) * '' Between Showers'' (1914) * '' Kid Auto Races at Venice'' (1914) * ''
Making a Living ''Making a Living'' (also known as ''Doing His Best'', ''A Busted Johnny'', ''Troubles'', and ''Take My Picture'') is the first film starring Charlie Chaplin. A one-reel comedy short, it was completed in three days at Keystone Studios in Los An ...
'' (1914) * ''
The Woman Haters ''The Woman Haters'' is a 1913 American short silent comedy film featuring Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle. Cast * Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle * Nick Cogley See also * Fatty Arbuckle filmography __NOTOC__ These are the films of the American silent fil ...
'' (1913) * ''
Two Old Tars ''Two Old Tars'' is a 1913 American short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle. Cast * Phyllis Allen * Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle * Nick Cogley * Charles Murray * Ford Sterling See also * List of American films of 1913 * Fatty Arbuckle filmogra ...
'' (1913) * ''
Mother's Boy Mother's boy, also commonly and informally mummy's boy or mama's boy, is a term for a man seen as having an unhealthy dependence on his mother at an age at which he is expected to be self-reliant (e.g. live on his own, be economically independent) ...
'' (1913) * ''
Professor Bean's Removal ''Professor Bean's Removal'' is a 1913 American short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle. Cast * Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle * Charles Murray * Mabel Normand * Ford Sterling See also * List of American films of 1913 * Fatty Arbuckle filmograp ...
'' (1913) * ''
For the Love of Mabel ''For the Love of Mabel'' is a 1913 American short comedy film featuring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. and Mabel Normand Cast * Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle * Mabel Normand * Ford Sterling See also * List of American films of 1913 * Fatty Arbuckle film ...
'' (1913) * ''
Help! Help! Hydrophobia! ''Help! Help! Hydrophobia!'' is a 1913 American short comedy film starring Fatty Arbuckle. Cast * Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Jim Brown * Viola Barry - (as Peggy Pearce) * Nick Cogley See also * List of American films of 1913 * Fatty Arbuck ...
'' (1913) * ''
Passions, He Had Three ''Passions, He Had Three'' is a 1913 American short comedy film featuring Roscoe Arbuckle and Mabel Normand. Cast * Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle * Beatrice Van * Nick Cogley * Alice Davenport * Dot Farley * Mabel Normand * Betty Schade * Al St. Joh ...
'' (1913) * ''
The Gangsters ''The Gangsters'' is a 1913 American short comedy film featuring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle as one of the Keystone Cops. Cast * Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle * Nick Cogley * Fred Mace * Hank Mann * Ford Sterling * Al St. John See also * Fatty Arbuckle ...
'' (1913) * ''
The Bangville Police ''The Bangville Police'' (also known as ''Bangville Police'') is a 1913 comedy short starring Fred Mace, Mabel Normand and the Keystone Cops (Mace, Raymond Hatton, Edgar Kennedy, Ford Sterling, and Al St. John). The one-reel film, generally re ...
'' (1913) * ''
Cupid in a Dental Parlor ''Cupid in a Dental Parlor'' (also known as ''Love in the Dental Parlor'') is a 1913 American short comedy film directed by Henry Lehrman. Harold Lloyd is said to have appeared in this film, but this is unconfirmed. Cast * Fred Mace * Chester ...
'' (1913) * ''
Murphy's I.O.U. ''Murphy's I.O.U.'' is a 1913 American short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle. Cast * Phyllis Allen * Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle * Nick Cogley * Dot Farley * Henry Lehrman * Fred Mace as Murphy * Hank Mann * Charles Murray * Mack Sennett a ...
'' (1913) * ''
Why He Gave Up ''Why He Gave Up'' is a 1911 American short silent comedy film starring Fred Mace and Mabel Normand. The film was co-directed by Mack Sennett and Henry Lehrman and shot in Huntington, Long Island. Cast * Fred Mace as The Husband * Mabel Normand a ...
'' (1911) * '' The Villain Foiled'' (1911) * ''
A Mohawk's Way ''A Mohawk's Way'', also known as ''The Mohawk's Treasure'', is a 1910 short silent black and white drama film directed by D. W. Griffith, written by Stanner E.V. Taylor and based on James Fenimore Cooper novel, and photography by G.W. Bitz ...
'' (1910) as Patient


References


External links

*
Henry Lehrman on web.archive.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lehrman, Henry 1881 births 1946 deaths American male film actors American film directors American film producers American male screenwriters American male silent film actors Austro-Hungarian emigrants to the United States Austro-Hungarian Jews American people of Austrian-Jewish descent Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery 20th-century American male actors Articles containing video clips 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters People from Sambir