Hobart Henley (born Hess Manassah Henle; November 23, 1887 – May 22, 1964) was an American

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 ...

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

, screenwriter and producer. He was involved in over 60 films either as an actor or director or both in his twenty-year career, between 1914 and 1934 when he retired from filmmaking.

Early life

Henley was born Hess Manassah Henle in

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...

, to Samuel Henle, a German immigrant and retailer, and his wife Clementine. His father moved the family to

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

, where Henley later attended and graduated from the

University of Cincinnati The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati) is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati and has an annual enrollment of over 44,00 ...

Career

Henley began his career as a stage actor, then moved to acting in silent films. He began dual duties of directing and acting in such films as '' The Gay Old Dog'' for

Pathé Pathé or Pathé Frères (, styled as PATHÉ!) is the name of various French people, 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 ...

in 1919. He continued directing films, many of which were star's debuts like

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her pe ...

in the '' Bad Sister'' (1931) with

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...

, as well as those of Reginald Denny,

Jimmy Durante James Francis Durante ( , ; February 10, 1893 – January 29, 1980) was an American comedian, actor, singer, vaudevillian, and pianist. His distinctive gravelly speech, Lower East Side accent, comic language-butchery, jazz-influenced song ...

, and

Will Rogers William Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator. He was born as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, in the Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma ...

. He started his own production company and later worked for

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 ...

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 ...

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

and

Universal Pictures 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 directed top stars, including

Claudette Colbert Claudette Colbert ( ; born Émilie Claudette Chauchoin; September 13, 1903July 30, 1996) was an American actress. Colbert began her career in Broadway productions during the late 1920s and progressed to films with the advent of talking pictures ...

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 ...

Norma Shearer Edith Norma Shearer (August 11, 1902June 12, 1983) was a Canadian-American actress who was active on film from 1919 through 1942. Shearer often played spunky, sexually liberated ingénues. She appeared in adaptations of Noël Coward, Eugene O'N ...

, and

Maurice Chevalier Maurice Auguste Chevalier (; 12 September 1888 – 1 January 1972) was a French singer, actor and entertainer. He is perhaps best known for his signature songs, including " Livin' In The Sunlight", " Valentine", "Louise", " Mimi", and "Thank Hea ...

. He retired in 1936.

Personal life

He was married twice, first in 1920 to

Corinne Barker Corinne Barker (née Riely; June 5, 1890 – August 6, 1928) was an American actress and costume designer who came to prominence during the silent era, specifically for her roles in several Vitagraph films. She also appeared in several Broadwa ...

, and later he married Louisiana native Dorothy March. The latter marriage produced two sons, David, and Hobart Jr. (deceased age 14). Henley died in

Beverly Hills, California 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. B ...

, aged 76, and is interred at

Chapel of the Pines Crematory Chapel of the Pines Crematory is a crematory and columbarium located at 1605 South Catalina Street, Los Angeles, in the U.S. state of California, in the historic West Adams District a short distance southwest of Downtown. It is beside Angelus-Ros ...

, Los Angeles.

Partial filmography

John Cumberland The Gay Old Dog 2 Film Daily 1919

* ''

Graft Graft or grafting may refer to: *Graft (politics), a form of political corruption * Graft, Netherlands, a village in the municipality of Graft-De Rijp Science and technology *Graft (surgery), a surgical procedure *Grafting, the joining of plant t ...

'' (1915) * ''

The Double Room Mystery ''The Double Room Mystery'' is a 1917 American silent thriller film directed by Hobart Henley and starring Gertrude Selby, Hayward Mack and Ed Brady.Connelly p.342 Cast * Gertrude Selby as Suzanne - a Slavey * Hayward Mack as Speed Cannon * E ...

'' (1917) * '' All Woman'' (1918) * ''

Laughing Bill Hyde ''Laughing Bill Hyde'' is a lost 1918 American adventure film directed by Hobart Henley and written by Willard Mack. The film stars Will Rogers, Anna Lehr, Clarence Oliver, Joseph Herbert, Robert Conville, and Dan Mason. The film was released o ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Face in the Dark ''The Face in the Dark'' is a 1918 American silent mystery film directed by Hobart Henley and starring Mae Marsh, Niles Welch and Alec B. Francis.Wlaschin p.80 The film's sets were designed by the art director Hugo Ballin. Cast * Mae Marsh as Jan ...

'' (1918) * '' The Glorious Adventure'' (1918) * ''

The Woman on the Index ''The Woman on the Index'' is a lost 1919 American silent drama film directed by Hobart Henley and starring Pauline Frederick and her then husband playwright Willard Mack. It was Frederick's first film at Goldwyn Pictures after coming over from Pa ...

'' (1919) * ''

One Week of Life ''One Week of Life'' is a 1919 American silent drama film produced and distributed through Goldwyn Pictures. It was directed by Hobart Henley and starred Pauline Frederick. It is now considered to be a lost film. Plot As described in a film mag ...

'' (1919) *'' The Gay Old Dog'' (1919) * '' The Peace of Roaring River'' (1919) * ''

The Sin That Was His ''The Sin That Was His'' is a lost 1920 silent film drama directed by Hobart Henley and starring William Faversham. It was produced by Selznick Pictures and released through Select Pictures. Cast *William Faversham - Raymond Chapelle *Lucy Cott ...

'' (1920) * ''

Society Snobs ''Society Snobs'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Hobart Henley and starring Conway Tearle, Vivian Forrester and Ida Darling.Munden p.741 Cast * Conway Tearle as Lorenzo Carilo / Duke d'Amunzi * Vivian Forrester as Martha Man ...

'' (1921) * '' Cheated Hearts'' (1921) * ''

Her Night of Nights ''Her Night of Nights'' is a 1922 American silent comedy film directed by Hobart Henley and written by Doris Schroeder. The film stars Marie Prevost, Edward Hearn, Hallam Cooley, Betty Francisco, Charles Arling, and Jane Starr. The film was re ...

'' (1922) * '' The Scrapper'' (1922) * ''

The Flame of Life ''The Flame of Life'' (also known as ''That Lass o' Lowrie's'') is a 1923 American silent drama film starring Priscilla Dean, Robert Ellis, Kathryn McGuire, and Wallace Beery. The film was written by Elliott J. Clawson from the Frances Hodgso ...

'' (1923) * '' The Flirt'' (1922) * ''

The Thrill Chaser ''The Thrill Chaser'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and featuring Hoot Gibson. Plot As described in a film magazine, Omar K. Jenkins' (Gibson) only inheritance from an eccentric father is a copy of the ''Ru ...

'' (1923) * ''

The Abysmal Brute ''The Abysmal Brute'' is a novel by American writer Jack London, published in book form in 1913. It is a short novel, and could be regarded as a novelette. It first appeared in September 1911 in ''Popular Magazine''. In the story, a man who wa ...

'' (1923) * '' A Lady of Quality'' (1924) * ''

Sinners in Silk ''Sinners in Silk'' is a 1924 silent romantic drama film directed by Hobart Henley. The film stars Eleanor Boardman, Adolphe Menjou, Hedda Hopper, Conrad Nagel, and Jean Hersholt. It was written by Benjamin Glazer and Carey Wilson. The film a ...

'' (1924) * '' The Turmoil'' (1924) * '' Married Flirts'' (1924) * '' So This Is Marriage?'' (1924) * ''

The Denial ''The Denial'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Hobart Henley. The film stars Claire Windsor, Bert Roach, William Haines, Lucille Ricksen, and Robert Agnew. The film was written by Agnes Christine Johnston based on the play ...

'' (1925) * '' A Slave of Fashion'' (1925) * ''

Exchange of Wives ''Exchange of Wives'' is a 1925 American comedy drama film directed by Hobart Henley, with screenplay by Fanny Hatton based upon a Broadway play by Cosmo Hamilton. The film stars Eleanor Boardman Olive Eleanor Boardman (August 19, 1898 – ...

'' (1925) * ''

His Secretary ''His Secretary'' is a 1925 American Silent film, silent comedy film directed by Hobart Henley. The film stars Norma Shearer and Lew Cody. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Ruth, a young woman who is in love with her employer but is ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Auction Block ''The Auction Block'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Hobart Henley. The film stars Charles Ray and Eleanor Boardman. It is written by Fanny and Frederic Hatton and is based on the novel of the same name by Rex Beach. The ...

'' (1926) * ''

Tillie the Toiler ''Tillie the Toiler'' is a newspaper comic strip created by cartoonist Russ Westover who initially worked on his concept of a flapper character in a strip he titled ''Rose of the Office''. With a title change, it sold to King Features Syndicate ...

'' (1927) * ''

Wickedness Preferred ''Wickedness Preferred'' is a lost 1928 American silent comedy film, directed by Hobart Henley, and written by Colin Clements, Robert E. Hopkins and Florence Ryerson. The film stars Lew Cody, Aileen Pringle, Mary McAllister, Bert Roach, and G ...

'' (1928) * ''

A Certain Young Man ''A Certain Young Man'' is a 1928 comedy film directed by Hobart Henley. The film stars Ramon Novarro, Marceline Day, Renée Adorée, Carmel Myers and Bert Roach. The film is considered lost. A trailer for the film is preserved at the Library of ...

'' (1928) * ''

His Tiger Lady ''His Tiger Lady'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Hobart Henley and written by Herman J. Mankiewicz, Alfred Savoir and Ernest Vajda. The film stars Adolphe Menjou, Evelyn Brent, Rose Dione, Émile Chautard, Mario Carillo and ...

'' (1928) * '' The Lady Lies'' (1929) * '' Roadhouse Nights'' (1930) * ''

The Big Pond ''The Big Pond'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code romantic comedy film based on a 1928 play of the same name by George Middleton and A.E. Thomas. The film was written by Garrett Fort, Robert Presnell Sr. and Preston Sturges, who provided the dialo ...

'' (1930) * ''

Mothers Cry ''Mothers Cry'' is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film released by First National Pictures, a subsidiary of Warner Bros., and directed by Hobart Henley. The movie stars Dorothy Peterson, Helen Chandler, David Manners, Evalyn Knapp and Sidney ...

'' (1930) * ''

Free Love Free love is a social movement that accepts all forms of love. The movement's initial goal was to separate the state from sexual and romantic matters such as marriage, birth control, and adultery. It stated that such issues were the concern ...

'' (1930) * ''

Captain Applejack ''Captain Applejack'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code comedy film, produced and distributed by Warner Brothers. The film was directed by Hobart Henley and stars John Halliday, Mary Brian, and Arthur Edmund Carewe.''Pictorial History of the Talkies' ...

'' (1931) * '' Bad Sister'' (1931) * '' Expensive Women'' (1931) * ''

Night World ''Night World'' is a series of nine young adult fiction, young adult fantasy novels by American author L. J. Smith (author), L. J. Smith. In the series, vampires, witches, Werewolf, werewolves, and shape-shifters live among humans without their ...

'' (1932) *''

Unknown Blonde ''Unknown Blonde'' is a 1934 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by Hobart Henley and starring Edward Arnold, Barbara Barondess and Dorothy Revier. It was released by the independent Majestic Pictures.Pitts, p. 234 It was based on the ...

'' (1934)

References

External links

The New York Times Movies
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Henley, Hobart 1887 births 1964 deaths American people of German descent American male film actors Film directors from Kentucky American male screenwriters American male silent film actors Male actors from Louisville, Kentucky 20th-century American male actors Burials at Chapel of the Pines Crematory Screenwriters from Kentucky 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters