Producers Distributing Corporation was a short-lived Hollywood film distribution company, organized in 1924 and dissolved in March 1927. In its brief heyday, film director Cecil B. DeMille was its primary shareholder and major talent.

Corporate history

PDC's beginnings lay with film pioneer William Wadsworth Hodkinson, founder of

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 ...

in 1912. In late 1924 Hodkinson sold one of his struggling distribution companies to Jeremiah Millbank, a "wealthy, extremely religious, and politically conservative financier."Empire of dreams: the epic life of Cecil B. DeMille, Scott Eyman, page 212 Millbank partnered with DeMille and renamed the company Producers Distributing Corporation. Part of Millbank's investment went to purchase the former Thomas H. Ince Culver Studios, the property whose main building is a replica of

Mount Vernon Mount Vernon is an American landmark and former plantation of Founding Father, commander of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, and the first president of the United States George Washington and his wife, Martha. The estate is ...

. In March 1927, Pathe Exchange and Producers Distributing Corporation merged under the control of the

Keith-Albee-Orpheum The Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corporation was the owner of a chain of vaudeville and motion picture theatres. It was formed by the merger of the holdings of Benjamin Franklin Keith and Edward Franklin Albee II and Martin Beck's Orpheum Circuit. His ...

chain of theaters. In early 1928, Joseph P. Kennedy merged

Film Booking Offices of America Film Booking Offices of America (FBO), registered as FBO Pictures Corp., was an American film studio of the silent era, a midsize producer and distributor of mostly low-budget films. The business began in 1918 as Robertson-Cole, an Anglo-Americ ...

(FBO) and KAO, in part to promote the new

RCA Photophone RCA Photophone was the trade name given to one of four major competing technologies that emerged in the American film industry in the late 1920s for synchronizing electrically recorded audio to a motion picture image. RCA Photophone was an op ...

sound-on-film system, and created

RKO Radio Pictures RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orph ...

. PDC is unrelated to the company of the same name organized by Ben Judell in 1939, and which produced four films then evolved into the

Poverty Row Poverty Row is a slang term used to refer to Hollywood films produced from the 1920s to the 1950s by small (and mostly short-lived) B movie studios. Although many of them were based on (or near) today's Gower Street in Hollywood, the term did ...

studio

Producers Releasing Corporation Producers Releasing Corporation was the smallest and least prestigious of the Hollywood film studios of the 1940s. It was considered a prime example of what was called "Poverty Row": a low-rent stretch of Gower Street in Hollywood where shoestr ...

. PDC is also unconnected to the Producers Distribution Agency founded in 2010 by John Sloss and Bart Walker.

Filmography

* '' The Hoosier Schoolmaster'' (1924) * '' Try and Get It'' (1924) * '' Hold Your Breath'' (1924) * '' Another Scandal'' (1924) * '' Her Own Free Will'' (1924) * '' Legend of Hollywood'' (1924) * '' The Wise Virgin'' (1924) * ''

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'' (1924) * '' Another Man's Wife'' (1924) * '' Trouping with Ellen'' (1924) * '' The House of Youth'' (1924) * '' Reckless Romance'' (1924) * '' The Chorus Lady'' (1924) * '' The Flaming Forties'' (1924) * '' Roaring Rails'' (1924) * '' The Siren of Seville'' (1924) * ''

Ramshackle House ''Ramshackle House'' is a 1924 American silent romantic drama film directed by F. Harmon Weight and starring Betty Compson. It is based on the novel ''Ramshackle House'' by Hulbert Footner. It was released by Producers Distributing Corporation ...

'' (1924) * '' A Cafe in Cairo'' (1924) * '' Barbara Frietchie'' (1924) * ''

The Mirage The Mirage is a casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. It is owned by Vici Properties and operated by Hard Rock International. The 65-acre property includes a casino and 3,044 rooms. Golden Nugget, Inc., led ...

'' (1924) * '' Chalk Marks'' (1924) * '' Let Women Alone'' (1925) * ''

The Million Dollar Handicap ''The Million Dollar Handicap'' is a 1925 American silent sports drama film directed by Scott Sidney and starring Edmund Burns, Ralph Lewis, and Ward Crane. It is based on the 1902 novel ''Thoroughbreds'' by William Alexander Fraser. The f ...

'' (1925) * '' On the Threshold'' (1925) * ''

The Crimson Runner ''The Crimson Runner'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Tom Forman and starring Priscilla Dean, Bernard Siegel, and Alan Hale. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Bianca Schreber is a poor girl whose father was woun ...

'' (1925) * '' Friendly Enemies'' (1925) * '' Beauty and the Bad Man'' (1925) * '' Stop Flirting'' (1925) * '' Hell's Highroad'' (1925) * '' Steel Preferred'' (1925) * '' Off the Highway'' (1925) * '' Seven Days'' (1925) * '' The Girl on the Stairs'' (1925) * ''

Silent Sanderson ''Silent Sanderson'' is a 1925 American silent Western film featuring Harry Carey. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Joel had loved Judith but had given her up to his brother, who asked her to marry him. The brother is found dea ...

'' (1925) * '' The Bad Lands'' (1925) * ''

The Texas Trail ''The Texas Trail'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and featuring Harry Carey. Plot As described in a film magazine reviews, when Betty Foster comes West, she finds that real cowboys are not a match to wha ...

'' (1925) * '' Beyond the Border'' (1925) * '' Without Mercy'' (1925) * '' The Coming of Amos'' (1925) * '' The Prairie Pirate'' (1925) * ''

The People vs. Nancy Preston ''The People vs. Nancy Preston'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Tom Forman and starring Marguerite De La Motte, John Bowers, and Frankie Darro. Plot As described in a film magazine reviews, Bill Preston and Mike Horgan, pri ...

'' (1925) * ''

Simon the Jester Simon may refer to: People * Simon (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name Simon * Simon (surname), including a list of people with the surname Simon * Eugène Simon, French naturalist and the genus ...

'' (1925) * '' Private Affairs'' (1925) * ''

Her Market Value ''Her Market Value'' is a 1925 American silent melodrama film directed by Paul Powell and starring Agnes Ayres. Powell produced the picture and distributed through Producers Distributing Corporation. Plot As described in a film magazine review, ...

'' (1925) * '' The Man from Red Gulch'' (1925) * '' The Girl of Gold'' (1925) * '' Soft Shoes'' (1925) * '' The Wedding Song'' (1925) * '' Braveheart'' (1925) * '' The Awful Truth'' (1925) * '' Madame Behave'' (1925) * '' The Road to Yesterday'' (1925) * '' The Flame of the Yukon'' (1926) * '' Red Dice'' (1926) * '' Jim, the Conqueror'' (1926) * '' Eve's Leaves'' (1926) * '' The Danger Girl'' (1926) * ''

Cruise of the Jasper B ''Cruise of the Jasper B'' is a 1926 American silent action/adventure comedy film produced by Cecil B. DeMille and directed by James W. Horne. The film is loosely based on the 1916 novel of the same name by American poet Don Marquis, although t ...

'' (1926) * ''

Pals in Paradise ''Pals in Paradise'' is a lost 1926 American silent drama film directed by George B. Seitz. The film was shot in Europe. Cast * Rudolph Schildkraut as Abraham Lezinsky * John Bowers as Bill Harvey * Marguerite De La Motte as Geraldine 'Jerry' ...

'' (1926) * ''

Fifth Avenue Fifth Avenue is a major and prominent thoroughfare in the borough of Manhattan in New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 populatio ...

'' (1926) * '' The Clinging Vine'' (1926) * ''

The Speeding Venus ''The Speeding Venus'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by Robert Thornby and starring Priscilla Dean, Robert Frazer and Dale Fuller.Munden p.754 Cast * Priscilla Dean as Emily Dale * Robert Frazer as John Steele * Dale Fuller ...

'' (1926) * '' Her Man o' War'' (1926) * ''

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 ...

'' (1926) * ''

Gigolo A gigolo () is a male escort or social companion who is supported by a person in a continuing relationship, often living in her residence or having to be present at her beck and call. The term ''gigolo'' usually implies a man who adopts a lifes ...

'' (1926) * ''

Paris at Midnight ''Paris at Midnight'' is a 1926 American silent drama film starring Jetta Goudal and Lionel Barrymore and was directed by E. Mason Hopper. It was distributed by Producers Distributing Corporation. It was based on the novel '' Le Père Goriot' ...

'' (1926) * ''

Wild Oats Lane ''Wild Oats Lane'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by Marshall Neilan and starring Viola Dana, Robert Agnew, and John MacSweeney.For Alimony Only'' (1926) * ''

Silence Silence is the absence of ambient audible sound, the emission of sounds of such low intensity that they do not draw attention to themselves, or the state of having ceased to produce sounds; this latter sense can be extended to apply to the c ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Dice Woman ''The Dice Woman'' is a 1926 American silent action adventure film directed by Eddie Dillon and starring Priscilla Dean. No known prints of it exist, and it is presumed lost. No longer a Universal contract star in 1926, Dean was in her career' ...

'' (1926) * '' For Wives Only'' (1926) * '' Corporal Kate'' (1926) * '' The Sea Wolf'' (1926) * ''

Forbidden Waters ''Forbidden Waters'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Alan Hale and starring Priscilla Dean, Walter McGrail, and Dan Mason. Plot As described in a film magazine review, J. Austin Bell, a divorced man, promises his former wife ...

'' (1926) * '' The Nervous Wreck'' (1926) * '' The Last Frontier'' (1926) * '' Whispering Smith'' (1926) * ''

Rocking Moon ''Rocking Moon'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by George Melford and starring Lilyan Tashman and John Bowers. It was released by Producers Distributing Corporation. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Sasha Larianoff ...

'' (1926) * '' Shipwrecked'' (1926) * '' Three Faces East'' (1926) * '' The Unknown Soldier'' (1926) * '' Up in Mabel's Room'' (1926) * '' The Volga Boatman'' (1926) * '' Young April'' (1926) * '' Meet the Prince'' (1926) * '' Bachelor Brides'' (1926) * '' Risky Business'' (1926) * '' Made for Love'' (1926) * ''

The Prince of Pilsen ''The Prince of Pilsen'' is a lost 1926 American silent romantic comedy film directed by Paul Powell and starring Anita Stewart and George Sidney. David Belasco produced the film. It was based on a 1903 Broadway musical, ''The Prince of Pilsen' ...

'' (1926) * ''

Almost a Lady ''Almost a Lady'' is a 1926 American silent romantic comedy film directed by E. Mason Hopper and starring Marie Prevost. Cast *Marie Prevost as Marcia Blake, a gownshop model * Harrison Ford as William Duke *George K. Arthur as Bob *Trixie Fri ...

'' (1926) * '' Sunny Side Up'' (1926) * ''

The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary ''The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary'' is a lost 1927 American silent comedy film starring veteran actress May Robson and released by Cecil B. DeMille's Producers Distributing Corporation (PDC). Robson had first appeared in the Broadway play versi ...

'' (1927) * ''

Rubber Tires A tire (American English) or tyre (British English) is a ring-shaped component that surrounds a wheel's rim to transfer a vehicle's load from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to provide traction on the surface over which t ...

'' (1927) * '' Nobody's Widow'' (1927) * '' Fighting Love'' (1927) * ''

Jewels of Desire ''Jewels of Desire'' is a 1927 silent film directed by Paul Powell and starring Priscilla Dean. It was released through Producers Distributing Corporation. A print is preserved at the UCLA Film and Television Archive The UCLA Film & Televisi ...

'' (1927) * ''

Vanity Vanity is the excessive belief in one's own abilities or attractiveness to others. Prior to the 14th century it did not have such narcissistic undertones, and merely meant ''futility''. The related term vainglory is now often seen as an archaic ...

'' (1927) * '' The Little Adventuress'' (1927) * '' Man Bait'' (1927) * '' No Control'' (1927) * ''

The King of Kings King of Kings; grc-gre, Βασιλεὺς Βασιλέων, Basileùs Basiléōn; hy, արքայից արքա, ark'ayits ark'a; sa, महाराजाधिराज, Mahārājadhirāja; ka, მეფეთ მეფე, ''Mepet mepe'' ...

'' (1927) * '' The Heart Thief'' (1927) * '' White Gold'' (1927) * '' Getting Gertie's Garter'' (1927) * '' The Night Bride'' (1927) * '' The Yankee Clipper'' (1927) * ''

Turkish Delight Turkish delight or lokum ( ota, لوقوم) is a family of confections based on a gel of starch and sugar. Premium varieties consist largely of chopped dates, pistachios, hazelnuts or walnuts bound by the gel; traditional varieties are often ...

'' (1927)

References

Mass media companies established in 1924 Mass media companies disestablished in 1927 Film distributors of the United States Defunct American film studios 1925 establishments in California 1927 disestablishments in California {{US-film-company-stub