Post by Teleadm on May 26, 2023 23:01:20 GMT
Who? A name that might sound familiar if you've seen some of the lesser Laurel and Hardy movies of the 1940's, but he was one of the prominent directors of the silent era, coming third in polls, after Ernst Lubitsch and Erich von Stroheim.
One of his early few sound movies is said to have popularized the singing cowboy movie genre, a genre one either embraces or hate.
This year we celebrate this rather forgotten director on his 125th birthdate in Los Angeles CA 1897.
Malcolm St. Clair (1897-1952)
He started as a cartoonist gag writer for Los Angeles newspapers, that went well with Mack Sennett who hired him as a gag writer and a few acting roles and soon he was directing two-reelers, but Sennett wasn't willing to movie forward and was stuck in slap-stick, and not interested in sophistication and subtlety, so a break eventually came, with Buster Keaton who like him wanted to do something else than just slapstick and more story and they made two movies together, both enhancing their careers in different ways.
The Goat 1921 the other was The Blacksmith 1922
At Warner's he made Rin-Tin-Tin a star 1924.
Between 1925 and the coming of sound was his most fruitful era, directing hit after hit, with slightly ironic comedies about the riches, with stars like Pola Negri, Betty Bronson and Adolphe Menjou.
At Paramount he made his name, a big success at the time
Woman of the World 1925 starring Pola Negri
The Grand Duchess and the Waiter 1926. Only a few fragments survives at Library of Congress.
Knockabout Kelly 1927 starring tough-locking Richard Dix
Based on Anita Loos' novel, this 1928 version might be great , be we don't know since the movie is considered lost.
Then came sound and he did a few in early movies in the sound years. He was young enough to have been able to transform to the sound movies, but apparently decided to quit returning later at TCF b-unit in 1936, maybe for financial reasons.
The Canary Murder Case 1929 starring William Powell as Philo Vance, said to have bad dubbing and got mixed reviews.
Side Street 1929 a gang related drama that exicts in it's entirety but need funding to be restored, starring the Moore brothers.
The Boo-Pe-Pi-Doo girl Helen Kane's only vehicle Dangerous Nan McGrew 1930
Montana Moon 1930 starring Joan Crawford.
The film introduced the concept of the singing cowboy to the screen. A genre that lasted until the early 1950's when TV took over.
He made a few forgettable movies, he returned to the big studios, if only in the B-units.
Crack-Up 1936 starring Peter Lorre
He also directed two movies in "The Jones Family" series at the tail end, with at least one co-written with Buster Keaton. Also directed at least one of the "Lum and Abner" based on a radio show movies.
Jitterbugs 1943 wasn't prime Laurel and Hardy, but some consider it could have been a good start for a resurrection for the famous couple. Instead he directed some of there worst, ending with The Bullfighters 1945.
His last two movies was made for ultra-cheap producer Sol M Wurzel in 1948.
Bad health hindered him to move over to television, though he and Buster Keaton had a few ideas that never materialized.
For such a forgotten director I was surprised that there actually is a book, first published in 1997.
Also said to have been the tallest director in Hollywood at 6 foot 7, other sources says he was shorter, some says he was even taller....
Thanks for watching!
Opinions of all kinds are welcome.
(I know this was a bit obscure, but it was fun researching)
One of his early few sound movies is said to have popularized the singing cowboy movie genre, a genre one either embraces or hate.
This year we celebrate this rather forgotten director on his 125th birthdate in Los Angeles CA 1897.
Malcolm St. Clair (1897-1952)
He started as a cartoonist gag writer for Los Angeles newspapers, that went well with Mack Sennett who hired him as a gag writer and a few acting roles and soon he was directing two-reelers, but Sennett wasn't willing to movie forward and was stuck in slap-stick, and not interested in sophistication and subtlety, so a break eventually came, with Buster Keaton who like him wanted to do something else than just slapstick and more story and they made two movies together, both enhancing their careers in different ways.
The Goat 1921 the other was The Blacksmith 1922
At Warner's he made Rin-Tin-Tin a star 1924.
Between 1925 and the coming of sound was his most fruitful era, directing hit after hit, with slightly ironic comedies about the riches, with stars like Pola Negri, Betty Bronson and Adolphe Menjou.
At Paramount he made his name, a big success at the time
Woman of the World 1925 starring Pola Negri
The Grand Duchess and the Waiter 1926. Only a few fragments survives at Library of Congress.
Knockabout Kelly 1927 starring tough-locking Richard Dix
Based on Anita Loos' novel, this 1928 version might be great , be we don't know since the movie is considered lost.
Then came sound and he did a few in early movies in the sound years. He was young enough to have been able to transform to the sound movies, but apparently decided to quit returning later at TCF b-unit in 1936, maybe for financial reasons.
The Canary Murder Case 1929 starring William Powell as Philo Vance, said to have bad dubbing and got mixed reviews.
Side Street 1929 a gang related drama that exicts in it's entirety but need funding to be restored, starring the Moore brothers.
The Boo-Pe-Pi-Doo girl Helen Kane's only vehicle Dangerous Nan McGrew 1930
Montana Moon 1930 starring Joan Crawford.
The film introduced the concept of the singing cowboy to the screen. A genre that lasted until the early 1950's when TV took over.
He made a few forgettable movies, he returned to the big studios, if only in the B-units.
Crack-Up 1936 starring Peter Lorre
He also directed two movies in "The Jones Family" series at the tail end, with at least one co-written with Buster Keaton. Also directed at least one of the "Lum and Abner" based on a radio show movies.
Jitterbugs 1943 wasn't prime Laurel and Hardy, but some consider it could have been a good start for a resurrection for the famous couple. Instead he directed some of there worst, ending with The Bullfighters 1945.
His last two movies was made for ultra-cheap producer Sol M Wurzel in 1948.
Bad health hindered him to move over to television, though he and Buster Keaton had a few ideas that never materialized.
For such a forgotten director I was surprised that there actually is a book, first published in 1997.
Also said to have been the tallest director in Hollywood at 6 foot 7, other sources says he was shorter, some says he was even taller....
Thanks for watching!
Opinions of all kinds are welcome.
(I know this was a bit obscure, but it was fun researching)
