Lloyd Francis Bacon (December 4, 1889 – November 15, 1955) was an American screen, stage and

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a of born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition or light poetry, mixed with songs or b ...

actor and

film director A film director controls a film A film, also called a movie, motion picture or moving picture, is a work of visual art The visual arts are art forms such as painting Painting is the practice of applying paint Paint i ...

. As a director he made films in virtually all genres, including westerns, musicals, comedies, gangster films, and crime dramas. He was one of the directors at

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. and abbreviated as WB) is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California ...

in the 1930s who helped give that studio its reputation for gritty, fast-paced "torn from the headlines" action films. And, in directing Warner Bros.' ''

42nd Street42nd Street may refer to: *42nd Street (Manhattan), a major crosstown street in the New York City borough of Manhattan *42nd Street (film), ''42nd Street'' (film), a 1933 American Warner Bros. musical film with lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry ...

'', he joined the movie's song-and-dance-number director,

Busby Berkeley Busby Berkeley (born Berkeley William Enos; November 29, 1895 – March 14, 1976) was an American film director and musical film, musical choreographer. Berkeley devised elaborate musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric ...

, in contributing to "an instant and enduring classic

hat A collection of 18th and 19th century men's beaver felt hats A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safet ...

hat

transformed the musical genre."

Early life

Lloyd Bacon was born on December 4, 1889 in

San Jose, California San Jose, officially San José (; ; ), is the largest city in Northern California Northern California (colloquially known as NorCal) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the northern portion of the U.S. state of Califor ...

, the son of actor/playwright Frank Bacon - the co-author and star of the long-running Broadway show Lightnin' (1918) - and Jennie Weidman. Lloyd Bacon was not, contrary to some accounts, related to actor

Irving Bacon Irving Bacon (born Irving Von Peters; September 6, 1893 – February 5, 1965) was an American character actor who appeared in almost 500 films. Early years Bacon was the son of entertainers Millar Bacon and Myrtle Vane. He was born in St. Josep ...

, although he did direct him in a number of his films. Bacon attended

Santa Clara University Santa Clara University is a private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private "In Private" was the third single in a row to be a charting success for United Kingdom, British singer Dusty Springfield, after an absence of nearly tw ...

, and would later include highlights from the Bronco Football program in the end of his famous film, ''

Knute Rockne, All American ''Knute Rockne, All American'' is a 1940 American biographical film which tells the story of Knute Rockne, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame football coach. It stars Pat O'Brien (actor), Pat O'Brien as Rockne and Ronald Reagan as player George ...

''. When America entered the

First World War World War I, often abbreviated as WWI or WW1, also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war A world war is "a war War is an intense armed conflict between states State may refer to: Arts, entertainmen ...

in 1917, Bacon enlisted in the

United States Navy ), (unofficial)."''Non sibi sed patriae''" ( en, "Not for self but for country") (unofficial). , colors = Blue and gold , colors_label = Colors , march = "Anchors Aweigh" , mascot = , equipment = List of equipment of the United St ...

and was assigned to the photographic department.Lloyd Bacon (1889-1955)
Hollywood's Golden Age: 30 Years of Brilliance 1930-59. Retrieved September 21, 2021. Many of his later films as a director harked back fondly to his time in the Navy.

Career

Bacon started in films as an actor with

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 ...

and

Broncho Billy Anderson Gilbert M. "Broncho Billy" Anderson (March 21, 1880 – January 20, 1971) was an American actor, writer, film director, and film producer, who is best known as the first star of the Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, ...

and appeared in more than 40 total. As an actor, he is best known for supporting Chaplin in such films as 1915's ''

The Tramp The Tramp (''Charlot'' in several languages), also known as the Little Tramp, was British actor Charlie Chaplin's most memorable on-screen character and an icon in world cinema during the era of silent film. ''The Tramp (film), The Tramp'' is ...

'' and '' The Champion'' and 1917's '' Easy Street''. He later became a director and directed over 100 films between 1920 and 1955. He is best known as director of such classics as 1933's ''

'' and ''

Footlight Parade ''Footlight Parade'' is a 1933 American pre-Code '' (1931) were able to feature criminal, anti-hero protagonists. File:LegsTurntab42ndStTrailer.jpg, upright=1.5, ''42nd Street (film), 42nd Street'' (1933) made concessions to the Hays Co ...

'', 1937's '' Ever Since Eve'' (from a screenplay by playwright

Lawrence Riley Lawrence Riley (1896–1974) was a successful American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the United States The United States of America (USA), commonly ...

''et al''.), 1938's ''

A Slight Case of Murder ''A Slight Case of Murder'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon. The film is based on the 1935 play by Damon Runyon and Howard Lindsay. The offbeat comedy stars Edward G. Robinson spoofing his own gangster image as Remy Marco. P ...

'' with

Edward G. Robinson Edward G. Robinson (born Emanuel Goldenberg; ; December 12, 1893January 26, 1973) was a Romanian American, Romanian-born American actor of stage and screen during Classical Hollywood cinema, Hollywood's Golden Age. He appeared in 30 Broadway pla ...

, 1939's ''

Invisible Stripes ''Invisible Stripes'' is a 1939 Warner Bros. crime film starring George Raft as a gangster unable to go straight after returning home from prison. The movie was directed by Lloyd Bacon and also features William Holden, Jane Bryan and Humphrey B ...

'' with

George Raft George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft i ...

and

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 Classical Hollywood cinema is a term used in film criticism Film c ...

, 1939's ''

The Oklahoma Kid ''The Oklahoma Kid'' is a 1939 western film Western is a genre Genre () is any form or type of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially-agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular us ...

'' with

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor and dancer. On stage and in film, Cagney was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He won acclaim and ...

and

, 1940's ''

'' with Pat O'Brien and

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician who served as the 40th president of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the and of the . The president directs the of ...

(as "the Gipper"), 1943's ''

Action in the North Atlantic ''Action in the North Atlantic'' (also known as ''Heroes Without Uniforms'') is a 1943 American black-and-white Black-and-white (B/W or B&W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of gray. A pi ...

'' with Humphrey Bogart, and 1944's ''

The Fighting Sullivans ''The Fighting Sullivans'', originally released as ''The Sullivans'', is a 1944 American biographical A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just the basic facts like education, work, ...

'' with

Anne Baxter Anne Baxter (May 7, 1923 – December 12, 1985) was an American actress, star of Hollywood films, Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatre ...

and

Thomas Mitchell

. He also directed '' Wake Up and Dream'' (1946).

Death

Bacon died on November 15, 1955 of a

cerebral hemorrhage Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), also known as cerebral bleed, intraparenchymal bleed, and hemorrhagic stroke, or haemorrhagic stroke, is a sudden bleeding into the tissues of the brain, into its ventricles, or into both. It is one kind of bleed ...

and was interred in

Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills is one of the six Forest Lawn cemeteries in Southern California Southern California (sometimes known as SoCal; es, Sur de California) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprise ...

. At the time of his death, he was survived by his ex-wives, son, Frank (1937–2009) and daughter, Betsey. For his contributions to the film industry, Bacon was posthumously inducted into the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo Terrazzo is a composite material, poured in place or precast, which is used for floor and wall treatments. It consists of chips of mar ...

with a motion pictures star in 1960. His star is located at 7011

Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; xgf, Tovaangar; es, Los Ángeles, , ), commonly referred to by the initialism An acronym is a word In linguistics, a word of a spoken lang ...

Partial filmography as actor

* '' The Champion'' (1915) * ''

A Jitney Elopement ''A Jitney Elopement'' was Charlie Chaplin's fifth film for Essanay Studios, Essanay Films. It starred Chaplin and Edna Purviance as lovers, with Purviance wanting Chaplin to take her away from an arranged marriage her father (played by Fred Goo ...

'' (1915) * ''

The Bank

'' (1915) * ''

The Floorwalker ''The Floorwalker'' is a 1916 American silent comedy film, Charlie Chaplin's first Mutual Film Corporation Mutual Film Corporation was an early United States, American film conglomerate that produced some of Charlie Chaplin's greatest comedies. ...

'' (1916) * '' The Fireman'' (1916) * '' The Vagabond'' (1916) * ''

Behind the Screen ''Behind the Screen'' is a 1916 American silent short comedy film A comedy film is a category of film A film, also called a movie, motion picture or moving picture, is a work of visual art used to simulate experiences that communi ...

'' (1916) * '' The Rink'' (1916) * '' Easy Street'' (1917) * '' Square Deal Sanderson'' (1919) * ''

Wagon Tracks ''Wagon Tracks'' is a 1919 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film written by C. Gardner Sullivan, produced by Thomas H. Ince and William S. Hart, and directed by Lambert Hillyer. Upon its release, the ''Los Angeles Times'' d ...

'' (1919) * '' The Blue Bonnet'' (1919) * '' The House of Intrigue'' (1919) * '' The Feud'' (1919) * ''

The Midlanders ''The Midlanders'' is a 1920 American silent drama film In film and television show, television, drama is a category of narrative fiction (or docudrama, semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humour, humorous in tone. Drama of this k ...

'' (1920) * ''

The Girl in the Rain ''The Girl in the Rain'' is a 1920 American silent film, silent mystery film directed by Rollin S. Sturgeon and starring Anne Cornwall, Lloyd Bacon and Jessalyn Van Trump.Wlaschin p.95 Cast * Anne Cornwall as Judith * Lloyd Bacon as Walter * J ...

'' (1920) * '' The Broken Gate'' (1920) * ''

The Kentucky Colonel ''The Kentucky Colonel'' is a 1920 American silent drama film In film and television show, television, drama is a category of narrative fiction (or docudrama, semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humour, humorous in tone. Drama of ...

'' (1920) * '' Hearts and Masks'' (1921) * ''

Smudge Smudge may refer to: Cats * Smudge (Blue Peter cat) The Blue Peter pets are animals that regularly appear on the long-running BBC children's television series ''Blue Peter''. For 27 years, when not on TV, these pets were often looked after by ...

'' (1922)

Partial filmography as director

* ''

Broken Hearts of Hollywood ''Broken Hearts of Hollywood'' is a 1926 American comedy drama film released by Warner Bros. and directed by Lloyd Bacon. It is unknown, but the film might have been released with a Vitaphone soundtrack. A print of the film exists. Plot Virginia ...

'' (1926) * ''

Private Izzy Murphy ''Private Izzy Murphy'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent comedy drama film with Vitaphone sound effects, starring George Jessel (actor), George Jessel, and Patsy Ruth Miller. The film was released by Warner Bros.. It is unknown if a copy su ...

'' (1926) * '' No Defense'' (1929) * '' Kept Husbands'' (1931) * ''

'' (1933) * ''

'' (1933) * '' Mary Stevens, M.D.'' (1933) * ''

Son of a Sailor ''Son of a Sailor'' is a 1933 American comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and written by Alfred A. Cohn, Paul Gerard Smith, Ernest Pagano, and H. M. Walker. The film stars Joe E. Brown, Jean Muir (actress), Jean Muir, Frank McHugh, Thelma Todd, J ...

'' (1933) * ''

Cain and Mabel ''Cain and Mabel'' is a 1936 romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice-of-life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true lov ...

'' (1936) * '' Ever Since Eve'' (1937) * ''

Marked Woman ''Marked Woman'' is a 1937 American dramatic crime film Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre A film genre is a Genre, stylistic or thematic category for Film, motion pictures based on similarities either in the narrative , ...

'' (1937) * ''

San Quentin San Quentin State Prison (SQ) is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation state prison for men, located north of San Francisco San Francisco (/Help:IPA/English, ˌsæn fɹənˈsɪskoʊ/; Spanish language, Spanish for "Fr ...

'' (1937) * ''

'' (1938) * ''

'' (1939) * ''

Brother Orchid ''Brother Orchid'' is a 1940 American crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition ...

'' (1940) * ''

'' (1943) * ''

'' (1944) * '' Wake Up and Dream'' (1946) * ''

It Happens Every Spring ''It Happens Every Spring'' is a 1949 American comedy film A comedy film is a category of film A film, also called a movie, motion picture or moving picture, is a work of visual art The visual arts are art forms such as painting ...

'' (1949) * '' Golden Girl'' (1951) * ''

The French Line ''The French Line'' is a 1953 American musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develo ...

'' (1954)

References

External links

* *
A Guide to Lloyd Bacon
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bacon, Lloyd

American male stage actors {{CatAutoTOC American male actors by medium, Stage American stage actors, +Male Male stage actors by nationality, American ...

Vaudeville performers American male silent film actors Male actors from San Jose, California Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Santa Clara University alumni 1889 births 1955 deaths 20th-century American male actors Film directors from California