William Christy Cabanne (April 16, 1888 – October 15, 1950) was an American

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, pr ...

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

, and

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, w ...

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 (), lit ...

Biography

Born in 1888, Cabanne (pronounced CAB-a-nay) started his career on stage as an actor and director. He appeared on-screen in dozens of short films between 1911 and 1915. He gradually became a film director and in fact one of the more prolific directors of his time (see filmography below). He signed on with the Fine Arts Film Company and was employed as an assistant to D.W. Griffith.

Miriam Cooper Miriam Cooper (born Marian Cooper; November 7, 1891 – April 12, 1976) was a silent film actress who is best known for her work in early film including ''The Birth of a Nation'' and ''Intolerance'' for D. W. Griffith and ''The Honor System'' a ...

credited him with discovering her as an extra in 1912. Cabanne directed legendary child actress Shirley Temple in ''

The Red-Haired Alibi ''The Red-Haired Alibi'' is an American pre-Code feature-length film produced by Tower Productions. The film was produced by Sigmund Neufeld. The title is often written as ''Red-Haired Alibi''. Released on October 15, 1932, it was directed by Ch ...

'' (1932) in her first credited role in a feature-length movie.The Red-Haired Alibi (1932)
. nytimes.com; retrieved April 16, 2014. Cabanne earned a reputation for efficiency, and was capable of turning out feature films very quickly, often on rugged locations. Like fellow silent-era directors William Beaudine, Elmer Clifton, Harry Fraser, and Lambert Hillyer, Cabanne was resourceful, and kept working for both major and minor studios through the 1930s and 1940s. By the forties Cabanne was usually entrusted with low-budget action fare at

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 Americ ...

, and finished his career making lower-budget westerns for

Monogram Pictures Monogram Pictures Corporation was an American film studio that produced mostly low-budget films between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram was among the smaller studios i ...

Personal life

Christy Cabanne was married to Millicent Fisher. They had two children, William and Audrey. William has two children, William Christy Jr. and Melinda. Audrey married Bill Davisson and they have two children, Monica and Danielle.

Partial filmography

* '' The Battle'' (1911) * ''

The Musketeers of Pig Alley ''The Musketeers of Pig Alley'' is a 1912 American short drama and a gangster film. It is directed by D. W. Griffith and written by Griffith and Anita Loos. It is also credited for its early use of follow focus, a fundamental tool in cinematog ...

'' (1912) * '' For His Son'' (1912) * '' The Transformation of Mike'' (1912) * ''

Under Burning Skies ''Under Burning Skies'' is a 1912 American short silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Blanche Sweet. Cast * Wilfred Lucas - Joe * Blanche Sweet - Emily * Christy Cabanne - Emily's Husband * Alfred Paget - Emily's Husband ...

'' (1912) * ''

The Goddess of Sagebrush Gulch ''The Goddess of Sagebrush Gulch'' is a 1912 American short silent Western film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Blanche Sweet. Cast See also * D. W. Griffith filmography * Blanche Sweet filmography __NOTOC__ This is the filmograp ...

'' (1912) * '' The Punishment'' (1912) * '' Just Like a Woman'' (1912) * ''

A Temporary Truce ''A Temporary Truce'' is a 1912 American short silent Western film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Blanche Sweet. A print of the film survives in the film archive of the Library of Congress. Plot Mexican Jim, the villain, kidnaps Alic ...

'' (1912) * '' The Inner Circle'' (1912) * ''

Two Daughters of Eve ''Two Daughters of Eve'' is a 1912 American silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith. Cast * Claire McDowell - The Mother * Henry B. Walthall - The Father * Florence Geneva - The Actress * Gertrude Bambrick - Backstage * Elmer Booth - B ...

'' (1912) * ''

So Near, Yet So Far ''So Near, Yet So Far'' is a 1912 American silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith. Prints of the film survive in the Museum of Modern Art film archive. Cast * Walter Miller as Howard * Mary Pickford as The Young Woman * Robert Harron ...

'' (1912) * ''

The Painted Lady ''The Painted Lady'' is a 1912 American short drama film directed by D. W. Griffith David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of th ...

'' (1912) * ''

Heredity Heredity, also called inheritance or biological inheritance, is the passing on of traits from parents to their offspring; either through asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction, the offspring cells or organisms acquire the genetic informa ...

'' (1912) * '' The Informer'' (1912) * '' My Hero'' (1912) * '' A Cry for Help'' (1912) * ''

The God Within ''The God Within'' is a 1912 American short drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Blanche Sweet. A print of the film survives. Cast * Henry B. Walthall as The Woodsman * Claire McDowell as The Woodsman's Wife * Blanche Sweet as ...

'' (1912) * ''

A Chance Deception ''A Chance Deception'' is a 1913 American drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Blanche Sweet. Cast * Blanche Sweet as The Wife * Charles Hill Mailes as The Jealous Husband * Harry Carey as Raffles * Mildred Manning as Raffles' W ...

'' (1913) * ''

Near to Earth ''Near to Earth'' is a 1913 American silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith. Cast * Lionel Barrymore as Gato * Robert Harron as Gato's Brother * Gertrude Bambrick as Gato's Sweetheart * Mae Marsh as One of Gato's Sweetheart's Friends * ...

'' (1913) * ''

A Misunderstood Boy ''A Misunderstood Boy'' is a 1913 American short drama film directed by D. W. Griffith. Cast * Lionel Barrymore as The Father * Kate Bruce as The Mother * Lillian Gish as The Daughter * Robert Harron as The Son * Alfred Paget as The Vigilante ...

'' (1913) * ''

The House of Darkness ''The House of Darkness'' is a 1913 American short drama film directed by D. W. Griffith. Plot In the introduction a woman is shown descending into insanity after having lost her baby. As she mourns, she takes a blanket from the baby's crad ...

'' (1913) * '' The Wanderer'' (1913) * '' A Timely Interception'' (1913) * '' The Mothering Heart'' (1913) * '' The Sorrowful Shore'' (1913) * '' By Man's Law'' (1913) * ''

During the Round-Up ''During the Round-Up'' is a 1913 American short silent Western film directed by Christy Cabanne and featuring Lillian Gish. Cast * Frank Opperman as The Ranchero * Lillian Gish as The Ranchero's Daughter * Henry B. Walthall as The Stranger ...

'' (1913) * ''

An Indian's Loyalty ''An Indian’s Loyalty'' is a 1913 American short silent Western film directed by Christy Cabanne and featuring Lillian Gish. Cast * Frank Opperman as The Ranchero * Lillian Gish as The Ranchero's Daughter * Edward Dillon as The Young Fore ...

'' (1913) * '' So Runs the Way'' (1913) * '' The Conscience of Hassan Bey'' (1913) * ''

The Yaqui Cur ''The Yaqui Cur'' is a 1913 American silent Western black and white film directed by D. W. Griffith, written by Stanner E.V. Taylor and starring Robert Harron, Kate Bruce, Walter Miller, Charles Hill Mailes and Victoria Forde. Griffith direct ...

'' (1913) * ''

Almost a Wild Man ''Almost a Wild Man'' is a 1913 Canadian silent short black and white film directed by Dell Henderson, written by William Beaudine and starring Dorothy Gish. Cast * Charles Murray as McDoo * Gus Pixley as The Wild Man * Edward Dillon as Rooly, ...

'' (1913) * '' The Dishonored Medal'' (1914) * ''

Judith of Bethulia ''Judith of Bethulia'' (1914) is an American film starring Blanche Sweet and Henry B. Walthall, and produced and directed by D. W. Griffith, based on the play "Judith and the Holofernes" (1896) by Thomas Bailey Aldrich, which itself was an adapt ...

'' (1914) (actor) * '' The Hunchback'' (1914) * '' The Quicksands'' (1914) * '' The Rebellion of Kitty Belle'' (1914) * '' The Sisters'' (1914) * '' The Great Leap; Until Death Do Us Part'' (1914) * '' The Life of General Villa'' (1914) * '' The Lost House'' (1915) * ''

Martyrs of the Alamo ''Martyrs of the Alamo'' (also known as ''The Birth of Texas'') is a 1915 American historical war drama film written and directed by Christy Cabanne. The film is based on the historical novel of the same name by Theodosia Harris, and features a ...

'' (1915) * '' The Outlaw's Revenge'' (1915) * ''

Enoch Arden ''Enoch Arden'' is a narrative poem published in 1864 by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, during his tenure as England's poet laureate. The story on which it was based was provided to Tennyson by Thomas Woolner. The poem lent its name to a principle in ...

'' (1915) * '' The Absentee'' (1915) * '' The Failure'' (1915) * '' Pathways of Life'' (1916) * ''

Daphne and the Pirate Daphne (; ; el, Δάφνη, , ), a minor figure in Greek mythology, is a naiad, a variety of female nymph associated with fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies of freshwater. There are several versions of the myth in whi ...

'' (1916) * ''

Sold for Marriage ''Sold for Marriage'' is a 1916 American drama film directed by Christy Cabanne for Triangle Film Corporation. Its working title was ''Marja of the Steppes''. The plot concerns a beautiful young Russian village girl who is in love with a young ...

'' (1916) * ''

Diane of the Follies ''Diane of the Follies'' is a 1916 American drama film directed by Christy Cabanne. The film is considered to be lost. Cast * Lillian Gish in the role of Diane * Sam De Grasse in the role of Phillips Christy * Howard Gaye in the role of Don L ...

'' (1916) * '' National Red Cross Pageant'' (1917) * '' Draft 258'' (1917) * ''

Miss Robinson Crusoe ''Miss Robinson Crusoe'' is a 1917 silent American comedy-drama film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Emmy Wehlen, Walter C. Miller, and Harold Entwistle, and was released on July 30, 1917. Cast list * Emmy Wehlen as Pamela Sayre * Wal ...

'' (1917) * '' Cyclone Higgins, D.D.'' (1918) * ''

The Mayor of Filbert ''The Mayor of Filbert'' is a 1919 silent American drama film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Jack Richardson, Belle Bennett, and J. Barney Sherry, and was released on May 25, 1919. Cast list * Jack Richardson as Mayor Johann Schmidt/C ...

'' (1919) * '' The Pest'' (1919) * ''

The Beloved Cheater ''The Beloved Cheater'' (originally titled ''The Pleasant Devil'') is a 1919 American silent comedy film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Lew Cody, Doris Pawn, and Eileen Percy, and was released on December 6, 1919. Plot Kingdon Challoner ...

'' (1919) * '' Fighting Through'' (1919) * '' God's Outlaw'' (1919) * '' A Regular Fellow'' (1919) * '' Burnt Wings'' (1920) * '' The Triflers'' (1920) * ''

The Barricade ''The Barricade'' is a 1921 silent American melodrama film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars William H. Strauss, Katherine Spencer, and Kenneth Harlan, and was released on October 2, 1921. Plot When Michael Brennon became sick, he asked ...

'' (1921) * '' What's a Wife Worth?'' (1921) * '' Live and Let Live'' * '' At the Stage Door'' (1921) * '' Beyond the Rainbow'' (1922) * '' Till We Meet Again'' (1922) * '' The Spitfire'' (1924) * '' Youth for Sale'' (1924) * '' Is Love Everything?'' (1924) * '' The Average Woman'' (1924) * '' Lend Me Your Husband'' (1924) * ''

The Midshipman ''The Midshipman '' is a 1925 American silent romantic drama film directed by Christy Cabanne. The film stars Ramon Novarro and Harriet Hammond. Joan Crawford had an early uncredited role as an extra. Plot James Randall (Novarro), a second yea ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Masked Bride ''The Masked Bride'' is a 1925 American silent romantic drama film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Mae Murray, Francis X. Bushman, and Basil Rathbone. It is currently a lost film. Plot As described in a review in a film magazine, Gab ...

'' (1925) * ''

Altars of Desire ''Altars of Desire'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring silent movie star Mae Murray. It was produced and released by MGM. A print of ''Altars of Desire'' survives and is preserved by MGM. Synopsis ...

'' (1927) * ''

Nameless Men ''Nameless Men'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Claire Windsor, Antonio Moreno and Eddie Gribbon.Monaco p.91 Cast * Claire Windsor as Mary * Antonio Moreno as Robert Strong * Eddie Gribbon as B ...

'' (1928) * ''

Driftwood __NOTOC__ Driftwood is wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach of a sea, lake, or river by the action of winds, tides or waves. In some waterfront areas, driftwood is a major nuisance. However, the driftwood provides shelter and fo ...

'' (1928) * '' Restless Youth'' (1928) * '' The Dawn Trail'' (1930) * '' Sky Raiders'' (1931) * '' Graft'' (1931) * '' Carne de Cabaret'' (1931) * ''

'' (1932) * ''

Western Limited ''Western Limited'' is a 1932 American drama film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Estelle Taylor, Edmund Burns, and Lucien Prival. It was released on August 5, 1932. Cast * Estelle Taylor as Doris, the secretary * Edmund Burns as Sincl ...

'' (1932) * '' Hearts of Humanity'' (1932) * '' The Unwritten Law'' (1932) * '' Midnight Patrol'' (1932) * ''

The World Gone Mad ''The World Gone Mad'' (also released as ''The Public Be Hanged'') is a 1933 American pre-Code crime film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Pat O'Brien, Evelyn Brent and Neil Hamilton. It was made on a low-budget by the independent ...

'' (1933) * '' Daring Daughters'' (1933) * ''

Jane Eyre ''Jane Eyre'' ( ; originally published as ''Jane Eyre: An Autobiography'') is a novel by the English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The first ...

'' (1934) * '' A Girl of the Limberlost'' (1934) * '' Money Means Nothing'' (1934) * '' Behind the Green Lights'' (1935) * '' Storm Over the Andes'' (1935) * '' The Keeper of the Bees'' (1935) * ''

Another Face ''Another Face'' (released in the UK as ''It Happened in Hollywood'')''Another Face' ...

'' (1935) * '' It's Up to You'' (1936) * '' The Outcasts of Poker Flat'' (1937) * '' Annapolis Salute'' (1937) * ''

The Westland Case ''The Westland Case'' is a 1937 American mystery film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Preston Foster, Frank Jenks, and Carol Hughes. Cast * Preston Foster as Bill Crane * Frank Jenks as Doc Williams * Carol Hughes as Emily Lou Martin ...

'' (1937) * '' Everybody's Doing It'' (1938) * ''

Night Spot ''Night Spot'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Christy Cabanne and written by Lionel Houser. The film stars Harry Parke, Allan Lane, Gordon Jones, Joan Woodbury, and Lee Patrick. The film was released on February 25, 1938, by RKO Pi ...

'' (1938) * ''

Smashing the Spy Ring ''Smashing the Spy Ring'' is a 1938 American drama film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Ralph Bellamy, Fay Wray, and Regis Toomey, and was released on December 29, 1938. Plot Undercover secret agents John Baxter and Ted Hall apprehend a ...

'' (1938) * ''

Mutiny on the Blackhawk ''Mutiny on the Blackhawk'' is a 1939 American adventure film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Richard Arlen, Andy Devine, and Constance Moore, and was released on September 1, 1939. Cast list *Richard Arlen as Captain Robert Lawrence *And ...

'' (1939) * '' Legion of Lost Flyers'' (1939) * ''

Man from Montreal ''Man from Montreal'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Richard Arlen, Andy Devine, and Kay Sutton, and was released on December 8, 1939. Cast list * Richard Arlen as Clark Manning * Andy Devine as Constable ...

'' (1939) * '' The Mummy's Hand'' (1940) * ''

Black Diamonds Carbonado, commonly known as black diamond, is one of the toughest forms of natural diamond. It is an impure, high-density, micro-porous form of polycrystalline diamond consisting of diamond, graphite, and amorphous carbon, with minor crystall ...

'' (1940) * ''

Danger on Wheels ''Danger on Wheels'' is a 1940 American film noir sport film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Richard Arlen and Andy Devine. Plot A test driver (Richard Arlen) tries racing with his girlfriend's (Peggy Moran) father's new engine. Cast ...

'' (1940) * ''

Hot Steel Hot Steel is a 1940 American film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Richard Arlen, Andy Devine, and Peggy Moran. Cast *Richard Arlen as Frank Stewart *Andy Devine as Matt Morrison *Peggy Moran as Babe Morrison *Anne Nagel as Rita Martin * ...

'' (1940) * ''

The Devil's Pipeline ''The Devil's Pipeline'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Richard Arlen, Andy Devine, and John Eldredge, and was released on November 1, 1940. Cast list Reception ''The Film Daily'' gave the picture a lukewar ...

'' (1940) * '' Scattergood Baines'' (1941) * '' Timber'' (1942) * '' Drums of the Congo'' (1942) * '' Keep 'Em Slugging'' (1943) * '' Scared to Death'' (1944, released 1947) * '' The Man Who Walked Alone'' (1945) * '' Sensation Hunters'' (1945) * '' Robin Hood of Monterey'' (1947) * ''

King of the Bandits ''King of the Bandits'' is a 1947 American Western film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Gilbert Roland, Angela Greene, and Chris-Pin Martin, and was released on November 8, 1947. Cast list * Gilbert Roland as the Cisco Kid, aka Chico V ...

'' (1947) * ''

Silver Trails ''Silver Trails'' is a 1948 American Western film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Jimmy Wakely, Dub Taylor, and Christine Larson, and was released on August 28, 1948. The film starred ''Whip Wilson'' (uncredited as the sheriff), who lat ...

'' (1948) * ''

Back Trail ''Back Trail'' is a 1948 American Western film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, and Mildred Coles, and was released on July 18, 1948. Plot Bob Frazer is a businessman in Brentwood. When he was younger a ...

'' (1948)

References

External links and sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cabanne, Christy 1888 births 1950 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors American male screenwriters Male actors from St. Louis United States Naval Academy alumni Film directors from Missouri 20th-century American male actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Articles containing video clips Screenwriters from Missouri 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters