Edward Sedgwick (November 7, 1889 – March 7, 1953) 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 ...
,
writer
A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, ...
,
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 ...
He was born in Galveston, Texas, the son of Edward Sedgwick, Sr. and Josephine Walker, both stage actors. At the age of four, young Edward Sedgwick joined his show business family in what was then the Sedgwick Comedy Company, a vaudeville act, doing a "singing speciality". He played child parts and did vaudeville acts until he was seven, when he was given his first comedy part, that of an Irish immigrant, in a comedy written by his father called ''Just Over''.
During this time, he was only on stage during the summer months. In winter his father took him back to Galveston and sent him to school. He graduated from St. Mary's University of Galveston, and was then sent to the Peacock Military Academy in San Antonio, from which he graduated with the rank of first lieutenant. After graduation, he seriously contemplated a military life but the lure of the stage proved stronger and so he rejoined his father's company, now known as "The Five Sedgwicks." The troupe consisted of his parents, himself and his two sisters. Forced to close the act through the father's illness, Sedgwick went into musical comedy and soon had a company of his own, known as "The Cabaret Girls," produced, directed and managed by himself. The company was very successful, and it was only after repeated offers from Romaine Fielding that he was induced, at the end of his third successful season, to disband his company and become a film-actor.
The two other family members were Edward's twin sisters
Eileen
Eileen ( or ) is an Irish feminine given name anglicised from Eibhlín and may refer to:
People Artists
*Eileen Agar (1899–1991), British Surrealist painter and photographer
*Eileen Fisher (born 1950), clothing retailer and designer
*Eileen ...
and Josie, who both later pursued successful silent-movie acting careers. Sedgwick broke into films as a comedian in 1915, frequently cast as a zany baseball player. He then became a serial director six years later in 1921, and moved on to the Tom Mix western unit. Sedgwick's love of baseball came in handy for the ballpark sequences of Mix's '' Stepping Out'', Buck Jones’ ''
Hit and Run
In traffic laws, a hit and run or a hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic collision and not stopping afterwards. It is considered a supplemental crime in most jurisdictions.
Additional obligation
In many jurisdictions, there may be a ...
Buster Keaton
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is best known for his silent film work, in which his trademark was physical comedy accompanied by a stoic, deadpan expression ...
Sedgwick signed with MGM in the late 1920s. There, he found a kindred spirit in fellow baseball buff
Buster Keaton
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is best known for his silent film work, in which his trademark was physical comedy accompanied by a stoic, deadpan expression ...
. Sedgwick (known informally as "Ed" or "Junior") directed most of Keaton's MGM features: '' The Cameraman'', ''
Spite Marriage
''Spite Marriage'' is a 1929 American silent comedy film co-directed by Buster Keaton and Edward Sedgwick and starring Keaton and Dorothy Sebastian. It is the second film Keaton made for MGM and his last silent film, although he had wanted it ...
Speak Easily
''Speak Easily'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film starring Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante, and Thelma Todd, and directed by Edward Sedgwick. The studio also paired Keaton and Durante as a comedy team during this period in '' The Passionat ...
'', and '' What! No Beer?''. In 1936 Sedgwick briefly became a producer-director at Hal Roach Studios. There, he made ''Mister Cinderella'' and '' Pick a Star'', both starring Jack Haley. The latter film featured a guest appearance by
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy were a British-American comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957). Starting their career as a duo in t ...
.
He directed the 1938 film '' The Gladiator'' starring Joe E. Brown and Dickie Moore.
By the 1940s, Sedgwick had fewer opportunities to direct. When
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy were a British-American comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957). Starting their career as a duo in t ...
returned to MGM in late 1942, Sedgwick was chosen to direct them in '' Air Raid Wardens''. It was his last assignment for five years, but he remained on the MGM payroll, sharing an office with the almost-as-idle Buster Keaton.
In 1948, Keaton, employed as a
gagman
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting foolish (as in slapstick), or employing prop comedy. A comedian who addresses an audience dire ...
for
Red Skelton
Richard Red Skelton (July 18, 1913September 17, 1997) was an American entertainer best known for his national radio and television shows between 1937 and 1971, especially as host of the television program ''The Red Skelton Show''. He has stars ...
, had suggested that Sedgwick would be an ideal director for the upcoming '' A Southern Yankee''. But Sedgwick was not up to the challenge: though he received sole directorial credit, S. Sylvan Simon directed the film in its entirety.Zmuda, Michael. ''The five Sedgwicks: pioneer entertainers of Vaudeville, film and television''. McFarland & Company, Inc., 2015. Sedgwick's final released film was
Universal
Universal is the adjective for universe.
Universal may also refer to:
Companies
* NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company
** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal
** Universal TV, a t ...
lost film
A lost film is a feature or short film that no longer exists in any studio archive, private collection, public archive or the U.S. Library of Congress.
Conditions
During most of the 20th century, U.S. copyright law required at least one copy ...
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...
in
North Hollywood, California
North Hollywood is a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, located in the San Fernando Valley. The neighborhood contains the NoHo Arts District, the El Portal Theatre, several art galleries, and the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences. The Nor ...
at the age of 63. He is buried in
Holy Cross Cemetery Holy Cross Cemetery may refer to:
United States
California
* Holy Cross Cemetery (Colma, California)
*Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California
* Holy Cross Cemetery (Menlo Park, California)
* Holy Cross Cemetery (Pomona, California)
*Holy ...
in
Culver City
Culver City is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,779. Founded in 1917 as a "whites only" sundown town, it is now an ethnically diverse city with what was called the "third-most ...
.
Filmography
* ''
The Haunted Pajamas
''The Haunted Pajamas'' is a 1917 comedy-drama film directed by Fred J. Balshofer. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Francis Perry Elliott. A copy of the film survives.
Plot
Richard Hudson receives a pair of silk pajamas from ...
Bar Nothing
''Bar Nothin (sometimes written as ''Bar Nothing'') is a 1921 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Buck Jones, Ruth Renick and Arthur Edmund Carewe.Solomon, p. 273.
Cast
* Buck Jones as Duke Smith
* Ruth Renick ...
The Bearcat
''The Bearcat'' is a 1922 American silent Western film, now considered lost. It is directed by Edward Sedgwick and features Hoot Gibson.
Plot
As described in a film magazine, The Singin' Kid (Gibson) rides into town after a brief sojourn so ...
Do and Dare
''Do and Dare'' is a 1922 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Tom Mix, Dulcie Cooper and Claire Adams.Solomon, p. 279.
Cast
* Tom Mix as Kit Carson Boone / Henry Boone
* Dulcie Cooper as Mary Lee
* Claire Ad ...
Blinky
Blinky may refer to:
Characters
* ''Blinky'' (comics), a character in the UK comic ''The Dandy''
* Blinky (ghost), a red (sometimes orange) ghost in the ''Pac-Man'' franchise
* Blinky (mascot), the mascot of FreeDOS
* Blinky (The Simpsons), t ...
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 ...
Ride for Your Life
''Ride for Your Life'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and featuring Hoot Gibson.
Plot
As described in a film magazine review, Bud Watkins is in love with Betsy Burke. However, she shows a preference for The ...
The Sawdust Trail
''The Sawdust Trail'' is a 1924 American silent Western film produced and distributed by Universal Pictures and starring Hoot Gibson. Edward Sedgwick directed. It is based on the short story "Courtin' Calamity" by William Dudley Pelley, whi ...
'' (1924)
* ''
Hit and Run
In traffic laws, a hit and run or a hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic collision and not stopping afterwards. It is considered a supplemental crime in most jurisdictions.
Additional obligation
In many jurisdictions, there may be a ...
'' (1924)
* ''
The Ridin' Kid from Powder River
''The Ridin' Kid from Powder River'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Hoot Gibson. It was based on a novel by Henry Herbert Knibbs and produced and distributed by Universal Pictures.
Plot
As descr ...
The Saddle Hawk
''The Saddle Hawk'' is a lost 1925 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Hoot Gibson. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures.
Plot
As described in a film magazine, Ben Johnson (Gibson), a despise ...
Two-Fisted Jones
''Two-Fisted Jones'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and written by Scott Darling. The film stars Jack Hoxie, Kathryn McGuire, William Steele, Harry Todd, Frank Rice, and Paul Grimes. The film was released ...
'' (1925)
* ''
The Runaway Express
''The Runaway Express'' is a 1926 American silent action film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Jack Dougherty, Blanche Mehaffey, and Tom O'Brien.Tin Hats'' (1926)
* '' The Flaming Frontier'' (1926)
* '' Under Western Skies'' (1926)
* ''
There You Are!
''There You Are!'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick. Based on the play of the same name by F. Hugh Herbert, the film starred Conrad Nagel and Edith Roberts. ''There You Are!'' is now considered lost.
Plot
G ...
The Bugle Call
''The Bugle Call'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Jackie Coogan and Claire Windsor, which was released on August 6, 1927.
The Lost Film Files database lists this film as being lost.
Plot
Billy ...
Spite Marriage
''Spite Marriage'' is a 1929 American silent comedy film co-directed by Buster Keaton and Edward Sedgwick and starring Keaton and Dorothy Sebastian. It is the second film Keaton made for MGM and his last silent film, although he had wanted it ...
Remote Control
In electronics, a remote control (also known as a remote or clicker) is an electronic device used to operate another device from a distance, usually wirelessly. In consumer electronics, a remote control can be used to operate devices such ...
The Passionate Plumber
''The Passionate Plumber'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick, and starring Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante, and Irene Purcell. The screenplay by Laurence E. Johnson and Ralph Spence is based on the 1926 play ''D ...
'' (1932)
* ''
Speak Easily
''Speak Easily'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film starring Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante, and Thelma Todd, and directed by Edward Sedgwick. The studio also paired Keaton and Durante as a comedy team during this period in '' The Passionat ...
Horse Play
''Horse Play'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and written by H. M. Walker and Dale Van Every. The film stars Slim Summerville, Andy Devine, Leila Hyams, May Beatty, Una O'Connor and David Torrence. The fi ...
'' (1933)
* ''
Saturday's Millions
''Saturday's Millions'' is a 1933 American pre-Code sports drama film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Robert Young, Andy Devine, Leila Hyams and Johnny Mack Brown. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. The film is an a ...
Father Brown, Detective
''Father Brown, Detective '' is a 1934 American mystery film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Walter Connolly, Paul Lukas and Gertrude Michael. It is based on the 1910 Father Brown story "The Blue Cross" by G. K. Chesterton.
Plot
When i ...
Riding on Air
''Riding on Air'' is a 1937 American film directed by Edward Sedgwick.
The film is also known as ''All Is Confusion'' in the United Kingdom.
Plot summary
Joe E. Brown plays hapless newspaper writer, editor; amateur pilot, HAM radio operator, a ...