Lew Landers
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Lew Landers (born Louis Friedlander, January 2, 1901 – December 16, 1962) was an American independent film and television director.


Biography

Born as Louis Friedlander in New York City, Lew Landers began his movie career as an actor. In 1914, he appeared in two features: D.W. Griffith's drama '' The Escape'' and the comedy short ''Admission – Two Pins'', under his birth name. He became an assistant director 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 ...
in 1922. He began making films in the 1930s, one of his early ones being the
Boris Karloff William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established ...
/ Bela Lugosi thriller '' The Raven'' (1935). After directing a few more features, he changed his name to Lew Landers and directed more than 100 films in a variety of genres, including Westerns, comedies, and horror movies. He worked for every major film studio—and many minor ones—during his career. Since 1943, he began to alternate his movie work with directing television series, including two episodes of '' Adventures of Superman'' and the campy '' Captain John Smith and Pocahontas''. On December 16, 1962, Landers died of a heart attack in Palm Desert, California. His grave is located at Chapel of the Pines Crematory. Actor Jim McKrell played a TV news reporter named Lew Landers in two films directed by Joe Dante: ''
The Howling ''The Howling'' is a 1977 horror novel by Gary Brandner. It was the inspiration for the movie '' The Howling'' (1981), although the plot of the movie was only vaguely similar to that of the book. Brandner published two sequels to the novel, '' ...
'' (1981) and '' Gremlins'' (1984).


Partial filmography

* ''
The Vanishing Shadow ''The Vanishing Shadow'' is a 1934 Universal science fiction film serial directed by Lew Landers. It features what is believed to be the first appearance of a hand-held ray gun in film. (apart from '' The Death Ray''). Many science fiction gadgets ...
'' (1934) * '' The Red Rider'' (1934) * ''
Tailspin Tommy (serial) ''Tailspin Tommy'' is a 12-episode 1934 Universal film serial based on the ''Tailspin Tommy'' comic strip by Hal Forrest. Directed by Lew Landers and produced by Milton Gatzert, the serial was the 97th serial of the 137 released by that studio ( ...
'' (1934) * '' Rustlers of Red Dog'' (1935) * ''
The Call of the Savage ''The Call of the Savage'' (1935) is a Universal serial based on the story ''Jan of the Jungle'' by Otis Adelbert Kline. It was directed by Lew Landers and released by Universal Pictures. Plot Two teams of scientists scour the dark jungles of Afr ...
'' (1935) * '' The Raven'' (1935) * '' Without Orders'' (1936) * '' Night Waitress'' (1936) * '' Flight From Glory'' (1937) * '' Living on Love'' (1937) * '' Danger Patrol'' (1937) * '' You Can't Buy Luck'' (1937) * '' The Man Who Found Himself'' (1937) * '' Border Cafe'' (1937) * '' They Wanted to Marry'' (1937) * ''Annabel Takes a Tour'' (1938) * ''
Blind Alibi ''Blind Alibi'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and written by Lionel Houser, Harry Segall and Ron Ferguson. The film stars Richard Dix, Whitney Bourne, Eduardo Ciannelli, Frances Mercer and Paul Guilfoyle. The film was r ...
'' (1938) * ''
The Affairs of Annabel ''The Affairs of Annabel'' is a 1938 comedy film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and starring Lucille Ball and Jack Oakie. The film was followed by the sequel '' Annabel Takes a Tour'' the same year, also starring Oakie, Ball and Donnelly. Plot Won ...
'' (1938) * '' Crashing Hollywood'' (1938) * '' Double Danger'' (1938) * '' Law of the Underworld'' (1938) * ''
Smashing the Rackets ''Smashing the Rackets'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Lew Landers, written by Lionel Houser, and starring Chester Morris, Frances Mercer, Rita Johnson, Bruce Cabot and Edward Pawley. It was released on August 19, 1938, by RKO Picture ...
'' (1938) * '' Sky Giant'' (1938) * ''
Condemned Women ''Condemned Women'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and written by Lionel Houser. The film stars Sally Eilers, Louis Hayward, Anne Shirley, Esther Dale and Lee Patrick. The film was released on March 18, 1938. Plot Linda W ...
'' (1938) * '' Fixer Dugan'' (1939) * '' Bad Lands'' (1939) * ''
Conspiracy A conspiracy, also known as a plot, is a secret plan or agreement between persons (called conspirers or conspirators) for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder or treason, especially with political motivation, while keeping their agr ...
'' (1939) * '' The Girl and the Gambler'' (1939) * '' Twelve Crowded Hours'' (1939) * '' Pacific Liner'' (1939) * ''
Enemy Agent ''Enemy Agent'' is a 1940 American spy thriller film directed by Lew Landers and starring Richard Cromwell, Helen Vinson, and Robert Armstrong.McLaughlin p.325 The supporting cast includes Jack La Rue, Jack Carson, Philip Dorn and Milburn ...
'' (1940) * ''La Conga Nights'' (1940) * '' Ski Patrol'' (1940) * ''
Harvard, Here I Come! ''Harvard, Here I Come!'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Lew Landers and stars Maxie Rosenbloom, Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom, Arline Judge, Stanley Brown, Don Beddoe, Marie Wilson (American actress), Marie Wilson, and Virginia Sale ...
'' (1941) * '' Back in the Saddle'' (1941) * '' The Boogie Man Will Get You'' (1942) * ''
The Man Who Returned to Life ''The Man Who Returned to Life'' is a 1942 American black-and-white drama film directed by Lew Landers, written by Gordon Rigby and released by Columbia Pictures. Plot David Jameson lives in a rural town in Maryland. He is forced to flee aft ...
'' (1942) * ''
Junior Army ''Junior Army'' is a 1942 American film directed by Lew Landers, starring Freddie Bartholomew, Billy Halop, and Huntz Hall, and released by Columbia Pictures. Plot An English refugee, Freddie Hewlett, saves Jimmie Fletcher's life during an alter ...
'' (1942) * ''
Stand By All Networks ''Stand by All Networks'' is a 1942 American thriller film directed by Lew Landers and starring Florence Rice, John Beal and Margaret Hayes.Shull p.248 The films sets were designed by Lionel Banks. Synopsis Before Pearl Harbor, a radio reporter ...
'' (1942) * ''Submarine Raider'' (1942) * ''
Atlantic Convoy ''Atlantic Convoy'' is a 1942 American war film directed by Lew Landers. The story follows naval patrols based on the Icelandic coast battling the German U-boats during World War II, and the German efforts to infiltrate their operations with ...
'' (1942) * '' Power of the Press'' (1943) * ''
After Midnight with Boston Blackie ''After Midnight with Boston Blackie'' is a 1943 crime film directed by Lew Landers. It is the fifth of a series of 14 Columbia Pictures films starring Chester Morris as Boston Blackie. When a recently paroled friend of Boston Blackie is killed, ...
'' (1943) * ''
Doughboys in Ireland ''Doughboys in Ireland'' is a 1943 American musical war film directed by Lew Landers and starring Kenny Baker, Jeff Donnell and Lynn Merrick.Krutnik p.232 The film offered an early role for future star Robert Mitchum, who appeared in many films ...
'' (1943) * ''
The Return of the Vampire ''The Return of the Vampire'' is a 1943 American horror film directed by Lew Landers and starring Bela Lugosi, Frieda Inescort, Nina Foch, Miles Mander, Roland Varno, and Matt Willis. Its plot follows a vampire named Armand Tesla, who has two en ...
'' (1943) * ''Stars on Parade'' (1944) * ''
The Ghost That Walks Alone ''The Ghost That Walks Alone'' is a 1944 American comedy mystery film directed by Lew Landers and starring Arthur Lake, Janis Carter and Lynne Roberts.Pitts p.88-89 Main cast * Arthur Lake as Eddie Grant * Janis Carter as Enid Turner * Lynne ...
'' (1944) * '' Crime, Inc.'' (1945) * ''
The Power of the Whistler ''The Power of the Whistler'' is a 1945 film noir thriller film based on the radio drama ''The Whistler''. Directed by Lew Landers, the production features Richard Dix. It is the third of Columbia Pictures' eight " Whistler" films produced in th ...
'' (1945) * ''
The Mask of Diijon ''The Mask of Diijon'' is a 1946 American black-and-white film noir suspense film released from PRC Studios, directed by Lew Landers and featuring Erich von Stroheim, Jeanne Bates and William Wright. Plot Diijon, a tired magician, gives up his ac ...
'' (1946) * ''
A Close Call for Boston Blackie A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes' ...
'' (1946) * ''
The Truth About Murder ''The Truth About Murder'' is a 1946 American mystery film directed by Lew Landers, written by Lawrence Kimble, Hilda Gordon and Eric Taylor, and starring Bonita Granville, Morgan Conway, Rita Corday, Don Douglas and June Clayworth. It was relea ...
'' (1946) * ''
Death Valley Death Valley is a desert valley in Eastern California, in the northern Mojave Desert, bordering the Great Basin Desert. During summer, it is the hottest place on Earth. Death Valley's Badwater Basin is the point of lowest elevation in Nort ...
'' (1946) * '' Devil Ship'' (1947) * '' The Son of Rusty'' (1947) * '' Public Prosecutor'' (TV series, 1947–48) * '' Adventures of Gallant Bess'' (1948) * ''
My Dog Rusty ''My Dog Rusty'' is a 1948 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and starring Ted Donaldson, John Litel and Ann Doran. It was part of the eight-film Rusty series of films produced by Columbia Pictures, about a boy and his valiant German S ...
'' (1948) * '' Inner Sanctum'' (1948) * '' Stagecoach Kid'' (1949) * '' Barbary Pirate'' (1949) * '' Air Hostess'' (1949) * ''Law of the Barbary Coast'' (1949) * ''
Chain Gang A chain gang or road gang is a group of prisoners chained together to perform menial or physically challenging work as a form of punishment. Such punishment might include repairing buildings, building roads, or clearing land. The system was not ...
'' (1950) * '' Davy Crockett, Indian Scout'' (1950) * '' State Penitentiary'' (1950) * '' Revenue Agent'' (1950) * ''
Last of the Buccaneers ''Last of the Buccaneers'' is a 1950 American Technicolor adventure film directed by Lew Landers and starring Paul Henreid as Jean Lafitte. Plot Swashbuckler about the adventures of pirate Jean Lafitte after he helped save New Orleans from a Brit ...
'' (1950) * '' Beauty on Parade'' (1950) * '' Dynamite Pass'' (1950) * ''
Tyrant of the Sea ''Tyrant of the Sea'' is a 1950 American historical war film set during the Napoleonic Wars and starring Ron Randell, Rhys Williams and Lester Matthews. It was directed by Lew Landers. Production The film began as a project titled ''The Return ...
'' (1950) * ''Girls' School'' (1950) * ''
Jungle Manhunt ''Jungle Manhunt'' is a 1951 adventure film written by Samuel Newman and directed by Lew Landers. It was the seventh entry in the "Jungle Jim" series of films starring Johnny Weissmuller as the title character. Based on the comic strip "Jungle J ...
'' (1951) * ''
When the Redskins Rode ''When the Redskins Rode'' is a 1951 American historical Western film directed by Lew Landers and starring Jon Hall, Mary Castle and James Seay. The film is loosely based on the events leading up to the outbreak of the French and Indian War. ...
'' (1951) * '' The Magic Carpet'' (1951) * ''The Big Gusher'' (1951) *“Arctic Flight” (1952) * '' California Conquest'' (1952) * ''
Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land ''Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land'' is a 1952 American black-and-white adventure film directed by Lew Landers and written by Samuel Newman, and starring Johnny Weissmuller as the title character. This was the eighth entry in Columbia's "Jungle ...
'' (1952) * ''
Terry and the Pirates ''Terry and the Pirates'' is an action-adventure comic strip created by cartoonist Milton Caniff, which originally ran from October 22, 1934, to February 25, 1973. Captain Joseph Patterson, editor for the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate, ...
'' (9 episodes, 1953) * ''
Run for the Hills ''Run for the Hills'' is a 1953 American comedy film directed by Lew Landers and starring Sonny Tufts, Barbara Payton and Mauritz Hugo.Lewis p.168 The film's sets were designed by the art director Ernst Fegté. Cast * Sonny Tufts as Charlie J ...
'' (1953) * '' Captain John Smith and Pocahontas'' (1953) * '' Tangier Incident'' (1953) * '' Meet Corliss Archer'' (1 episode, 1954) * '' Science Fiction Theatre'' (1 episode, 1955) * '' Tales of the Texas Rangers'' (10 episodes, 1955–1957) * ''
Casey Jones John Luther "Casey" Jones (March 14, 1863 – April 30, 1900) was an American railroader who was killed when his passenger train collided with a stalled freight train at Vaughan, Mississippi. Jones was a locomotive engineer for the Illinois ...
'' (4 episodes, 1957–1958) * '' Highway Patrol'' (10 episodes, 1955–1959) * '' Mackenzie's Raiders'' (9 episodes, 1958–1959) * '' Tombstone Territory'' (2 episodes, 1959–1960) * '' The Alaskans'' (1 episode, 1960) * '' Sugarfoot'' (2 episodes, 1961) * '' Bat Masterson'' (4 episodes, 1959–1961) * ''Terrified'' (1963)


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Landers, Lew 1901 births 1962 deaths American film directors American television directors American male silent film actors Male actors from New York City Horror film directors Burials at Chapel of the Pines Crematory 20th-century American male actors