Wesley Ruggles (June 11, 1889 – January 8, 1972) 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 ...

Life and work

He was born in Los Angeles, California, younger brother of actor Charlie Ruggles. He began his career in 1915 as an actor, appearing in a dozen or so

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 ...

s, on occasion 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 conside ...

. In 1917, he turned his attention to directing, making more than 50 films—including a silent version of Edith Wharton's novel ''The Age of Innocence'' (1924)—before he won acclaim with '' Cimarron'' in 1931. The adaptation of

Edna Ferber Edna Ferber (August 15, 1885 – April 16, 1968) was an American novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her novels include the Pulitzer Prize-winning '' So Big'' (1924), '' Show Boat'' (1926; made into the celebrated 1927 musical), '' C ...

's novel '' Cimarron'', about homesteaders settling in the prairies of Oklahoma, was the first Western to win an Oscar as Best Picture. Ruggles followed this success with the light comedy '' No Man of Her Own'' (1932) with

Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades ...

and

Carole Lombard Carole Lombard (born Jane Alice Peters; October 6, 1908 – January 16, 1942) was an American actress, particularly noted for her energetic, often off-beat roles in screwball comedies. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Lombard 2 ...

, the comedy ''

I'm No Angel ''I'm No Angel'' is a 1933 pre-Code film directed by Wesley Ruggles, and starring Mae West and Cary Grant. West received sole story and screenplay credit. It is one of her films that was not subjected to heavy censorship. Plot Tira (Mae West ...

'' (1933) with Mae West and

Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English-American actor. He was known for his Mid-Atlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing. He was one of ...

, '' College Humor'' (1933) with

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

, and ''

Bolero Bolero is a genre of song which originated in eastern Cuba in the late 19th century as part of the trova tradition. Unrelated to the older Spanish dance of the same name, bolero is characterized by sophisticated lyrics dealing with love. It has ...

'' (1934) with George Raft and Carole Lombard. He teamed with the

Rank Organisation The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment conglomerate founded by industrialist J. Arthur Rank in April 1937. It quickly became the largest and most vertically integrated film company in the United Kingdom, owning production, distribut ...

in 1946 to produce and direct '' London Town'' with Sid Field and Petula Clark, based on a story he wrote. The film—British cinema's first attempt at a Technicolor musical—is notable as being one of the biggest critical and commercial failures in this country's film history. Ironically, Ruggles had been hired to direct it because as an American, it was thought, he was better equipped to handle a musical—despite the fact that nothing in his past had prepared him to work in the genre. It was his last film. An abridged version was released in the U.S. under the title ''

My Heart Goes Crazy ''London Town'' is a 1946 Technicolor musical film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Sid Field and Petula Clark, generally regarded as one of the biggest flops in the history of British cinema. Plot summary The screenplay by Sig Herzig, V ...

'' by

United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the stu ...

in 1953. Ruggles died January 8, 1972, in Santa Monica, California, and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California, near his brother Charles Ruggles. For his contributions to the motion picture industry, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6400 Hollywood Boulevard.

Filmography

Film director

* '' London Town'' (1946) * '' See Here, Private Hargrove'' (1944) * ''

Slightly Dangerous ''Slightly Dangerous'' is a 1943 American romantic comedy film starring Lana Turner and Robert Young. The screenplay concerns a bored young woman in a dead-end job who runs away to New York City and ends up impersonating the long-lost daughter of ...

'' (1943) * '' Somewhere I'll Find You'' (1942) * '' You Belong to Me'' (1941) * ''

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

'' (1940) * ''

Too Many Husbands ''Too Many Husbands'' (released in the United Kingdom as ''My Two Husbands'') is a 1940 American romantic comedy film about a woman who loses her husband in a boating accident and remarries, only to have her first spouse reappear—yet another var ...

'' (1940) * '' Invitation to Happiness'' (1939) * '' Sing, You Sinners'' (1938) * ''

True Confession ''True Confession'' is a 1937 American screwball comedy film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, and John Barrymore. It was based on the 1934 play ''Mon Crime'', written by Georges Berr and Louis Verneuil. In ...

'' (1937) * ''

I Met Him in Paris ''I Met Him in Paris'' is a 1937 film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Wesley Ruggles, written by Claude Binyon, and starring Claudette Colbert, Melvyn Douglas, and Robert Young. It was the first film shown at Washington, D.C.'s Newton ...

'' (1937) * '' Valiant Is the Word for Carrie'' (1936) * '' The Bride Comes Home'' (1935) * '' Accent on Youth'' (1935) * ''

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

'' (1935, fill-in director - uncredited) * '' The Gilded Lily'' (1935) * '' Shoot the Works'' (1934) * ''

'' (1934) * '' Shoot the Works'' (1934) * ''

'' (1933) * '' College Humor'' (1933) * '' The Monkey's Paw'' (1933) * '' No Man of Her Own'' (1932) * ''

Roar of the Dragon ''Roar of the Dragon'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code adventure film directed by Wesley Ruggles and written by Howard Estabrook. The film stars Richard Dix, Gwili Andre, Edward Everett Horton, Arline Judge and ZaSu Pitts. The film was released ...

'' (1932) * ''

Are These Our Children? ''Are These Our Children?'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Wesley Ruggles and written by Howard Estabrook. The film stars Eric Linden, Ben Alexander, Beryl Mercer, Mary Kornman, Arline Judge, and Rochelle Hudson. The fi ...

'' (1931) * '' Cimarron'' (1931, "A Wesley Ruggles Production"--not specified as director) * ''

The Sea Bat ''The Sea Bat'' is a 1930 American pre-Code melodrama thriller film directed by Lionel Barrymore and Wesley Ruggles, starring Raquel Torres, Charles Bickford and featuring Boris Karloff. Part of the film was filmed on location in Mazatlán, Mex ...

'' (1930, replaced during production: Lionel Barrymore, uncredited) * ''

Honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...

'' (1930) * '' Condemned'' (1929) * '' Street Girl'' (1929, uncredited) * '' Port of Dreams'' (1929) * '' Scandal'' (1929) * '' Finders Keepers'' (1928) * '' The Fourflusher'' (1928) * '' Silk Stockings'' (1927) * ''

Beware of Widows ''Beware of Widows'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Wesley Ruggles and written by Beatrice Van. It is based on the 1925 play ''Beware of Widows'' by Owen Moore. The film stars Laura La Plante, Bryant Washburn, Paulette Duval ...

'' (1927) * '' Breaking Records'' (1927, Short) * '' Flashing Oars'' (1927, Short) * '' The Cinder Path'' (1927, Short) * ''

The Relay "Relay" (titled "The Relay" in the United States) is a song written by Pete Townshend, the guitarist of the Who, for the band's aborted '' Lifehouse'' project. The song was also released as a moderately successful single in 1972. It was also the ...

'' (1927, Short) * '' Around the Bases'' (1927, Short) * '' The Last Lap'' (1926, Short) * ''The Collegians'' (1926, Short) * '' A Man of Quality'' (1926) * '' The Kick-Off'' (1926) * '' Hooked at the Altar'' (1926, Short) * '' California Here We Come'' (1926, Short) * '' The Plastic Age'' (1925) * ''

Broadway Lady ''Broadway Lady'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Evelyn Brent. Plot As described in a review in a film magazine, Evelyn, as a chorus girl, is admired by a young blue-blood whose family invite her ...

'' (1925) * '' Miss Me Again'' (1925, Short) * '' Don Coo Coo'' (1925, Short) * '' Barbara Snitches'' (1925, Short) * '' What Price Gloria?'' (1925, Short) * '' The Merry Kiddo'' (1925, Short) * '' Three Bases East'' (1925, Short) * '' Madam Sans Gin'' (1925, Short) * '' The Covered Flagon'' (1925, Short) * '' The Fast Male'' (1925, Short) * '' The Great Decide'' (1925, Short) * '' Merton of the Goofies'' (1925, Short) * '' He Who Gets Rapped'' (1925, Short) * '' The Pacemakers'' (1925, Short) * '' Welcome Granger'' (1925, Short) * '' The Age of Innocence'' (1924) * '' Slippy McGee'' (1923) * '' The Heart Raider'' (1923) * ''

The Remittance Woman ''The Remittance Woman'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Ethel Clayton, Rockliffe Fellowes, and Mario Carillo. A remittance man (or woman) was one sent away from home (usually Britain) to avoid shame ...

'' (1923) * ''

Mr. Billings Spends His Dime ''Mr. Billings Spends His Dime'' is a lost 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Wesley Ruggles and written by Dana Burnet and Albert S. Le Vino. The film stars Walter Hiers, Jacqueline Logan, George Fawcett, Robert McKim, Patricia P ...

'' (1923) * '' If I Were Queen'' (1922) * '' Wild Honey'' (1922) * '' Over the Wire'' (1921) * '' Uncharted Seas'' (1921) * '' The Greater Claim'' (1921) * ''

Love Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest Interpersonal relationship, interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of ...

'' (1920) * ''

The Leopard Woman ''The Leopard Woman'' is a 1920 American silent adventure romance drama film starring Louise Glaum, House Peters, and Noble Johnson. Directed by Wesley Ruggles and produced by J. Parker Read, Jr., the screenplay was adapted by H. Tipton Ste ...

'' (1920) * ''

The Desperate Hero ''The Desperate Hero'' is a 1920 American silent comedy film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Owen Moore, Gloria Hope, Emmett King.Connelly p.339 Cast * Owen Moore as Henry Baird * Gloria Hope as Mabel Darrow * Emmett King as Philip Da ...

'' (1920) * '' Sooner or Later'' (1920) * '' Piccadilly Jim'' (1919) * '' The Winchester Woman'' (1919) * '' The Blind Adventure'' (1918, as Wesley H. Ruggles) * '' He Had to Camouflage'' (1917, Short) * '' Bobby's Bravery'' (1917, Short) * ''

For France For or FOR may refer to: English language *For, a preposition *For, a complementizer *For, a grammatical conjunction Science and technology * Fornax, a constellation * for loop, a programming language statement * Frame of reference, in physics ...

'' (1917, as Wesley H. Ruggles) * '' Bobby, Movie Director'' (1917, Short)

Producer

* '' London Town'' (1946) * '' You Belong to Me'' (1941) * ''

'' (1940, uncredited) * ''

'' (1940) * '' Invitation to Happiness'' (1939) * '' Sing, You Sinners'' (1938) * ''

'' (1937) * '' Valiant Is the Word for Carrie'' (1936) * '' The Bride Comes Home'' (1935) * '' Cimarron'' (1931) * ''

'' (1930, uncredited) * '' Street Girl'' (1929, uncredited)

Actor

* '' Triple Trouble'' (1918, Short) - Crook (uncredited) * '' Her Torpedoed Love'' (1917, Short) - Messenger Inside the House (uncredited) * '' Behind the Screen'' (1916, Short) - Actor (uncredited) * ''

The Pawnshop ''The Pawnshop'' was Charlie Chaplin's sixth film for Mutual Film Corporation. Released on October 2, 1916, it stars Chaplin in the role of assistant to the pawnshop owner, played by Henry Bergman. Edna Purviance plays the owner's daughter, while ...

'' (1916, Short) - Client with Ring (uncredited) * ''

Beatrice Fairfax ''Beatrice Fairfax'' is an American silent film serial directed and produced by Leopold Wharton and Theodore Wharton. First released on August 7, 1916, the series consists of 15 weekly episodes and features the character of "Beatrice Fairfax" ...

'' (1916) - #15 Wristwatches * ''

The Floorwalker ''The Floorwalker'' is a 1916 American silent comedy film, Charlie Chaplin's first Mutual Film Corporation film. The film stars Chaplin, in his traditional Tramp persona, as a customer who creates chaos in a department store and becomes inadv ...

'' (1916, Short) - Policeman (uncredited) * ''

Police The police are a Law enforcement organization, constituted body of Law enforcement officer, persons empowered by a State (polity), state, with the aim to law enforcement, enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citize ...

'' (1916, Short) - The Crook * '' A Submarine Pirate'' (1915, Short) - Inventor's Accomplice / Sub Officer * '' Burlesque on Carmen'' (1915, Short) - A Vagabond (uncredited) * '' Her Painted Hero'' (1915, Short) - Effeminate Party Guest (uncredited) * ''

A Night in the Show ''A Night in the Show'' was Charlie Chaplin's 12th film for Essanay. It was made at Majestic Studio in Los Angeles in the fall of 1915. Chaplin played two roles: one as Mr. Pest and one as Mr. Rowdy. The film was created from Chaplin's stage work ...

'' (1915, Short) - Second Man in Balcony Front Row (uncredited) * ''

Shanghaied Shanghaied may refer to: * Shanghaiing, or forced conscription * ''Shanghaied'' (1915 film), a film starring Charlie Chaplin * ''Shanghaied'' (1927 film), a 1927 American silent film * ''Shanghaied'' (1934 film), an animated short film starring M ...

'' (1915, Short) - Shipowner (uncredited) * '' The Bank'' (1915, Short) - Bank Customer (uncredited) * '' A Lover's Lost Control'' (1915, Short) - Shoe Clerk (uncredited) * '' Gussle Tied to Trouble'' (1915, Short) - Man with Monocle (uncredited) * '' Gussle's Backward Way'' (1915, Short) - Man with Monocle (uncredited) * '' Gussle Rivals Jonah'' (1915, Short) - Ship Steward / Ship Passenger * '' Gussle's Wayward Path'' (1915, Short) - Clergyman * '' Caught in a Park'' (1915, Short) - The Cop

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ruggles, Wesley Western (genre) film directors Male actors from Los Angeles Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 1889 births 1972 deaths Film directors from Los Angeles 20th-century American male actors