Bernard Benny Ray (born Benjamin Shamrayevsky, November 18, 1895 - December 10, 1964) was a Russian-born American film producer and

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

. He is closely associated with the production of low-budget B films of Poverty Row, involved with companies such as

Reliable Pictures Reliable Pictures was an American film production and distribution company which operated from 1933 until 1937. Established by Harry S. Webb and Bernard B. Ray, it was a low-budget Poverty Row outfit that primarily specialized in Westerns. After ...

during the 1930s. In some film credits, like ''

Rio Rattler ''Rio Rattler'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Bernard B. Ray. Plot summary A dying Marshal gives his identification papers to Tom. After Tom arrives in town, the papers drop and are found during a fight so Tom decides to assum ...

'' (1935), he has used the pseudonym "Franklin Shamray".

Death

On December 10, 1964, after what appears to have been a long illness, Ray died of undisclosed causes at the Motion Picture Country Home Hospital. He was preceded in death by his wife Georgia Mae Tallant, to whom he was married between 1927 and 1958.

Selected filmography

* '' Bitter Sweets'' (1928) * '' Women Men Marry'' (1931) * '' At Twelve Midnight'' (1933) * '' Rawhide Mail'' (1934) * '' Mystery Ranch'' (1934) * ''

Ridin' Thru ''Ridin' Thru'' is a 1934 American pre-Code Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Tom Tyler, Ruth Hiatt and Lafe McKee.Pitts p.311 Plot Cast * Tom Tyler as Tom Saunders * Ruth Hiatt as Dolores Brooks * Lafe McKee as Elmer 'D ...

'' (1934) * '' Fighting Hero'' (1934) * ''

Terror of the Plains ''Terror of the Plains'' is a 1934 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Tom Tyler, Roberta Gale and William Gould.Pitts p.315 Plot Cast * Tom Tyler as Tom Lansing - Posing as Tom Smith * Roberta Gale as Bess Roberts ...

'' (1934) * ''

Unconquered Bandit ''Unconquered Bandit'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Tom Tyler, Lillian Gilmore and Slim Whitaker.Pitts p.312 The film is a remake of '' Dynamite Ranch'' (1932), Plot Cast * Tom Tyler as Tom Morgan * ...

'' (1935) * '' The Cactus Kid'' (1935) * ''

Tracy Rides ''Tracy Rides'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Tom Tyler, Virginia Brown Faire and Edmund Cobb.Pitts p.313 Plot Cast * Tom Tyler as Sheriff Tom Tracy * Virginia Brown Faire as Molly Hampton * E ...

'' (1935) * '' The Fighting Pilot'' (1935) * '' Silent Valley'' (1935) * '' Now or Never'' (1935) * ''

Trigger Tom ''Trigger Tom'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Tom Tyler, Al St. John and Bernadene Hayes.Pitts p.318 Plot Cast * Tom Tyler as Tom Hunter * Al St. John as Stub Macey * William Gould as Mose Jeckyl ...

'' (1935) * '' Texas Jack'' (1935) * '' North of Arizona'' (1935) * ''

Wolf Riders ''Wolf Riders'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Jack Perrin, Lillian Gilmore and Lafe McKee.Pitts p.313 Plot Cast * Jack Perrin as Jack Jennings * Lillian Gilmore as Mary Clark * Lafe McKee as John ...

'' (1935) * '' Kentucky Blue Streak'' (1935) * ''

Midnight Phantom ''Midnight Phantom'' is a 1935 American film directed by Bernard B. Ray. Plot Police Chief James A. Sullivan is in his office berating several people under his command who he feels are doing a less than top notch job. His waiting room is full o ...

'' (1935) * '' Never Too Late'' (1935) * ''

Skull and Crown ''Skull and Crown'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Elmer Clifton. It was the final film of Molly O'Day. Plot Cast * Rin Tin Tin Jr. as Rinty *Regis Toomey as Bob Franklin posing as Rocky Morgan *Jack Mulhall as Border Patrolm ...

'' (1935) * ''

Loser's End ''Loser's End'' is a 1935 American Western film produced by Harry S. Webb for Reliable Pictures and directed by Bernard B. Ray. Plot summary A cowboy meets up with a bandit gang. Taken captive, he is rescued by a man called Don Carlos, and to ...

'' (1935) * '' The Test'' (1935) * '' Born to Battle'' (1935) * ''

Coyote Trails ''Coyote Trails'' is a 1935 American Western film produced and directed by Bernard B. Ray starring Tom Tyler. There are no coyotes or their trails featured in the film. Plot A ranch is having their horses disappear with it believed that a ...

'' (1935) * '' The Live Wire'' (1935) * ''

'' (1935) * '' Santa Fe Bound'' (1936) * '' Fast Bullets'' (1936) * '' Ambush Valley'' (1936) * '' Step on It'' (1936) * '' I'll Name the Murderer'' (1936) * '' Roamin' Wild'' (1936) * '' Ridin' On '' (1936) * ''

The Speed Reporter ''The Speed Reporter'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by Bernard B. Ray and starring Richard Talmadge, Luana Walters and Richard Cramer. It was produced as a second feature by the independent company Reliable Pictures.Pitts p.307 Plot ...

'' (1936) * ''

The Reckless Way ''The Reckless Way'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Raymond K. Johnson starring Marian Nixon, Kane Richmond and Inez Courtney.Pitts p.292 The film's sets were designed by the art director Vin Taylor. Plot The story was about a woman ...

'' (1936) * '' Pinto Rustlers'' (1936) * ''

The Millionaire Kid ''The Millionaire Kid'' is a 1936 American drama film produced and released by Reliable Pictures with former silent stars Bryant Washburn and Betty Compson in the leads and with several other familiar silent personalities in supporting roles.''T ...

'' (1936) * ''

Caryl of the Mountains ''Caryl of the Mountains'' is a 1936 American northern film directed by Bernard B. Ray. It was made for Reliable Pictures and shot at Big Bear Lake, California. The film is also known as ''Get That Girl'' in the United Kingdom. Plot Somewher ...

'' (1936) * ''

Vengeance of Rannah ''Vengeance of Rannah'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Bernard B. Ray, produced by Ray and Harry S. Webb for Reliable Pictures, and starring Bob Custer and Rin Tin Tin, Jr. Plot Insurance investigator Ted Sanders is assigned to ...

'' (1936) * ''

The Silver Trail ''The Silver Trail'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Bernard B. Ray. Plot summary Cowboy Bob Crandall is trying to find his friend that apparently is a rich miner, with help of bandit Molly Welburn he learns the truth. Cast *R ...

'' (1937) * '' Santa Fe Rides'' (1937) * ''

It's All in Your Mind "It's All in Your Mind" is a single by Beck, released in 1995. Originally a non-album single, a more widely known rerecording was included on his album '' Sea Change''. The only song on ''Sea Change'' not to have been written following his break- ...

'' (1938) * '' Smoky Trails'' (1939) * '' Fangs of the Wild'' (1939) * '' Port of Hate'' (1939) * ''

The Pal from Texas ''The Pal from Texas'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and written by Carl Krusada. The film stars Bob Steele, Claire Rochelle, Josef Swickard, Betty Mack, Ted Adams and Carleton Young. The film was released on Novem ...

'' (1939) * '' Broken Strings'' (1940) * ''

Dangerous Lady ''Dangerous Lady'' was a four-part British mini-series TV drama, which aired on ITV and was based on Martina Cole's 1992 novel of the same name. The series premièred in 1995 and starred Sheila Hancock, Jason Isaacs, Susan Lynch and Owen Teale. ...

'' (1941) * '' Law of the Timber'' (1941) * '' Too Many Women'' (1942) * ''

House of Errors ''House of Errors'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Bernard B. Ray and written by Ewart Adamson and Eddie Davis. The film stars Harry Langdon, Charley Rogers, Marian Marsh in her final film, Ray Walker, Betty Blythe and John Holla ...

'' (1942) * ''

Buffalo Bill Rides Again ''Buffalo Bill Rides Again'' is a 1947 American Western film starring Richard Arlen. It is also known as Return of Buffalo Bill. Plot Realizing that some seemingly worthless lands in the West are actually rich in untapped oil, entrepreneur JB J ...

'' (1947) * ''

Timber Fury ''Timber Fury'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Bernard B. Ray and starring David Bruce, Laura Lee and Nicla Di Bruno.Pitts p.357 Plot Cast * David Bruce as Jim Caldwell * Laura Lee as Phyllis Wilson * Nicla Di Bruno as Y ...

'' (1950) * ''

Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory ''Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory'' is a 1952 Western starring Clayton Moore as Buffalo Bill when he had been temporarily replaced on ''The Lone Ranger'' TV series by John Hart. Directed by Bernard B. Ray and produced by Edward Finney as h ...

'' (1952) * '' Hollywood Thrill Makers'' (1954) * '' Spring Affair'' (1960)

References

Bibliography

* Michael R. Pitts. ''Poverty Row Studios, 1929–1940: An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies, with a Filmography for Each''. McFarland & Company, 2005.

External links

* 1895 births 1964 deaths American film producers Film directors from Los Angeles Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States {{US-film-producer-stub

Death

Selected filmography

References

Further reading

Bibliography

External links