David Howard (born David Paget Davis III; October 6, 1896 – December 21, 1941) was an American

film director A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfillment of that Goal, vision. The director has a key role ...

. He directed 46 films between 1930 and 1941, 29 of them westerns starring George O'Brien, including the acclaimed ''Mystery Ranch'' (1932).

Biography

He was born as David Paget Davis III in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

. He died at St. Vincent's Hospital in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

on December 21, 1941.

Selected filmography

* ''

There Were Thirteen ''There Were Thirteen'' (Spanish: ''Eran trece'') is a 1931 American Pre-Code mystery film directed by David Howard and starring Juan Torena, Ana María Custodio, and Rafael Calvo, with Manuel Arbó as Charlie Chan.Jarvinen pp. 123-24 It is ...

'' (1931) * '' The Rainbow Trail'' (1931) * '' The Golden West'' (1932) * '' Mystery Ranch'' (1932) * ''

The Mystery Squadron ''The Mystery Squadron'' (aka ''Mystery Squadron'') is a 1933 American pre-Code 12-chapter Mascot film serial, directed by Colbert Clark and David Howard. The film was produced by Nat Levine, and stars Western star Bob Steele, Guinn "Big Boy" ...

'' (1933) (writer & director) * '' Robbers' Roost'' (1933) * ''

Smoke Lightning ''Smoke Lightning'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code Western film directed by David Howard and written by Sidney D. Mitchell and Gordon Rigby. The film stars George O'Brien, Nell O'Day, Betsy King Ross, Frank Atkinson, Clarence Wilson and Morgan ...

'' (1933) * ''

The Lost Jungle ''The Lost Jungle'' (1934) is a Mascot Pictures movie serial. A semi-sequel to this serial, ''Darkest Africa'', was released by Republic Pictures in 1936. Republic was made from a merger of several companies, including Mascot, which became the ...

'' (1934) (writer & screenplay) * ''

In Old Santa Fe ''In Old Santa Fe'' is a 1934 American Western film directed by David Howard, starring Ken Maynard, George "Gabby" Hayes and Evalyn Knapp and featuring the first screen appearance of Gene Autry, singing a bluegrass rendition of "Wyoming Waltz" ...

'' (1934) * ''

The Marines Are Coming ''The Marines Are Coming'' is a 1934 American action drama film directed by David Howard and starring William Haines, Conrad Nagel and Esther Ralston. It was produced and distributed by the independent Mascot Pictures. It was the final film ac ...

'' (1934) * '' Whispering Smith Speaks'' (1935) * ''

Hard Rock Harrigan ''Hard Rock Harrigan'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by David Howard and starring George O'Brien, Irene Hervey and Fred Kohler.Katchmer p.181 Plot Cast * George O'Brien as Tim 'Hard Rock' Harrigan * Irene Hervey as 'Andy' Anderso ...

'' (1936) * '' Thunder Mountain'' (1935) * ''

Conflict Conflict may refer to: Social sciences * Conflict (process), the general pattern of groups dealing with disparate ideas * Conflict continuum from cooperation (low intensity), to contest, to higher intensity (violence and war) * Conflict of ...

'' (1936) * ''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (, 1734September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyo ...

'' (1936) * ''

The Border Patrolman ''The Border Patrolman'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by David Howard and starring George O'Brien. Plot Spoiled socialite Patricia Huntley gets arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agent Bob Wallace in Arizona after meeting with j ...

'' (1936) * '' The Mine with the Iron Door'' (1936) * ''

Windjammer A windjammer is a commercial sailing ship with multiple masts, however rigged. The informal term "windjammer" arose during the transition from the Age of Sail to the Age of Steam during the 19th century. The Oxford English Dictionary records t ...

'' (1937) (associate producer) * ''

Park Avenue Logger ''Park Avenue Logger'' is a 1937 American lumberjack Western film directed by David Howard. The film is also known as ''Millionaire Playboy'' in the United Kingdom and ''Tall Timber'' (American reissue title). It is based on the short story of ...

'' (1937) * '' Painted Desert'' (1938) * ''

Border G-Man ''Border G-Man'' is a 1938 American adventure film directed by David Howard and written by Oliver Drake. The film stars George O'Brien, Laraine Day, Ray Whitley, John Miljan and Rita La Roy. The film was released on June 24, 1938, by RKO Pi ...

'' (1938) * '' Lawless Valley'' (1938) * ''

Hollywood Stadium Mystery ''Hollywood Stadium Mystery'' is a 1938 American film directed by David Howard. Plot A rivalry develops between a district attorney named Devons, who finds murder mysteries amusing but amateurish, and Pauline Ward, a crime novelist. They play ...

'' (1938) * ''

The Renegade Ranger ''The Renegade Ranger'' is a 1938 American Western film directed by David Howard. It was the first film Tim Holt made for RKO, for whom he would be one of the studio's biggest stars.Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, ''The RKO Story.'' New Roche ...

'' (1938) * ''

Gun Law Gun laws and policies, collectively referred to as firearms regulation or gun control, regulate the manufacture, sale, transfer, possession, modification, and use of small arms by civilians. Laws of some countries may afford civilians a right to ...

'' (1938) * ''

The Rookie Cop ''The Rookie Cop'' is a 1939 film directed by David Howard and starring Tim Holt as a rookie cop who wants to prove his friend wasn't involved with a robbery. The film also stars Virginia Weidler, Janet Shaw, Frank M. Thomas, and Muriel Evans ...

'' (1939) * '' Timber Stampede'' (1939) * ''

Arizona Legion ''Arizona Legion'' is a 1939 American Western (genre), Western film directed by David Howard (director), David Howard from a screenplay by Oliver Drake (filmmaker), Oliver Drake, based on Bernard McConville's story. Produced and distributed by R ...

'' (1939) * '' Marshal of Mesa City'' (1939) * ''

Trouble in Sundown ''Trouble in Sundown'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by David Howard, using a screenplay by Oliver Drake, Dorrell McGowan and Stuart McGowan, based on a story by Charles F. Royal. Starring George O'Brien, Rosalind Keith, Ray Whi ...

'' (1939) * '' The Fighting Gringo'' (1939) * '' Prairie Law'' (1940) * '' Triple Justice'' (1940) * ''

Bullet Code ''Bullet Code'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by David Howard and starring George O'Brien, Virginia Vale and Slim Whitaker. The screenplay was written by Doris Schroeder from a story by Bennett Cohen.. Plot In the Old West, cowha ...

'' (1940) * '' Legion of the Lawless'' (1940) * '' Dude Cowboy'' (1941)

References

External links

* 1896 births 1941 deaths Artists from Philadelphia Film directors from Pennsylvania {{US-film-director-1890s-stub