George Fitzmaurice (13 February 1885 – 13 June 1940) was a French-born

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 ...

and producer.

Career

Fitzmaurice's career first started as a

set designer Scenic design, also known as stage design or set design, is the creation of scenery for theatrical productions including plays and musicals. The term can also be applied to film and television productions, where it may be referred to as prod ...

on stage. Beginning in 1914, and continuing until his death in 1940, he directed a total of over 80 films; several of these were successful, including ''

The Son of the Sheik ''The Son of the Sheik'' is a 1926 American silent adventure drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Rudolph Valentino and Vilma Bánky. The film is based on the 1925 romance novel ''The Sons of the Sheik'' by Edith Maude Hull ...

'', '' Raffles'', ''

Mata Hari Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod (, ; 7 August 187615 October 1917), better known by the stage name Mata Hari ( , ; , ), was a Dutch Stripper, exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy for German Empire, Germany during World War ...

'', and '' Suzy''. At the beginning of his directorial career, Fitzmaurice was astute at directing stage actresses in their initial films with the first wave of great Broadway stars that migrated to motion pictures during the

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

era, including

Mae Murray Mae Murray (born Marie Adrienne Koenig; May 10, 1885 – March 23, 1965) was an American actress, dancer, film producer, and screenwriter. Murray rose to fame during the silent film era and was known as "The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips" and "Th ...

Elsie Ferguson Elsie Louise Ferguson (August 19, 1883 – November 15, 1961) was an American stage and film actress. Seen by some as an early feminist, she promoted suffrage, which she discussed in interviews, and supported animal rights. Early life Born in ...

Fannie Ward Fannie Ward (born Fannie Buchanan; February 22, 1872 – January 27, 1952), also credited as Fanny Ward, was an American actress of stage and screen. Known for performing in both comedic and dramatic roles, she was cast in ''The Cheat (1915 film ...

Helene Chadwick Helene Chadwick (November 25, 1897 – September 4, 1940) was an American actress in silent and in early sound films. Early life and career Chadwick was born in the small town of Chadwicks, New York, which was named for her great-grandfather ...

Irene Fenwick Irene Fenwick (born Irene Frizell; September 5, 1887 – December 24, 1936) was an American stage and silent film actress. She was married to Lionel Barrymore from 1923 until her death in 1936. Fenwick has several surviving feature films fr ...

Gail Kane Gail Kane (born Abigail Kane; July 10, 1885 – February 17, 1966) was an American stage and silent movie actress. Early years Kane was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended a private school in Newburgh, New York, but eschewed addit ...

, and

Edna Goodrich Edna Goodrich (born Bessie Edna Stevens; December 22, 1883 – May 26, 1971) was an American Broadway actress, ''Florodora'' girl, author, and media sensation during the early 1900s. At one point, she was known as one of America's wealthiest an ...

. Fitzmaurice's long-time cinematographer, Arthur Miller observed: “Fitzmaurice's specialty was in designing a film beautifully, and in handling women stars with great flair. He could do a beautiful love story very well. He had the ability to get the best out of women, to get along with them.” ''The Son of the Sheik'' is his most famous extant silent film, no doubt aided by the sudden death of its star,

Rudolph Valentino Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguella (May 6, 1895 – August 23, 1926), known professionally as Rudolph Valentino and nicknamed The Latin Lover, was an Italian actor who starred in several well-known sile ...

. '' Lilac Time'' is a classic war/romance film. Fitzmaurice, however, directed scores of silent films of which the majority of them are lost to the ravages of decomposition. Recent discoveries in Gosfilmofond in

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

include 1919's '' Witness for the Defense'' with Elsie Ferguson and 1922's '' Kick In'' with

Bert Lytell Bertram Mortimer Lytell (February 24, 1885 – September 28, 1954) was an American actor in theater and film during the silent film era and early talkies. He starred in romantic, melodrama, and adventure films. Background Born in New York ...

. A restoration of his 1928 part-talkie hybrid ''

The Barker ''The Barker'' is a 1928 American part-talkie pre-Code romantic drama film produced and released by First National Pictures, a subsidiary of Warner Bros., acquired in September 1928. The film was directed by George Fitzmaurice and stars Mil ...

'' is winning praise from many film buffs. Rumors of other Fitzmaurice films in Gosfilmofond include 1920s '' Idols of Clay'' (with Mae Murray) and '' Three Live Ghosts'' with

Norman Kerry Norman Kerry (born Norman Hussey Kaiser,"United States World War II Draft Registration Cards,registration for Norman Hussey Kaiser, Los Angeles, California, April 27, 1942 This document lists his full name as Norman Hussey Kaiser, noting the na ...

Anna Q. Nilsson Anna Quirentia Nilsson (March 30, 1888 – February 11, 1974) was a Swedish-American actress who achieved success in American silent movies. Early life Nilsson was born in Ystad, Sweden in 1888. Her middle name Quirentia is derived from her date ...

Cyril Chadwick Cyril Chadwick (11 June 1879 – 3 November 1955) was an English actor of the silent era. He appeared in 70 films between 1913 and 1938. He was born in Kensington, London. Partial filmography * ''Doc'' (1914) - Eastman * '' Mrs. Black Is ...

, and

Edmund Goulding Edmund Goulding (20 March 1891 – 24 December 1959) was a British screenwriter and film director. As an actor early in his career he was one of the 'Ghosts' in the 1922 silent film '' Three Live Ghosts'' alongside Norman Kerry and Cyril Chadwic ...

. George Fitzmaurice advocated for ranking “serious film productions” among the Beaux Arts, and appraising them critically as such. Fitzmaurice was meticulous in his preparations prior to shooting and “knew beforehand everything he wanted to see on screen.” Like his filmmaking contemporaries

F. W. Murnau Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau (born Friedrich Wilhelm Plumpe; December 28, 1888March 11, 1931) was a German film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is regarded as one of cinema's most influential filmmakers for his work in the silent era. An e ...

and

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), better known as John Ford, was an American film director and producer. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and w ...

“he never looked through the camera” to frame his compositions, but nonetheless achieved a widely acknowledged “visual grace” in his pictures. In his 1916 essay entitled “The Art of Directing,” Fitzmaurice emphasized the importance of engaging in a psychological analysis of the film characters to discover their motivations. He wrote:

Personal life

He was married at one time to Ouida Bergere, later the wife of

Basil Rathbone Philip St. John Basil Rathbone MC (13 June 1892 – 21 July 1967) was an Anglo-South African actor. He rose to prominence in the United Kingdom as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in more than 70 films, primarily costume drama ...

. His second wife was Diana Kane, a sister of actress Lois Wilson. With Kane, he had two daughters Sheila Fitzmaurice born in 1929, and Patricia Fitzmaurice Baxter born in 1931.

Filmography

Director

* ''

When Rome Ruled ''When Rome Ruled'' is a 1914 American silent historical drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Nell Craig, Clifford Bruce and Riley Hatch. It was made at the American subsidiary of the French company Pathé, shortly to be relaun ...

'' (1914) * ''

Stop Thief! ''Stop Thief!'' is a 1901 British Short film, short silent film, silent drama film, directed by James Williamson (film pioneer), James Williamson, showing a tramp getting his comeuppance after stealing some meat from a butcher and his dogs. "On ...

'' (1915) * '' The Commuters'' (1915) * ''

At Bay ''At Bay'' is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Florence Reed. It is based on a 1913 Broadway play, ''At Bay'', by George Scarborough and produced by the Shuberts. On stage, Reed's starring part was ...

'' (1915) * ''

Who's Who in Society The pronoun ''who'', in English, is an interrogative pronoun and a relative pronoun, used primarily to refer to persons. Unmarked, ''who'' is the pronoun's subjective form; its inflected forms are the objective ''whom'' and the possessive ''wh ...

'' (1915) * ''

Via Wireless ''Via Wireless'' is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Bruce McRae, Gail Kane and Brandon Hurst. The film was based on a 1908 play of the same name by Paul Armstrong and Winchell Smith and was adapted ...

'' (1915) * ''

The Money Master ''The Money Master'' is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Frank Sheridan, Paul McAllister, and Calvin Thomas. Cast * Frank Sheridan as John Haggleton * Paul McAllister as Moran * Calvin Thomas a ...

'' (1915) * '' The Test'' (1916) * ''

Big Jim Garrity ''Big Jim Garrity'' is a 1916 silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Robert Edeson, Eleanor Woodruff and Carl Harbaugh.Parish & Pitts p.126 The film was based on a 1910 play of the same name by Owen Davis. Ouida Bergère ...

'' (1916) * ''

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

'' (1916) * ''

Arms and the Woman Arms or ARMS may refer to: * Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to: People * Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader Coat of arms or weapons *Armaments or weapons ** ...

'' (1916) * ''

The Romantic Journey ''The Romantic Journey'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring William Courtenay, Macey Harlam and Alice Dovey.Parish & Pitts p.126 Plot Cast * William Courtenay as Peter * Macey Harlam as Ratoor ...

'' (1916) * '' Kick In'' (1917) * '' The Hunting of the Hawk'' (1917) * '' The Recoil'' (1917) * '' The Iron Heart'' (1917) * ''

Blind Man's Luck ''Blind Man's Luck'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Helene Chadwick, Mollie King, and Earle Foxe.''Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema'', p. 71 Cast * Helene Chadwick as Helen * Mollie ...

'' (1917) * ''

The On-the-Square Girl ''The On-the-Square Girl'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Mollie King, L. Rogers Lytton, and Aimee Dalmores. Location shooting for the film was done in Saranac Lake, New York. Cast * Mollie Kin ...

'' (1917) * '' The Mark of Cain'' (1917) * ''

Sylvia of the Secret Service ''Sylvia of the Secret Service'' is a 1917 American silent thriller film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Irene Castle, J.H. Gilmour and Elliott Dexter. Erich von Stroheim worked as assistant director and technical advisor as well as ...

'' (1917) * ''

Innocent Innocence is a lack of guilt, with respect to any kind of crime, or wrongdoing. In a legal context, innocence is prior to the sense of legal guilt and is a primal emotion connected with the sense of self. It is often confused as being the op ...

'' (1918) * '' The Naulahka'' (1918) * '' The Hillcrest Mystery'' (1918) * ''

A Japanese Nightingale ''A Japanese Nightingale'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Fannie Ward, W.E. Lawrence and Yukio Aoyama.Motion Picture Guide Silent Film 1910-1936 p.368 It was adapted from a 1903 play of the same ...

'' (1918) * '' The Narrow Path'' (1918) * '' Common Clay'' (1919) * '' The Cry of the Weak'' (1919) * '' The Profiteers'' (1919) * '' The Avalanche'' (1919) * '' Our Better Selves'' (1919) * '' A Society Exile'' (1919) * '' Witness for the Defense'' (1919) * ''

Counterfeit A counterfeit is a fake or unauthorized replica of a genuine product, such as money, documents, designer items, or other valuable goods. Counterfeiting generally involves creating an imitation of a genuine item that closely resembles the original ...

'' (1919) * '' On With the Dance'' (1920) * ''

Right to Love ''The Right to Love'' is a 1920 American silent film, silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice. It stars Mae Murray, David Powell (actor), David Powell and Holmes Herbert. The film is based on the French novel ''L'Homme qui assassina'', ...

'' (1920) * '' Idols of Clay'' (1920) * '' Paying the Piper'' (1921) * ''

Experience Experience refers to Consciousness, conscious events in general, more specifically to perceptions, or to the practical knowledge and familiarity that is produced by these processes. Understood as a conscious event in the widest sense, experience i ...

'' (1921) * ''

Forever Forever or 4ever may refer to: Film and television Films * ''Forever'' (1921 film), an American silent film by George Fitzmaurice * ''Forever'' (1978 film), an American made-for-television romantic drama, based on the novel by Judy Blume * '' ...

'' (1921) * '' Three Live Ghosts'' (1922) * '' The Man from Home'' (1922) * '' Kick In'' (1922)Article about rediscovered silent-movies including Fitzmaurice ''Kick In''
/ref> * '' To Have and to Hold'' (1922) * '' The Cheat'' (1923) * '' Bella Donna'' (1923) * '' The Eternal City'' (1923) * '' Cytherea'' (1924) * ''

Tarnish Tarnish is a thin layer of corrosion that forms over copper, brass, aluminum, magnesium, neodymium and other similar metals as their outermost layer undergoes a chemical reaction. Tarnish does not always result from the sole effects of oxygen in ...

'' (1924) * ''

A Thief in Paradise A Thief in Paradise may refer to: * ''A Thief in Paradise'' (1925 film), an American silent drama film * ''A Thief in Paradise'' (1952 film), an Italian comedy film {{DEFAULTSORT:Thief in Paradise, A ...

'' (1925) * ''

His Supreme Moment ''His Supreme Moment'' is a 1925 American silent drama film with sequences filmed in Technicolor, starring Blanche Sweet and Ronald Colman, directed by George Fitzmaurice, and produced by Samuel Goldwyn. Anna May Wong has a small role as a har ...

'' (1925) * '' The Dark Angel'' (1925) * ''

'' (1926) * ''

The Night of Love ''The Night of Love'' is a 1927 American silent romantic drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and produced by Samuel Goldwyn. Released by United Artists, the film stars Ronald Colman, Vilma Bánky, and Montagu Love. The screenplay by Len ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Tender Hour ''The Tender Hour'' is a 1927 American romantic drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice, written by Winifred Dunn, and starring Billie Dove, Ben Lyon, Montagu Love, Alec B. Francis, Constantine Romanoff, and Laska Winter. It was released on M ...

'' (1927) * '' Rose of the Golden West'' (1927) * ''

The Love Mart ''The Love Mart'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice starring Billie Dove, Gilbert Roland and Noah Beery, and featuring Boris Karloff. The film is lost. Plot Cast * Billie Dove as Antoinette Frobelle * Gilbe ...

'' (1927) * '' Lilac Time'' (1928) * ''

'' (1928) * ''

His Captive Woman ''His Captive Woman'' is a 1929 American sound part-talkie part-talking drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Milton Sills and Dorothy Mackaill. In addition to sequences with audible dialogue or talking sequences, the film featur ...

'' (1929) * '' Tiger Rose'' (1929) * ''

The Man and the Moment ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...

'' (1929) * ''

The Locked Door ''The Locked Door'' is a 1929 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice, and starring Rod LaRocque, Barbara Stanwyck, William "Stage" Boyd and Betty Bronson. It is based on the 1919 play ''The Sign on the Door'' by Channing Po ...

'' (1929) * ''

The Bad One ''The Bad One'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code black-and-white musical film directed by George Fitzmaurice, starring Dolores del Río and Edmund Lowe, and featuring Boris Karloff. It is a romantic prison drama film. Cast * Dolores del Río as Li ...

'' (1930) * '' Raffles'' (1930) * ''

The Devil to Pay! ''The Devil to Pay!'' is a 1930 American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Ronald Colman, Frederick Kerr, Myrna Loy and Loretta Young. It was written by Frederick Lonsdale and Benjamin Glazer. Plot After ...

'' (1930) * ''

One Heavenly Night ''One Heavenly Night'' is a 1931 American pre-Code film, produced by Samuel Goldwyn, released through United Artists, and directed by George Fitzmaurice. This film brought Goldwyn his worst reviews and largest financial loss ($300,000) since go ...

'' (1931) * ''

Strangers May Kiss ''Strangers May Kiss'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film produced and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and noncredit-directed by George Fitzmaurice. The movie stars Norma Shearer, Robert Montgomery and Neil Hamilton. The movie was an adapt ...

'' (1931) uncredited * ''

The Unholy Garden ''The Unholy Garden'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Ronald Colman and Fay Wray. It was based on a story by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur.''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films ...

'' (1931) * ''

'' (1931) * '' As You Desire Me'' (1932) uncredited * '' Rockabye'' (1932) uncredited * ''

Nana Nana, Na Na or NANA may refer to: People * Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name * Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname * Nana (chief) (died 1896), Mimbreño Ap ...

'' (1934) * ''

All Men Are Enemies ''All Men Are Enemies'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and written by Lenore J. Coffee. The film stars Helen Twelvetrees, Mona Barrie, Hugh Williams, Herbert Mundin, Henry Stephenson and Walter Byron. The ...

'' (1934) * ''

Petticoat Fever ''Petticoat Fever'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by George Fitzmaurice and written by Harold Goldman. The film stars Robert Montgomery, Myrna Loy, Reginald Owen, Winifred Shotter and Otto Yamaoka. The film was released on March 20, 1 ...

'' (1936) * '' Suzy'' (1936) * '' The Last of Mrs. Cheyney'' (1937) * ''

The Emperor's Candlesticks ''The Emperor's Candlesticks'' is an 1899 historical novel by Baroness Orczy. Written soon after the birth of her son John, it was her first book as an author rather than translator and was a commercial failure. As in the Scarlet Pimpernel, th ...

'' (1937) * ''

Live, Love and Learn ''Live, Love and Learn'' is a 1937 American romantic comedy film starring Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, and Robert Benchley. The movie was directed by George Fitzmaurice. Plot A wealthy woman marries a poor bohemian artist. When he be ...

'' (1937) * '' Arsène Lupin Returns'' (1938) * ''

Vacation from Love ''Vacation from Love'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by George Fitzmaurice, written by Patterson McNutt and Harlan Ware, and starring Dennis O'Keefe, Florence Rice, Reginald Owen, June Knight, Edward Brophy and Truman Bradley. It wa ...

'' (1938) * ''

Adventure in Diamonds ''Adventure in Diamonds'' is a 1940 American crime film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring George Brent, Isa Miranda, John Loder (actor), John Loder and Nigel Bruce. It was also released under the alternative title of ''Diamonds are Dange ...

'' (1940)

Actor

* '' The Avalanche'' (1919) – (uncredited) * ''

Ben-Hur Ben-Hur or Ben Hur may refer to: Fiction *'' Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ'', an 1880 novel by American general and author Lew Wallace ** ''Ben-Hur'' (play), a play that debuted on Broadway in 1899 ** ''Ben Hur'' (1907 film), a one-reel silent ...

'' (1925) – Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited) (final film role)

Notes

References

* Higham, Charles. 1970. ''Hollywood Cameraman: Sources of Light''.

Indiana University Press Indiana University Press, also known as IU Press, is an academic publisher founded in 1950 at Indiana University that specializes in the humanities and social sciences. Its headquarters are located in Bloomington, Indiana. IU Press publishes ...

Bloomington, Indiana Bloomington is a city in Monroe County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. The population was 79,168 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the List of municipalities in Indiana, seventh-most populous city in Indiana and ...

and London. * Koszarski, Richard. 1976. ''Hollywood Directors: 1914-1940.''

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the publishing house of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world. Its first book was printed in Oxford in 1478, with the Press officially granted the legal right to print books ...

, London, New York.

External links

*
George Fitzmaurice
at Virtual History
Some production stills with George Fitzmaurice, cast and crews
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzmaurice, George 1885 births 1940 deaths Mass media people from Greater Los Angeles French emigrants to the United States Film directors from California Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)