Lillian Ducey (née Beiderlinden; November 26, 1878 – December 9, 1952) was an American screenwriter and director active during

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

's silent era. She's noted for being one of the first American women to direct a feature-length film (1923's '' Enemies of Children''); she also worked on over a dozen scripts between 1918 and 1930.

Biography

Born to Edmund Beiderlinden and Hannah Mueller in

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 * ...

, Lillian was the eldest of two daughters. She married William Ducey in the late 1890s; the pair had a daughter but eventually separated in the 1910s. She began to craft a writing career for herself in her early 1930s, winning a short story contest before gaining bylines in publications like ''

Harper's Bazaar ''Harper's Bazaar'' (stylized as ''Harper's BAZAAR'') is an American monthly women's fashion magazine. Bazaar has been published in New York City since November 2, 1867, originally as a weekly publication entitled ''Harper's Bazar''."Corporat ...

'', ''

McCall's ''McCall's'' was a monthly United States, American women's magazine, published by the McCall Corporation, that enjoyed great popularity through much of the 20th century, peaking at a readership of 8.4 million in the early 1960s. The publication ...

'', and ''

Redbook ''Redbook'' is an American women's magazine that is published by the Hearst Communications, Hearst magazine division. It is one of the "Seven Sisters (magazines), Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines. It ceased print publicatio ...

''. In 1918, she began writing films; that year, both '' His Enemy, the Law'' and '' Captain of His Soul'' were released by Triangle Film Co. She would soon collaborate with

David O. Selznick David O. Selznick (born David Selznick; May 10, 1902June 22, 1965) was an American film producer, screenwriter and film studio executive who produced ''Gone with the Wind (film), Gone with the Wind'' (1939) and ''Rebecca (1940 film), Rebecca'' (1 ...

on films like ''

The Spite Bride ''The Spite Bride'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Charles Giblyn and starring Olive Thomas, Robert Ellis and Jack Mulhall. Cast * Olive Thomas as Tessa Doyle * Robert Ellis as Billy Swayne * Jack Mulhall as Rodney Dolson ...

'', as well as

Eric von Stroheim Erich Oswald Hans Carl Maria von Stroheim (born Erich Oswald Stroheim, ; September 22, 1885 – May 12, 1957) was an Austrian-American director, screenwriter, actor, and producer, most noted as a film star and avant-garde, visionary director of ...

on ''

Blind Husbands ''Blind Husbands'' is a 1919 American drama film written and directed by Erich von Stroheim. The film is an adaptation of the story ''The Pinnacle'' by Stroheim. Plot A group of holiday-makers arrives at Cortina d'Ampezzo, an Alpine village in ...

'' and

Allan Dwan Allan Dwan (born Joseph Aloysius Dwan; April 3, 1885 – December 28, 1981) was a pioneering Canadian-born American motion picture director, producer, and screenwriter. Early life Born Joseph Aloysius Dwan in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Dwan was ...

on ''

The Scoffer ''The Scoffer'' is a surviving 1920 American silent film, silent drama film produced and directed by Allan Dwan and starring Mary Thurman. It was released through Associated First National Pictures. Plot As described in a film magazine, Dr. Stan ...

''. In 1923, she received her first (and as far as anyone knows, only) chance to direct a feature, '' Enemies of the Children'', which she also wrote. Only a handful of women were directing films at the time, and Ducey's work on the film was well-regarded by critics. She retired from screenwriting in the 1930s, and died in 1952 in

Los Angeles 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, ...

Selected filmography

As a writer/director: * '' Enemies of Children'' (1923) As a writer: * '' The Climax'' (1930) * ''

Behind Closed Doors Behind Closed Doors may refer to: Film, television and radio Film * ''Behind Closed Doors'' (1929 film), an early talkie starring Virginia Valli * Behind Closed Doors (1961 film), ''Behind Closed Doors'' (1961 film), an Italian comedy film by Dino ...

'' (1929) * ''

The Devil's Apple Tree ''The Devil's Apple Tree'' is a 1929 American silent drama film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Dorothy Sebastian, Larry Kent and Edward Martindel.Pitts p.409 It is now considered to be a lost film. Cast * Dorothy Sebastian as Dorothy R ...

'' (1929) * '' The Warning'' (1927) * '' The Lullaby'' (1924) * ''

A Broken Doll ''A Broken Doll'' is a 1921 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Monte Blue, Mary Thurman and Mary Jane Irving.Lombardi p.117 Plot The film centers on a ranch hand named Tommy Dawes and a young girl called ...

'' (1921) * ''

In the Heart of a Fool ''In the Heart of a Fool'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan. It is based on a novel by William Allen White. Plot As described in a film magazine, in a small town lives Dr. Harvey Nesbit (Burton), who knows of the scand ...

'' (1920) * ''

'' (1919) * ''

Upstairs and Down Upstairs may refer to: * Upstairs, a term relating to stairs * ''Upstairs'' (album), a 2004 album by Shane & Shane * ''Upstairs'' (film), a 1919 American silent comedy film See also * Downstairs (disambiguation) * Theatre Upstairs, at the Ro ...

'' (1919) * '' His Enemy, the Law'' (1918) * '' Captain of His Soul'' (1918)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ducey, Lillian American women film directors American women screenwriters 1878 births 1952 deaths 20th-century American women writers 20th-century American screenwriters Writers from New York City