Lew Landers (born Louis Friedlander, January 2, 1901 – December 16, 1962) was an American independent film and television director.
Biography
Born as Louis Friedlander in New York City, Lew Landers began his movie career as an actor. In 1914, he appeared in two features: D.W. Griffith's drama '' The Escape'' and the comedy short ''Admission – Two Pins'', under his birth name. He became an assistant director at
Universal Pictures
Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...
in 1922. He began making films in the 1930s, one of his early ones being the
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), known professionally as Boris Karloff () and occasionally billed as Karloff the Uncanny, was a British actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstei ...
/
Bela Lugosi
Blaskó Béla Ferenc Dezső (; October 20, 1882 – August 16, 1956), better known by the stage name Bela Lugosi ( ; ), was a Hungarian–American actor. He was best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the horror film classic Dracula (19 ...
thriller ''
The Raven
"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a distraught lover who is paid a visit ...
'' (1935). After directing a few more features, he changed his name to Lew Landers and directed more than 100 films in a variety of genres, including Westerns, comedies, and horror movies. He worked for every major film studio—and many minor ones—during his career. Since 1943, he began to alternate his movie work with directing television series, including two episodes of '' Adventures of Superman'' and the
campy
Camp is an aesthetic and sensibility that regards something as appealing or amusing because of its heightened level of artifice, affectation and exaggeration, especially when there is also a playful or ironic element. ''Camp'' is historically ...
''
Captain John Smith and Pocahontas
''Captain John Smith and Pocahontas '' is a 1953 American historical western film directed by Lew Landers. The distributor was United Artists. It stars Anthony Dexter, Jody Lawrance and Alan Hale.
While most scenes were filmed in Virginia's Blu ...
''.
On December 16, 1962, Landers died of a heart attack in
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in the Coachella Valley region of Riverside County, California. The city is located in the Colorado Desert arm of the Sonoran Desert, about east of Palm Springs, northeast of San Diego and east of Los Angeles. The popula ...
. His grave is located at
Chapel of the Pines Crematory
Chapel of the Pines Crematory is a crematory and columbarium located at 1605 South Catalina Street, Los Angeles, in the U.S. state of California, in the West Adams District a short distance southwest of Downtown. It is beside Angelus-Rosedale ...
.
Actor
Jim McKrell
James McKrell (October 12, 1937, also written MacKrell), sometimes known on-air as Jimmy Kaye, is a retired American actor, radio host, and television personality, best known for hosting television game shows such as ''Celebrity Sweepstakes'' an ...
played a TV news reporter named Lew Landers in two films directed by
Joe Dante
Joseph James Dante Jr. (; born November 28, 1946) is an American film director. His films—notably ''Gremlins'' (1984) alongside its sequel, ''Gremlins 2: The New Batch'' (1990)—often mix the 1950s-style B movie genre with Counterculture of th ...
: ''
The Howling
''The Howling'' is a 1977 horror novel by Gary Brandner, first published by Fawcett as a paperback original. It was the inspiration for the film '' The Howling'' (1981), although the plot of the film was only vaguely similar to that of the boo ...
'' (1981) and ''
Gremlins
''Gremlins'' is a 1984 American black comedy horror film directed by Joe Dante, written by Chris Columbus and starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday and Frances Lee McCain, with Howie Mandel providing the voic ...
The Red Rider
''The Red Rider'' is a 1934 American Western film serial from Universal Pictures and starring Buck Jones. It has 15 chapters based on the short story "The Redhead from Sun Dog" by W. C. Tuttle, and is a remake of Buck Jones' earlier 1931 film ...
'' (1934)
* ''
Tailspin Tommy (serial)
''Tailspin Tommy'' is a 12-episode 1934 Universal film serial based on the '' Tailspin Tommy'' comic strip by Hal Forrest. Directed by Lew Landers and produced by Milton Gatzert, the serial was the 97th serial of the 137 released by that stud ...
The Raven
"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a distraught lover who is paid a visit ...
'' (1935)
* ''
Without Orders
''Without Orders'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and starring Sally Eilers, Robert Armstrong, Frances Sage, Charley Grapewin and Vinton Haworth. It was produced by RKO Radio Pictures, who released the picture on October ...
'' (1936)
* ''
Night Waitress
''Night Waitress'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and written by Marcus Goodrich. The film stars Margot Grahame, Gordon Jones, Vinton Hayworth, Marc Lawrence and Billy Gilbert. The film was released on December 18, 1936, b ...
'' (1936)
* ''
Flight from Glory
''Flight from Glory'' is an American B movie about a run-down air cargo company in the Andes. It was directed by Lew Landers, and starred Chester Morris, Whitney Bourne, Onslow Stevens and Van Heflin. When released on August 20, 1937, ''Flight fr ...
'' (1937)
* ''
Living on Love
''Living on Love'' is a 1937 American romantic comedy film released by RKO Radio Pictures. Directed by Lew Landers, it stars James Dunn, Whitney Bourne, and Joan Woodbury. The film is a remake of the RKO film ''Rafter Romance'' (1933). It is on ...
'' (1937)
* ''
Danger Patrol
''Danger Patrol'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Lew Landers from a screenplay by Sy Bartlett based on a story by Helen Vreeland and Hilda Vincent. Produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, it was released on December 3, 1937, ...
'' (1937)
* ''
You Can't Buy Luck
''You Can't Buy Luck'' is a 1937 American murder mystery film directed by Lew Landers and starring Onslow Stevens, Helen Mack and Vinton Hayworth. It was produced and distributed by Hollywood studio RKO Pictures.
Plot
Superstitious New York gamb ...
'' (1937)
* ''
The Man Who Found Himself
''The Man Who Found Himself'', also known as ''Wings of Mercy'', is a 1937 American aviation film based on the unpublished story "Wings of Mercy" by Alice B. Curtis. The film marked the first starring role for 19-year-old Joan Fontaine, who was ...
They Wanted to Marry
''They Wanted to Marry'' is a 1937 romantic comedy film directed by Lew Landers from a screenplay by Paul Yawitz and Ethel Borden, based on a story by Larry Bachmann and Daniel L. Teilhet. RKO produced and distributed the film, releasing it on ...
'' (1937)
* ''
Annabel Takes a Tour
''Annabel Takes a Tour'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Lew Landers and starring Lucille Ball, Jack Oakie and Ruth Donnelly. Annabel (Lucille Ball) is on a promotional tour and, as a publicity stunt, leaks a story that she is having ...
'' (1938)
* ''
Blind Alibi
''Blind Alibi'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and written by Lionel Houser, Harry Segall and Ron Ferguson. The film stars Richard Dix, Whitney Bourne, Eduardo Ciannelli, Frances Mercer and Paul Guilfoyle. The film was r ...
'' (1938)
* ''
The Affairs of Annabel
''The Affairs of Annabel'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and starring Lucille Ball, Jack Oakie and Ruth Donnelly. It was produced and distributed by RKO Pictures. The film was followed by the sequel ''Annabel Takes ...
Law of the Underworld
''Law of the Underworld'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and written by Bert Granet and Edmund L. Hartmann. The film stars Chester Morris, Anne Shirley, Eduardo Ciannelli, Walter Abel and Richard Bond. The film was relea ...
Sky Giant
''Sky Giant'', also known as ''Ground Crew'' and ''Northern Flight'', is a 1938 drama film directed by Lew Landers. The film stars Richard Dix, Chester Morris and Joan Fontaine. The plot revolves around a love triangle with two pilots in love w ...
Conspiracy
A conspiracy, also known as a plot, ploy, or scheme, is a secret plan or agreement between people (called conspirers or conspirators) for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder, treason, or corruption, especially with a political motivat ...
'' (1939)
* ''
The Girl and the Gambler
''The Girl and the Gambler'' is a 1939 Western film, from RKO Radio Pictures, starring Tim Holt. It was an early starring Western for Holt, who soon replaced George O'Brien as the studio's main Western star.
The film was based on a play which ...
'' (1939)
* ''
Twelve Crowded Hours
''Twelve Crowded Hours'' is a 1939 film directed by Lew Landers and starring Richard Dix and Lucille Ball.
Plot
When the brother of his girlfriend Paula Sanders is accused of murder, reporter Nick Green tries to clear him.
He suspects gangster ...
Enemy Agent
''Enemy Agent'' is a 1940 American spy thriller film directed by Lew Landers and starring Richard Cromwell, Helen Vinson, and Robert Armstrong.McLaughlin p.325 The supporting cast includes Jack La Rue, Jack Carson, Philip Dorn and Milburn Ston ...
'' (1940)
* ''La Conga Nights'' (1940)
* ''
Ski Patrol
Ski patrols are organizations that provide medical, rescue, and hazard prevention services to the injured in ski area boundaries, or sometimes beyond into backcountry settings. Many have technical-medical certifications, such as Outdoor Emerge ...
The Boogie Man Will Get You
''The Boogie Man Will Get You'' is a 1942 American comedy horror film directed by Lew Landers and starring Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre. It was the final film Karloff made under his contract with Columbia Pictures, and it was filmed in the wake ...
'' (1942)
* ''
The Man Who Returned to Life
''The Man Who Returned to Life'' is a 1942 American black-and-white drama film directed by Lew Landers, written by Gordon Rigby and released by Columbia Pictures.
Plot
David Jameson lives in a rural town in Maryland. He is forced to flee after ...
Stand By All Networks
''Stand by All Networks'' is a 1942 American thriller film directed by Lew Landers and starring Florence Rice, John Beal and Margaret Hayes.Shull p.248 The films sets were designed by Lionel Banks.
Plot
Before Pearl Harbor, a radio reporter is ...
The Return of the Vampire
''The Return of the Vampire'' is a 1943 American horror film directed by Lew Landers and starring Bela Lugosi, Frieda Inescort, Nina Foch, Miles Mander, Roland Varno, and Matt Willis. Its plot follows a vampire named Armand Tesla, who has two e ...
Crime, Inc.
''Crime, Inc.'' is a 1945 American film noir crime film directed by Lew Landers starring Leo Carrillo, Tom Neal and Martha Tilton.
Plot summary
The film centers on Jim Riley, a fearless and principled newspaper journalist who is determined to ...
'' (1945)
* ''
The Power of the Whistler
''The Power of the Whistler'' is a 1945 film noir thriller film based on the radio drama '' The Whistler''. Directed by Lew Landers, the production features Richard Dix. It is the third of Columbia Pictures' eight " Whistler" films produced in t ...
'' (1945)
* ''
The Mask of Diijon
''The Mask of Diijon'' is a 1946 American black-and-white horror noir suspense film released from PRC Studios, directed by Lew Landers and featuring Erich von Stroheim, Jeanne Bates and William Wright.
Plot
Diijon, a tired magician, gives up hi ...
'' (1946)
* ''
A Close Call for Boston Blackie
''A Close Call for Boston Blackie'' is a 1946 American crime film directed by Lew Landers. It is the 10th of 14 Columbia Pictures films starring Chester Morris as Boston Blackie.
Plot
Ignoring Inspector Farraday's friendly advice to stop helping ...
Death Valley
Death Valley is a desert valley in Eastern California, in the northern Mojave Desert, bordering the Great Basin Desert. It is thought to be the Highest temperature recorded on Earth, hottest place on Earth during summer.
Death Valley's Badwat ...
The Son of Rusty
''The Son of Rusty'' is a 1947 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and starring Ted Donaldson, Stephen Dunne and Ann Doran. It was part of Columbia Pictures' eight-film Rusty series about a boy and his valiant German Shepherd.
Plot
Dann ...
'' (1947)
* ''
Public Prosecutor
A prosecutor is a legal representative of the prosecution in states with either the adversarial system, which is adopted in common law, or inquisitorial system, which is adopted in civil law. The prosecution is the legal party responsible ...
My Dog Rusty
''My Dog Rusty'' is a 1948 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and starring Ted Donaldson, John Litel and Ann Doran. It was part of the eight-film Rusty series of films produced by Columbia Pictures, about a boy and his valiant German ...
Stagecoach Kid
''Stagecoach Kid'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Lew Landers and starring Tim Holt, Jeff Donnell and Richard Martin. It was one of a number of B-Westerns Holt made for RKO.Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, ''The RKO Story.'' New Ro ...
'' (1949)
* ''
Barbary Pirate
The Barbary corsairs, Barbary pirates, Ottoman corsairs, or naval mujahideen (in Muslim sources) were mainly Muslim corsairs and privateers who operated from the largely independent Barbary states. This area was known in Europe as the Barba ...
'' (1949)
* ''
Air Hostess
A flight attendant is a member of the aircrew whose primary responsibility is ensure the safety of passengers in the cabin of an aircraft across all stages of flight. Their secondary duty is to see to the comfort of passengers. Flight attenda ...
Chain Gang
A chain gang or road gang is a group of prisoners chained together to perform menial or physically challenging work as a form of punishment. Such punishment might include repairing buildings, building roads, or clearing land. The system was nota ...
Revenue Agent
''Revenue Agent'' is a 1950 American film directed by Lew Landers.
Plot
The accountant's wife is having an affair with his boss. In retribution the husband calls the Internal Revenue Service to expose a large tax evasion racket to smuggle gold bu ...
'' (1950)
* ''
Last of the Buccaneers
''Last of the Buccaneers'' is a 1950 American Technicolor adventure film directed by Lew Landers and starring Paul Henreid as Jean Lafitte.
Plot
Swashbuckler about the adventures of pirate Jean Lafitte after he helped save New Orleans from a Brit ...
'' (1950)
* ''
Beauty on Parade
This is a list of episodes for the 1970s American television series ''Wonder Woman'' featuring Lynda Carter.
Series overview
All three seasons and the TV film pilot have been released on DVD by Warner Home Video,Dynamite Pass'' (1950)
* '' Tyrant of the Sea'' (1950)
* ''Girls' School'' (1950)
* ''
Jungle Manhunt
''Jungle Manhunt'' is a 1951 adventure film written by Samuel Newman and directed by Lew Landers. It was the seventh entry in the "Jungle Jim" series of films starring Johnny Weissmuller as the title character. Based on the comic strip "Jungle J ...
'' (1951)
* ''
When the Redskins Rode
''When the Redskins Rode'' is a 1951 American historical Western film directed by Lew Landers and starring Jon Hall, Mary Castle and James Seay. The film is loosely based on the events leading up to the outbreak of the French and Indian War. ...
'' (1951)
* '' The Magic Carpet'' (1951)
* ''The Big Gusher'' (1951)
* ''
Arctic Flight
''Arctic Flight'' is a 1952 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and starring Wayne Morris (American actor), Wayne Morris, Alan Hale Jr. and Lola Albright. It was produced and distributed by Monogram Pictures. ''Arctic Flight'' depicts bus ...
'' (1952)
* ''
Aladdin and His Lamp
''Aladdin and His Lamp'' is a 1952 American fantasy adventure film directed by Lew Landers and starring Johnny Sands, Patricia Medina and Richard Erdman. It was shot in Cinecolor and produced by Walter Wanger for distribution by Monogram Pic ...
'' (1952)
* ''
California Conquest
''California Conquest'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Lew Landers and starring Cornel Wilde and Teresa Wright.
Terry and the Pirates
''Terry and the Pirates'' is an action-adventure comic strip created by cartoonist Milton Caniff, which originally ran from October 22, 1934, to February 25, 1973. Captain Joseph Patterson, editor for the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndica ...
Captain John Smith and Pocahontas
''Captain John Smith and Pocahontas '' is a 1953 American historical western film directed by Lew Landers. The distributor was United Artists. It stars Anthony Dexter, Jody Lawrance and Alan Hale.
While most scenes were filmed in Virginia's Blu ...
Meet Corliss Archer
''Meet Corliss Archer'' is an American radio program from radio's Golden Age that ran from January 7, 1943, to September 30, 1956. Although it was CBS's answer to NBC's '' A Date with Judy'', it was also broadcast by NBC in 1948 as a summer rep ...
'' (1 episode, 1954)
* ''
Science Fiction Theatre
''Science Fiction Theatre'' is an American science fiction anthology television series that was produced by Ivan Tors and Maurice Ziv and originally aired in syndication. It premiered on April 9, 1955, and ended on February 9, 1957, with a to ...
'' (1 episode, 1955)
* ''
Tales of the Texas Rangers
''Tales of the Texas Rangers'' is a 20th century Western old-time radio and television police procedural drama which originally aired on NBC Radio from 1950 to 1952 and later on CBS Television from 1955 to 1958. Film star Joel McCrea voiced the ...
'' (10 episodes, 1955–1957)
* ''
Casey Jones
John Luther "Casey" Jones (March 14, 1864 – April 30, 1900) was an American railroader who was killed when his passenger train collided with a stalled freight train in Vaughan, Mississippi.
Jones was a locomotive engineer for the Illinois Cen ...
'' (4 episodes, 1957–1958)
* ''
Highway Patrol
A highway patrol is a police unit, detail, or law enforcement agency created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways within a jurisdiction. They are also referred to in many countri ...
'' (10 episodes, 1955–1959)
* ''
Mackenzie's Raiders
''Mackenzie's Raiders'' is an American Western television series starring Richard Carlson that was broadcast in syndication and produced in 1958–1959. The series is narrated by Art Gilmore, and was produced by Ziv Television Programs.
...
'' (9 episodes, 1958–1959)
* ''
Tombstone Territory
''Tombstone Territory'' is an American Western television series starring Pat Conway and Richard Eastham. The first two seasons aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. The first season was sponsored by Bristol-Myers (consumer products) and the seco ...
'' (2 episodes, 1959–1960)
* ''
The Alaskans
''The Alaskans'' is a 1959–1960 ABC/Warner Bros. Western television series set during the late 1890s in the port of Skagway, Alaska. The show features Roger Moore as "Silky Harris" and Jeff York as "Reno McKee", a pair of adventurers i ...
'' (1 episode, 1960)
* ''
Sugarfoot
''Sugarfoot'' is an American Western television series that aired for 69 episodes on ABC from 1957-1961 on Tuesday nights on a "shared" slot basis – rotating with ''Cheyenne'' (first season); ''Cheyenne'' and '' Bronco'' (both second and fo ...
'' (2 episodes, 1961)
* ''
Bat Masterson
Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the late 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was bo ...