Arthur Alexander (1909–1989) was an American

independent film An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is film production, produced outside the Major film studios, major film studio system in addition to being produced and distributed by independ ...

producer. He worked with his brother Max and produced films through various studios including their own Beacon Productions, Colony Pictures, and Max Alexander Productions.

Biography

Alexander was born in Germany. He began his Hollywood career in 1934 and produced about 50 films through 1949, many westerns, all with low budgets and with no connection to the established Hollywood studios (other than the fact that his uncle was

Carl Laemmle Carl Laemmle (; born Karl Lämmle ; January 17, 1867 – September 24, 1939) was a German-American film producer and the co-founder and, until 1934, owner of Universal Pictures. He produced or worked on over 400 films. Regarded as one of the ...

, long-time head of

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 ...

). With his brother Max, Alexander founded Beacon Productions, Colony Pictures, and Max Alexander Productions. He was active as producer at the short-lived

Grand National Pictures Grand National Films, Inc (or Grand National Pictures, Grand National Productions and Grand National Film Distributing Co.) was an American independent motion picture production-distribution company in operation from 1936 to 1939. The company ha ...

from 1936 through 1939, and released through

Producers Releasing Corporation Producers Releasing Corporation (generally known as PRC) was the smallest and least prestigious of the 11 Hollywood film companies of the 1940s. It was considered a prime example of what was called " Poverty Row": a low-rent stretch of Gower St ...

afterward. Much of his work is in public domain today and accessible online. The Alexander Brothers also produced the television cartoon series '' Q. T. Hush'' (1960).

Partial filmography

* ''

Gun Play ''Gun Play'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Albert Herman and starring Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, Marion Shilling and Frank Yaconelli.Pitts, p. 53. Plot Cast * Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Bill Williams * Marion Shilling as Madge ...

'' (1935) * '' Big Boy Rides Again'' (1935) * ''

The Law of 45's ''The Law of the 45's'' (also known as ''The Mysterious Mr. Sheffield'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1935 American Western film directed by John P. McCarthy. The screenplay was based on the 1933 novel of the same name by William Colt MacDonald. ...

'' (1935) * '' The Shadow Strikes'' (1937) * '' International Crime'' (1938) * ''

Here's Flash Casey ''Here's Flash Casey'' is a 1937 American film directed by Lynn Shores and starring Eric Linden and Boots Mallory. Plot Flash Casey is able finally to get the job as photographer at Globe Press. And he would like to marry newspaper woman Kay Lann ...

'' (1938) * ''

Songs and Saddles ''Songs and Saddles'' is a 1938 American western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and starring Gene Austin, Henry Roquemore and Charles King. Plot Cast *Gene Austin as Gene Austin *Lynne Berkeley as Carol Turner *Henry Roquemore as Lawyer ...

'' (1938) * ''

Hard Guy ''Hard Guy'' is a 1941 American crime film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Mary Healy, Jack La Rue, Kane Richmond and Iris Adrian. It was a low-budget second feature distributed by the Producers Releasing Corporation. The film is also k ...

'' (1941) * '' I'll Sell My Life'' (1941) * ''

Today I Hang ''Today I Hang'' is a 1942 American film directed by Oliver Drake (filmmaker), Oliver Drake and produced and released by Producers Releasing Corporation. This film is in the public domain. Plot A man is framed for the murder of a wealthy impor ...

'' (1942) * '' Lady from Chungking'' (1942) * '' Bombs Over Burma'' (1942) * '' The Dawn Express'' (1942) * ''

The Ghost and the Guest ''The Ghost and the Guest'' is a 1943 American black-and-white comedy-mystery film directed by William Nigh and starring James Dunn, Florence Rice, Robert Dudley, and Sam McDaniel. The plot finds a newlywed couple honeymooning in a house they t ...

'' (1943) * '' The Underdog'' (1943) * ''

Spook Town ''Spook Town'' is a 1944 American Western film written and directed by Elmer Clifton. The film stars Dave O'Brien, James Newill and Guy Wilkerson, with Mady Lawrence, Dick Curtis and Harry Harvey. The film was released on 3 June 1944, by ...

'' (1944) * ''

Gangsters of the Frontier ''Gangsters of the Frontier'' (also known as ''Raiders of the Frontier'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1944 American Western film written and directed by Elmer Clifton. The film stars Dave O'Brien, Tex Ritter and Guy Wilkerson, with Patti McCar ...

'' (1944) * ''

Brand of the Devil ''Brand of the Devil'' is a 1944 American Western film written by Elmer Clifton and directed by Harry L. Fraser. The film stars Dave O'Brien, James Newill and Guy Wilkerson, with Ellen Hall, I. Stanford Jolley and Charles King. The film wa ...

'' (1944) * ''

Seven Doors to Death ''Seven Doors to Death'' (also known as ''Vanishing Corpses'' in its American reissue title) is a 1944 American film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Chick Chandler, June Clyde and George Meeker. The film is a comedy/mystery film that was w ...

'' (1944) * '' Waterfront'' (1944) * ''

Guns of the Law ''Guns of the Law'' is a 1944 American Western film written and directed by Elmer Clifton. The film stars Dave O'Brien, James Newill and Guy Wilkerson, with Jennifer Holt, Budd Buster and Charles King. The film was released on 31 March 194 ...

'' (1944) * ''

Queen of Burlesque ''Queen of Burlesque'' is a 1946 American mystery thriller film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Evelyn Ankers, Carleton G. Young and Marion Martin. The film was distributed by the low-budget Producers Releasing Corporation. Rose La Rose, w ...

'' (1946) * ''

Amazon Quest ''Amazon Quest'' is a 1949 American adventure film directed by Steve Sekely and written by Al Martin. The film stars Tom Neal, Carole Mathews, Carole Donne, Don Zelaya, Ralph Graves, Joseph Crehan, Jack George, Joseph Granby, Edward Clark and Ju ...

'' (1949)

Colony Pictures

*'' Stormy Trails'' (1936) *'' West of Nevada'' (1936) *'' Men of the Plains'' (1936)) * ''

Law and Lead ''Law and Lead'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Robert F. Hill that is a remake of ''Cowboy Holiday'' (1934). Plot Range Detective Jimmy Sawyer has earned time off after apprehending four offenders. He overhears one his fellow det ...

'' (1936) * '' Idaho Kid'' (1936) *'' Death Rides the Range'' (1939) *'' Flaming Lead'' (1939) *'' Lightning Strikes West'' (1940) *'' Phantom Rancher'' (1940)

Beacon Productions

*''

Cowboy Holiday ''Cowboy Holiday'' is a 1934 American Western film directed by Robert F. Hill, produced by Max Alexander and Arthur Alexander for Beacon Productions and starring Guinn "Big Boy" Williams and Richard Alexander.p. 56 Pitts, Michael R. ''Poverty ...

'' (1934) *'' Thunder Over Texas'' (1934) *'' Ticket to a Crime'' (1934) *''

I Can't Escape ''I Can't Escape'' is a 1934 American film directed by Otto Brower. The film is also known as ''The Magic Vault'' (American alternative title). Plot Steve Nichols, attired in full evening dress, asks where he can get an alcoholic drink. The surp ...

'' (1934) *''

The Fire Trap ''The Fire Trap'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Burt P. Lynwood and starring Norman Foster, Evalyn Knapp and Sidney Blackmer.Pitts p.146 Plot An insurance investigator goes on the trail of a gang of arsonists. Cast * Norman Foster as ...

'' (1935) * '' Danger Trails'' (1935) *'' What Price Crime'' (1935)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Arthur 1909 births 1989 deaths Film producers from Los Angeles 20th-century American businesspeople German emigrants to the United States