Samuel Neufeld
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Sam Newfield, born Samuel Neufeld (December 6, 1899 – November 10, 1964), also known as Sherman Scott or Peter Stewart, was an American
director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...
, one of the most prolific in American film history—he is credited with directing over 250 feature films in a career which began during the
silent era A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, wh ...
and ended in 1958. In addition to his staggering feature output, he also directed one- and two-reel comedy shorts,
training film A training film is a form of educational film – a short subject documentary movie, that provides an introduction to a topic. Both narrative documentary and dramatisation styles may be used, sometimes both in the same production. While most ...
s,
industrial film An industrial video is a video that targets industry as its primary audience. An industrial video is a type of sponsored film (such as an educational film) which prioritizes pragmatism over artistic value. While the primary purpose of an educationa ...
s, TV episodes and pretty much anything anyone would pay him for. Because of this massive output—he would sometimes direct more than 20 films in a single year—he has been called the most prolific director of the
sound era A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed befo ...
. Many of Newfield's films were made for
PRC China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the second-most populous country after India, representing 17.4% of the world population. China spans the e ...
Pictures. It was a film production company headed by his brother
Sigmund Neufeld Sigmund Neufeld (May 3, 1896 – March 21, 1979) was an American B movie producer. He spent many years at Poverty Row studio Producers Releasing Corporation where he mainly produced films directed by his brother Sam Newfield. When PRC was taken ...
. The films PRC produced were low-budget productions, the majority being
westerns The Western is a genre of fiction typically set in the American frontier (commonly referred to as the "Old West" or the "Wild West") between the California Gold Rush of 1849 and the closing of the frontier in 1890, and commonly associated wit ...
, with occasional
horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit physical or psychological fear in its viewers. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with Transgressive art, transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements of the genre include Mo ...
s or
crime drama Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine with many other genres, such as Drama (film and television), dr ...
.


Family and education

Newfield completed one year of high school, according to the 1940 US census. His brother Morris Neufeld was a stage actor, according to the 1930 US census.


Pseudonyms

Sam Newfield was credited as ''Sherman Scott'' and ''Peter Stewart'' on a number of films he made for the PRC. He used these names in order to hide the fact that one person was responsible for so many of
PRC China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the second-most populous country after India, representing 17.4% of the world population. China spans the e ...
's films.


Partial filmography

Partial filmography is listed below for the different names he used.


As Sam Newfield

*''
Big Time or Bust ''Big Time or Bust'' is a 1933 American comedy-drama directed by Sam Newfield, which stars Regis Toomey, Gloria Shea, and Walter Byron (actor), Walter Byron. Plot Jimmy Kane is a high diver in a carnival, with his wife, Betty Roberts as his ass ...
'' (1933) *''
Reform Girl ''Reform Girl'' is a 1933 American crime drama film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Noel Francis, Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher and Hale Hamilton.Pitts p.436 Shortly after being released from reform school, a young woman is recruited as the lon ...
'' (1933) * ''
Under Secret Orders ''Under Secret Orders'', also known as ''Mademoiselle Doctor'', is a 1937 British spy film directed by Edmond T. Gréville and starring Erich von Stroheim, John Loder, Dita Parlo and Claire Luce. It is an English-language version of the Fr ...
'' (1933) *''
The Important Witness ''The Important Witness'' is an American 1933 pre-Code crime drama directed by Sam Newfield which stars Noel Francis, Dorothy Burgess, and Donald Dillaway. Plot Cast * Noel Francis as Ellen Kelly * Dorothy Burgess as Ruth Dana * Donald Dill ...
'' (1933) * ''
Beggar's Holiday ''Beggar's Holiday'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by John La Touche and music by Duke Ellington. History and background The project originated with black scenic designer Perry Watkins, who envisioned a jazz-driven adaptation of John G ...
'' (1934) *'' Undercover Men'' (1934) *''
Marrying Widows ''Marrying Widows'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Judith Allen, Johnny Mack Brown and Minna Gombell.Parish & Pitts, p. 286 Plot After the death of her sewing machine tycoon husband, a young woman is ...
'' (1934) *'' Bulldog Courage'' (1935) *'' Racing Luck'' (1935) *''
Timber War ''Timber War'' is a 1935 American western drama film directed by Sam Newfield from a screenplay by Jos. O'Donnell and Barry Barringer. The film stars Kermit Maynard, Lucille Lund, and Lawrence Gray. Plot Cast * Kermit Maynard as Jim Dolan * L ...
'' (1935) *'' The Traitor'' (1936) * '' The Lion's Den'' (1936) *''
The Fighting Deputy ''The Fighting Deputy'' is a 1937 American western directed by Sam Newfield and produced by Jed Buell for Spectrum Pictures. Plot Sheriff Dan Bentley (Frank LaRue) and Deputy Tom Bentley ( Fred Scott) are after Scar Adams / Jim Denton ( Charles ...
'' (1937) *'' The Gambling Terror'' (1937) *''
Trail of Vengeance ''Trail of Vengeance'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield, written by Fred Myton and George H. Plympton, and starring Johnny Mack Brown, Iris Meredith, Warner Richmond, Karl Hackett, Earle Hodgins and Frank LaRue. ...
'' (1937) *'' The Feud Maker'' (1938) *''
The Terror of Tiny Town ''The Terror of Tiny Town'' is a 1938 American musical film, musical Western (genre), Western film produced by Jed Buell, directed by Sam Newfield and starring Billy Curtis. The film was shot at a sound studio in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywoo ...
'' (1938) *''
Six-Gun Trail ''Six-Gun Trail'' is a 1938 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield.Engald, Jerry., 2008. Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas. Echo Press. pg 143 Plot Cast *Tim McCoy as Capt. William 'Lightning Bill' Carson *Nora Lane as Midge *Ben Corb ...
'' (1938) * ''
The Invisible Killer ''The Invisible Killer'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Grace Bradley, Roland Drew and William Newell.Gates p.96 It was one of the earliest films made by Producers Releasing Corporation, a low-budget outfi ...
'' (1939) *'' The Fighting Renegade'' (1939) *'' Frontier Crusader'' (1940) *'' Marked Men'' (1940) * '' Secrets of a Model'' (1940) *'' Texas Renegades'' (1940) *''
The Mad Monster ''The Mad Monster'' is a 1942 American black and white horror film, produced and distributed by "Poverty Row" studio Producers Releasing Corporation. The film stars George Zucco, Glenn Strange, Johnny Downs, and Anne Nagel. The film's storyline ...
'' (1942) *''
Tiger Fangs ''Tiger Fangs'' is a 1943 American adventure film, adventure/thriller film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Frank Buck (animal collector), Frank Buck and June Duprez. It was distributed Producers Releasing Corporation. The film's sets were de ...
'' (1943) *''
The Black Raven ''The Black Raven'' is a 1943 American mystery film directed by Sam Newfield. It was produced and released by Producers Releasing Corporation, a leading Poverty Row studio. Plot A heavy storm catches everybody, nearly all with good reasons for ...
'' (1943) *''
I Accuse My Parents ''I Accuse My Parents'' is a 1944 United States, American exploitation film dealing with juvenile delinquency. Produced by Producers Releasing Corporation, PRC, the film was used to teach morals, specifically that parents should take an interes ...
'' (1944) *'' Swing Hostess'' (1944) *''
The Monster Maker ''The Monster Maker'' is a 1944 science-fiction horror film starring J. Carrol Naish and Ralph Morgan. Albert Glasser supplied the film score, his first, an assignment for which he was paid US$250. Plot Dr. Markoff (J. Carrol Naish) has concoc ...
'' (1944) *''
His Brother's Ghost ''His Brother's Ghost'' is a 1945 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield. Plot When a group of gunmen are running sharecroppers off their land, rancher Andy Jones sends for his friend Billy Carson to organise the sharecroppers to fight ...
'' (1945) *'' Shadows of Death'' (1945) *''
The Lady Confesses ''The Lady Confesses'' is a 1945 American film noir directed by Sam Newfield. Plot While on the verge of being divorced, Norma Craig disappears. Seven years later, when her husband, Larry Craig, plans to marry a girl Vicki McGuire, Norma returns ...
'' (1945) *''
Rustlers' Hideout ''Rustlers' Hideout'' is a 1944 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield. In 1940 Crabbe had followed and replaced Bob Steele in the role of Billy the Kid in a series of B-Westerns. After 19 films as Billy, the character was renamed Billy ...
'' (1945) *''
Apology for Murder ''Apology for Murder'' is a 1945 American film noir directed by Sam Newfield and starring Ann Savage, Hugh Beaumont, Russell Hicks and Charles D. Brown. The plot of ''Apology for Murder'' is a blatant rip-off of the seminal film noir ''Doub ...
'' (1945) *''
White Pongo ''White Pongo'', also known as ''Adventure Unlimited'' in the United Kingdom, is a 1945 American film directed by Sam Newfield released by Producers Releasing Corporation. Plot summary In the jungles of the Belgian Congo, a group of natives a ...
'' (1945) * '' Gas House Kids'' (1946) *''
Fight That Ghost ''Fight That Ghost'' is a 1946 feature horror comedy film. It is considered one of the earliest horror films with an all Black cast. It was directed by Sam Newfield. It was a Toddy Pictures Company release. Bill Dillard portrayed Jim Brown in the ...
'' (1946) * '' House-Rent Party (film)'' (1946) * ''
Outlaws of the Plains ''Outlaws of the Plains'' is a 1946 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Buster Crabbe, Al St. John and Patti McCarty.Vermilye p.168-69 Plot Cast * Buster Crabbe as Billy Carson * Al St. John as Fuzzy Q. Jones * Pat ...
'' (1946) *'' Jungle Flight'' (1947) *'' Money Madness'' (1948) *''
Western Pacific Agent ''Western Pacific Agent '' is a 1950 Sigmund Neufeld Productions crime drama directed by Sam Newfield and starring Kent Taylor, Sheila Ryan, and Mickey Knox. The picture was written by Fred Myton based on a story by Milton Raison. It was release ...
'' (1950) * '' Skipalong Rosenbloom'' (1951) *'' Lost Continent'' (1951) *''
Lady in the Fog ''Lady in the Fog'' (U.S. title: ''Scotland Yard Inspector'') is a 1952 British mystery film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Cesar Romero, Lois Maxwell and Bernadette O'Farrell. It was written by Orville H. Hampton based on the 1947 BBC r ...
'' (aka ''Scotland Yard Inspector'') (1952) *''
The Gambler and the Lady ''The Gambler and the Lady'' is a 1952 British second feature ('B') crime film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Dane Clark, Kathleen Byron and Naomi Chance. It was written by Newfield and produced by Hammer Films, filmed at Bray Studios ...
'' (1952) * ''
Outlaw Women ''Outlaw Women'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and Ron Ormond and starring Marie Windsor, Richard Rober and Carla Balenda. It is set in a remote small town run entirely by women. The film was made in Cinecolor and re ...
'' (1952) *''Thunder over Sangoland'' (1955) *''The Wild Dakotas'' (1956) *'' The Three Outlaws'' (1956) *''
Frontier Gambler ''Frontier Gambler'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Orville H. Hampton. The film stars John Bromfield, Coleen Gray, Kent Taylor, Jim Davis, Margia Dean and Veda Ann Borg. The film was released on J ...
'' (1956) *''Last of the Desperadoes'' (1956) *'' Wolf Dog'' (1958) *''Flaming Frontier'' (1958)


As Sherman Scott

*'' Hitler, Beast of Berlin'' (1939) *''
I Take This Oath ''I Take This Oath'' is a 1940 American crime drama film directed by Sam Newfield under the pseudonym of Sherman Scott. Featuring Gordon Jones (actor), Gordon Jones and Joyce Compton, it was the first release by Producers Releasing Corporation. I ...
'' (1940) *'' Billy the Kid's Gun Justice'' (1940) *''Billy the Kid's Fighting Pals'' (1941) *''Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns'' (1942) *'' The Flying Serpent'' (1946) *'' Lady at Midnight'' (1948) *''The Strange Mrs. Crane'' (1948) *'' The Wild Weed'' (1949)


As Peter Stewart

* ''
Gun Code ''Gun Code'' is a 1940 American western film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Tim McCoy, Inna Gest and Carleton Young.Pitts p.134 It was distributed by the independent company PRC which specialized in handling low-budget second features. Th ...
'' (1940) *''Black Mountain Stage'' (1940) *'' Adventure Island'' (1947) *'' The Counterfeiters'' (1948) *'' State Department: File 649'' (1949)


Film statistics

Between 1923 and 1930 Newfield directed over 50 comedies. Feature films statistics per year, starting with 1933, are summarised in the following table.


See also

*
Fred Olen Ray Fred Olen Ray (born September 10, 1954) is an American film producer, director and screenwriter of more than 200 low- to medium-quality feature films in many genres, including Horror film, horror, science fiction, action film, action/adventure f ...
, another film director who has used many of these pseudonyms


References


Review of ''Tiger Fangs''
*


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Newfield, Sam 1899 births 1964 deaths Film directors from New York City Jewish American film people