W.S. Van Dyke
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Woodbridge Strong Van Dyke II (March 21, 1889 – February 5, 1943) was an American film director who made several early
sound film A sound film is a Film, motion picture with synchronization, 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, bu ...
s, including '' Tarzan the Ape Man'' in 1932, ''
The Thin Man ''The Thin Man'' (1934) is a detective novel by Dashiell Hammett, originally published in a condensed version in the December 1933 issue of '' Redbook''. It appeared in book form the following month. A film series followed, featuring the main ...
'' in 1934, ''
San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
'' in 1936, and six popular
musicals Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...
with
Nelson Eddy Nelson Ackerman Eddy (June 29, 1901 – March 6, 1967) was an American actor and baritone singer who appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as in opera and on the concert stage, radio, television, and in nightclubs ...
and
Jeanette MacDonald Jeanette Anna MacDonald (June 18, 1903 – January 14, 1965) was an American soprano and actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s with Maurice Chevalier (''The Love Parade'', ''Love Me Tonight'', ''The Merry Widow (1934 film) ...
. He received two Academy Award nominations for Best Director for ''The Thin Man'' and ''San Francisco'', and directed four actors to Oscar nominations:
William Powell William Horatio Powell (July 29, 1892 – March 5, 1984) was an American actor, known primarily for his film career. Under contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the ''The Thin Man (film), Thin M ...
,
Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Classical Hollywood cinema, Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the ...
,
Norma Shearer Edith Norma Shearer (August 11, 1902June 12, 1983) was a Canadian-American actress who was active on film from 1919 through 1942. Shearer often played spunky, sexually liberated women. She appeared in adaptations of Noël Coward, Eugene O'Neill, ...
, and
Robert Morley Robert Adolph Wilton Morley (26 May 1908 – 3 June 1992) was an English actor who enjoyed a lengthy career in both Britain and the United States. He was frequently cast as a pompous English gentleman representing the Establishment, often in ...
. Known as a reliable craftsman who made his films on schedule and under budget, he earned the name "One Take Woody" for his efficient style of filming.


Early life

Van Dyke was born on March 21, 1889, in
San Diego, California San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
. His father was a
superior court In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general jurisdiction over civil and criminal legal cases. A superior court is "superior" in relation to a court with limited jurisdiction (see small claims court), which is restricted to civil ...
judge who died the day his son was born. His mother, Laura Winston, returned to her former acting career. As a child actor, Van Dyke appeared with his mother on the
vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...
circuit with traveling
stock companies In American theater, summer stock theater is a theater that presents stage productions only in the summer. The name combines the season with the tradition of staging shows by a resident company, reusing stock scenery and costumes. Summer stock th ...
. They traveled the west coast and into the Middle West. When he was five years old, they appeared at the old San Francisco Grand Opera House in ''Blind Girl''. He would later remember his education,
I think I've been to school in every state in the Union. Whenever the company stopped off long enough in any city I went back behind a school desk. The rest of the time my mother taught me.
When Van Dyke was fourteen years old, he moved to
Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...
to live with his grandmother. While attending business school, he worked several part-time jobs, including janitor, waiter, salesman, and railroad attendant. Van Dyke's early adult years were unsettled, and he moved among jobs. On June 16, 1909, he married actress Zine Bertha Ashford (November 3, 1887 - October 2, 1951), whose screen name was "Zelda Ashford," in Pierce, Washington, and the two joined various touring theater companies, finally arriving in
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 ...
in 1915.


Career

In 1915, Van Dyke found work as an
assistant director The role of an assistant director (AD) on a film includes tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, and maintaining order on the set. They also have ...
to
D. W. Griffith David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the motion picture, he pioneered many aspects of film editing and expanded the art of the n ...
on the film ''
The Birth of a Nation ''The Birth of a Nation'' is a 1915 American Silent film, silent Epic film, epic Drama (film and television), drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. The screenplay is adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr.'s 1905 novel and ...
''. The following year, he was Griffith's assistant director on ''
Intolerance Intolerance may refer to: * Hypersensitivity or intolerance, undesirable reactions produced by the immune system * ''Intolerance'' (film), a 1916 film by D. W. Griffith * ''Intolerance'' (album), the first solo album from Grant Hart, formerly ...
''. That same year he worked as an assistant director to James Young on ''
Unprotected ''Unprotected'' is a 1916 American drama silent film directed by James Young, written by James Hatton, and starring Blanche Sweet, Theodore Roberts, Ernest Joy, Tom Forman, Walter Long and Mrs. Lewis McCord. It was released on November 6, 19 ...
'' (1916), '' The Lash'' (1916), and the
lost film A lost film is a feature film, feature or short film in which the original negative or copies are not known to exist in any studio archive, private collection, or public archive. Films can be wholly or partially lost for a number of reasons. ...
''
Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens. It was originally published as a serial from 1837 to 1839 and as a three-volume book in 1838. The story follows the titular orphan, who, ...
'', in which he also played the role of
Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...
. In 1917, Van Dyke directed his first film, ''
The Land of Long Shadows ''The Land of Long Shadows'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and starring Jack Gardner, Ruth King and Carl Stockdale.Connelly p.371 It marked the directorial debut of Van Dyke, who later became an established d ...
'', for
Essanay Studios Essanay Studios, officially the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, was an early American motion picture studio. The studio was founded in 1907 in Chicago by George Kirke Spoor and Gilbert M. Anderson, originally as the Peerless Film Manufactu ...
. That same year he directed five other films: '' The Range Boss'', '' Open Places'', '' Men of the Desert'', '' Gift O' Gab'', and '' Sadie Goes to Heaven''. In 1927, he traveled to
Tacoma Tacoma ( ) is the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. A port city, it is situated along Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, southwest of Bellevue, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, northwest of Mount ...
to direct two
silent film 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, w ...
s for the new H.C. Weaver Productions: ''
Eyes of the Totem ''Eyes of The Totem'' is a 1927 silent film directed by W.S. Van Dyke. It was one of three films produced by H.C. Weaver Studios in Tacoma, Washington between 1924-1928. Long considered lost, ''Eyes of the Totem'' is the only known survivi ...
'' and '' The Heart of the Yukon'' (the latter is considered a lost film). According to Tim McCoy in his autobiography, Van Dyke, who directed him in "War Paint" and five others for MGM in the late 1920s, was eventually to become a giant among Hollywood's creative geniuses. McCoy went on to say, "For in addition to being annoyingly arrogant, maddeningly self-opinionated, damned sure of himself and utterly ruthless, Van was truly a great director." McCoy went on to say, "he (Van Dyke) evidenced a degree of concern for my well-being on a par with the level of compassion that might have been exhibited by a nineteenth-century Arab slaver herding a batch of the lately damned across the equator." He then told a similar story, which Robert Cannom's Van Dyke biography mentioned in some detail, but lacking Cannom's sugar-coated retelling. An extra fired a blank round too close to McCoy's face, knocking him off his horse and causing pain and a wound needing hospitalization. McCoy said that Van Dyke cursed him soundly for falling off his horse and ruining the shot. He asked him if he was ready for another shot and then cautioned McCoy "to try to do it right." During the silent era he learned his craft and by the advent of the talkies was one of
MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...
's most reliable directors. He came to be known as "One-Take Woody" or "One-Take Van Dyke", for the speed with which he would complete his assignments. MGM regarded him as one of the most versatile, equally at home directing
costume drama Costume is the distinctive style of clothing, dress and/or cosmetics, makeup of an individual or group that reflects class, gender, occupation, ethnicity, nationality, activity or epoch—in short, culture. The term also was traditionally used ...
s,
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 ...
,
comedies Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Gr ...
,
crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definiti ...
melodrama A melodrama is a Drama, dramatic work in which plot, typically sensationalized for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodrama is "an exaggerated version of drama". Melodramas typically concentrate on ...
s, and musicals. Many of his films were huge hits and topped the box office in any given year. He received
Academy Award for Best Director The Academy Award for Best Director (officially known as the Academy Award of Merit for Directing) is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given in honor of a film director who has exhibit ...
nominations for ''
The Thin Man ''The Thin Man'' (1934) is a detective novel by Dashiell Hammett, originally published in a condensed version in the December 1933 issue of '' Redbook''. It appeared in book form the following month. A film series followed, featuring the main ...
'' (1934) and ''
San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
'' (1936). He also directed the
Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People and fictional and mythical characters * Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar * Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...
-winning classic ''
Eskimo ''Eskimo'' () is a controversial Endonym and exonym, exonym that refers to two closely related Indigenous peoples: Inuit (including the Alaska Native Iñupiat, the Canadian Inuit, and the Greenlandic Inuit) and the Yupik peoples, Yupik (or Sibe ...
'' (also known as ''Mala the Magnificent''), in which he also has a featured acting role. His other films include the island
adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...
''
White Shadows in the South Seas ''White Shadows in the South Seas'' is a 1928 American synchronized sound romantic adventure film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and starring Monte Blue and Raquel Torres. It was produced by Cosmopolitan Productions in association with MGM and dis ...
'' (1928); its follow-up, '' The Pagan'' (1929); ''
Trader Horn Alfred Aloysius "Trader" Horn (born Alfred Aloysius Smith; 21 June 1861 – 26 June 1931) was an ivory trader in central Africa. His memoirs detailing his journeys, were transcribed and edited by the novelist Ethelreda Lewis and published in t ...
'' (1931), which was filmed almost entirely in Africa; '' Tarzan the Ape Man'' (1932); ''
Manhattan Melodrama ''Manhattan Melodrama'' is a 1934 American pre-Code crime drama film, produced by MGM, directed by W. S. Van Dyke, that stars Clark Gable, William Powell, and Myrna Loy. The movie also provided one of Mickey Rooney's earliest film roles. (Roon ...
'' (1934); and ''
Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette (; ; Maria Antonia Josefa Johanna; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was the last List of French royal consorts, queen of France before the French Revolution and the establishment of the French First Republic. She was the ...
'' (1938). He is perhaps best remembered, however, for directing
Myrna Loy Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. As a performer, she was known for her ability to adapt to her screen partner's acting style. Born in Helena, Monta ...
and
William Powell William Horatio Powell (July 29, 1892 – March 5, 1984) was an American actor, known primarily for his film career. Under contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the ''The Thin Man (film), Thin M ...
in four ''Thin Man'' films: ''
The Thin Man ''The Thin Man'' (1934) is a detective novel by Dashiell Hammett, originally published in a condensed version in the December 1933 issue of '' Redbook''. It appeared in book form the following month. A film series followed, featuring the main ...
'' (1934), ''
After the Thin Man ''After the Thin Man'' is a 1936 American murder mystery comedy film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring William Powell, Myrna Loy and James Stewart. A sequel to the 1934 feature ''The Thin Man (film), The Thin Man'', the film presents Powel ...
'' (1936), ''
Another Thin Man ''Another Thin Man'' is a 1939 American detective film directed by W. S. Van Dyke, the third of six in the ''Thin Man'' series. It again stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles and is based on Dashiell Hammett's Contin ...
'' (1939), and ''
Shadow of the Thin Man ''Shadow of the Thin Man'' is a 1941 American murder mystery comedy film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles. It was produced and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as the fourth in the ser ...
'' (1941); and
Jeanette MacDonald Jeanette Anna MacDonald (June 18, 1903 – January 14, 1965) was an American soprano and actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s with Maurice Chevalier (''The Love Parade'', ''Love Me Tonight'', ''The Merry Widow (1934 film) ...
and
Nelson Eddy Nelson Ackerman Eddy (June 29, 1901 – March 6, 1967) was an American actor and baritone singer who appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as in opera and on the concert stage, radio, television, and in nightclubs ...
in six of their greatest hits, '' Naughty Marietta'' (1935), ''
Rose Marie Rose Marie (born Rose Marie Mazzetta; August 15, 1923 – December 28, 2017) was an American actress, singer, comedian, and vaudeville performer with a career spanning nine decades, which included film, radio, records, theater, night clubs and ...
'' (1936), '' Sweethearts'' (1938), ''
New Moon In astronomy, the new moon is the first lunar phase, when the Moon and Sun have the same ecliptic longitude. At this phase, the lunar disk is not visible to the naked eye, except when it is silhouetted against the Sun during a solar eclipse. ...
'' (1940) (uncredited because halfway through filming
Robert Z. Leonard Robert Zigler Leonard (October 7, 1889 – August 27, 1968) was an American film director, actor, producer, and screenwriter. Biography He was born in Chicago, Illinois. At one time, he was married to Silent film, silent star Mae Murray with t ...
took over), '' Bitter Sweet'' (1940), and ''
I Married an Angel ''I Married an Angel'' is a 1938 musical comedy by Rodgers and Hart. It was adapted from a play by Hungarian playwright János Vaszary, entitled ''Angyalt Vettem Felesegul''. The book was by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, with music by Rodger ...
'' (1942). The earthquake sequence in ''
San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
'' is considered one of the best special-effects sequences ever filmed. To help direct, Van Dyke called upon his early mentor,
D. W. Griffith David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the motion picture, he pioneered many aspects of film editing and expanded the art of the n ...
, who had fallen on hard times. Van Dyke was also known to hire old-time, out-of-work actors as extras. Because of his loyalty, he was much beloved and admired in the industry. Van Dyke was known for allowing ad-libbing (that remained in the film) and for coaxing natural performances from his actors. He made stars of
Nelson Eddy Nelson Ackerman Eddy (June 29, 1901 – March 6, 1967) was an American actor and baritone singer who appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as in opera and on the concert stage, radio, television, and in nightclubs ...
,
James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military aviator. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morali ...
,
Myrna Loy Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. As a performer, she was known for her ability to adapt to her screen partner's acting style. Born in Helena, Monta ...
,
Johnny Weissmuller Johnny Weissmuller ( ; born Johann Peter Weißmüller, ; June 2, 1904 – January 20, 1984) was a Hungarian-born German American Olympic swimmer, water polo player and actor. He was known for having one of the best competitive-swimming records o ...
,
Maureen O'Sullivan Maureen Paula O'Sullivan (May 17, 1911 – June 23, 1998) was an Irish actress who played Jane in the ''Tarzan'' series of films during the era of Johnny Weissmuller. She starred in dozens of feature films across a span of more than half a ...
,
Eleanor Powell Eleanor Torrey Powell (November 21, 1912 – February 11, 1982) was an American dancer and actress. Best remembered for her tap dance numbers in musical films in the 1930s and 1940s, she was one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's top dancing stars durin ...
,
Ilona Massey Ilona Massey (born Ilona Hajmássy, June 16, 1910 – August 20, 1974) was a Hungarian-American film, stage and radio performer. Early life and career She was born in Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary (now in Hungary). Billed as "the new Die ...
, and
Margaret O'Brien Angela Maxine O'Brien (born January 15, 1937), known professionally as Margaret O'Brien, is an American actress. Beginning a career in feature films for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at age four, O'Brien became a child star and received a Juvenile Acade ...
. He was often called in to work a few days (or more), uncredited, on a film that was in trouble or had gone over the production schedule. Van Dyke was commissioned a captain in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1934. On September 13, 1935, he was promoted to the rank of major in the reserves. Prior to
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the patriotic Van Dyke set up a
Marine Corps Reserve The Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES or MFR), also known as the United States Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR) and the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Corps Reserve is an expedi ...
recruiting office in his own office at MGM. His rank of major often showed up in his later film credits, and he was influential in encouraging other MGM stars to join the military during the early days of the war, including Clark Gable, James Stewart, and Robert Taylor.Van Dyke and the Mythical City of Hollywood (1948) Robert C. Cannom.


Final years and death

By 1933 Van Dyke had a 3 acre estate in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on 334 South Bundy Drive, which he added on to several times to accommodate his collection of artifacts from world travel and allow large groups of friends for entertainment purposes. The house was razed by the early 1960s and the grounds were converted by 1965 into a cul-de-sac named Rose Marie Lane with eight large sized homes. In the latter half of 1942, despite being ill with
cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...
and a bad heart, Van Dyke managed to direct one last film, ''
Journey for Margaret ''Journey for Margaret'' is a 1942 American drama film set in London in World War II. It stars Robert Young and Laraine Day as a couple who have to confront the loss of their unborn child due to a bombing raid. It is an adaptation of the book o ...
'', which premiered in New York City on December 17 that year. It is a heart-rending movie that made 5-year-old
Margaret O'Brien Angela Maxine O'Brien (born January 15, 1937), known professionally as Margaret O'Brien, is an American actress. Beginning a career in feature films for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at age four, O'Brien became a child star and received a Juvenile Acade ...
an overnight star. Van Dyke, a devout
Christian Scientist Activists, politicians, and military figures Activists *Tsianina Redfeather Blackstone (1882-1985) – Native American singer and activist * Bonnie Carroll – President and founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) *Henry ...
, had refused most medical treatments and care during his final years. Following the general release of ''Journey for Margaret'' to theaters in January 1943, he said his goodbyes to his wife Ruth Elizabeth Mannix, his three children, and to studio boss
Louis B. Mayer Louis Burt Mayer (; born Lazar Meir; July 12, 1884Mayer maintained that he was born in Minsk on July 4, 1885. According to Scott Eyman, the reasons may have been: * Mayer's father gave different dates for his birthplace at different times, so ...
and then committed suicide on February 5 in
Brentwood, Los Angeles Brentwood is a suburban neighborhood in the Westside region of Los Angeles, California. History General Modern development began after the establishment of the Pacific Branch of the National Home for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors in the ...
. Both
Jeanette MacDonald Jeanette Anna MacDonald (June 18, 1903 – January 14, 1965) was an American soprano and actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s with Maurice Chevalier (''The Love Parade'', ''Love Me Tonight'', ''The Merry Widow (1934 film) ...
and
Nelson Eddy Nelson Ackerman Eddy (June 29, 1901 – March 6, 1967) was an American actor and baritone singer who appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as in opera and on the concert stage, radio, television, and in nightclubs ...
, in accordance with Van Dyke's wishes, sang and officiated at his funeral. His cremated remains are interred at Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, with those of his mother, Laura Winston Van Dyke in the Great Mausoleum, Columbarium of the Sanctuaries, Niche 10212.


Family

W. S. Van Dyke's mother, Laura Winston Van Dyke, was an enthusiastic genealogist and made sure he had known his own family history. He subsequently joined a number of male hereditary societies based in Los Angeles. He was a member of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution having joined on September 22, 1933, No. 53277, California Society No. CA 1707 based on a documented direct descent from John Honeyman (1729–1822), aide to General James Wolfe in the French and Indian Wars and later a spy for George Washington during the Revolution. That same year, 1933, he joined the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California on the same documented descent from John Honeyman, Membership No. 1847. He also became a member of the Order of Founders and Patriots, No. 7141, CA 48, in 1933 documenting descent from Jan Van Dyke (1709–1778), who was killed while fighting beside Washington at Monmouth, and Thomasse Janse Van Dyke (1581–1665). Van Dyke ultimately was invited to become a life member in the most difficult to join, Society of Colonial Wars, #8634, California Society #397, admitted January 23, 1934. He joined on a direct descent from Capt. Jan Janse Van Dyke (1652–1736) and Governor William Leete (1613–1683). He was the great great grandson of Abraham Van Dyke (1753–1804), who was with Washington at Morristown. Van Dyke was admitted to membership in the Barons of Runnymede, now known as Baronial Order of Magna Charta in January 1935, Member No. 441, and Military Order of the Crusades in December 1935, Member No. 13 both based on a descent from Governor Thomas Dudley of Massachusetts. Marcia Van Dyke, violinist and actress, was a cousin of W. S. Van Dyke.


Legacy

Van Dyke and his career were the subject of a 424-page well-detailed biography published in 1948 by Robert C. Cannom which made use of extensive interviews with Van Dyke's co-workers and had the complete cooperation of Metro Goldwyn Mayer. The author was allowed full access to Van Dyke's files and photographs archived with the studio in Culver City, Calif. January 20, 1937, Van Dyke and Clark Gable had their signature, hand and shoe print impressions cast in greenish cement at Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. On February 8, 1960, Van Dyke received a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...
for his contribution to Motion Pictures, at 6141
Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It runs through the Hollywood, East Hollywood, Little Armenia, Thai Town, and Los Feliz districts. Its western terminus is at Sunset Plaza Drive in the Hollyw ...
.


Awards and nominations


Filmography

* ''
The Land of Long Shadows ''The Land of Long Shadows'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and starring Jack Gardner, Ruth King and Carl Stockdale.Connelly p.371 It marked the directorial debut of Van Dyke, who later became an established d ...
'' (1917) * '' The Range Boss'' (1917) * '' Open Places'' (1917) * '' Men of the Desert'' (1917) * '' Gift O' Gab'' (1917) * '' Sadie Goes to Heaven'' (1917) * '' The Lady of the Dugout'' (1918) * ''
The Hawk's Trail ''The Hawk's Trail'' is a 1919 American crime film serial directed by W. S. Van Dyke. It is considered to be a lost film. Cast * King Baggot as Sheldon Steele / "The Hawk" * Grace Darmond as Claire Drake * Rhea Mitchell as Jean Drake * Harr ...
'' (1919) * ''
Daredevil Jack ''Daredevil Jack'' is a 1920 American silent 15-chapter action film serial directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey and featuring Lon Chaney as a villain. The chapters were shown weekly between February and ...
'' (1920) * ''
Double Adventure ''Double Adventure'' is a 1921 American film serial directed by W. S. Van Dyke. The film is considered to be lost in the United States. All or parts of the serial are held by Gosfilmofond, Russian State Archive. Plot Cast * Charles Hutchis ...
'' (1921) * '' The Avenging Arrow'' (1921) * '' Forget Me Not'' (1922) * '' White Eagle'' (1922) * ''The Milky Way'' (1922) * '' According to Hoyle'' (1922) * ''
The Boss of Camp 4 ''The Boss of Camp 4'' is a 1922 American silent action film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring Buck Jones, Fritzi Brunette, G. Raymond Nye, Francis Ford, and Sid Jordan. It is based on the novel by Arthur Preston Hankins with the same na ...
'' (1922) * ''
The Miracle Makers ''The Miracle Makers'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and starring Leah Baird, George Walsh and Edith Yorke.Connelly p.171 Synopsis Doris Mansfield is forced to marry Bill Bruce, despite being engaged to another ...
'' (1923) * '' The Destroying Angel'' (1923) * ''
The Little Girl Next Door ''The Little Girl Next Door'' is a 1912 American silent short drama directed by Lucius Henderson and written by Philip Lonergan. The film starred William Garwood and Marguerite Snow in the lead roles. Prints of the film are in the Library ...
'' (1923) * ''
Ruth of the Range ''Ruth of the Range'' is a fifteen episode American adventure film serial starring Ruth Roland, in which a young woman attempts to rescue her father from a gang that has kidnapped him in order to find out his secret for making "Fuelite," a subs ...
'' (1923) (uncredited) * ''
Half-A-Dollar-Bill ''Half-A-Dollar-Bill'' is a surviving 1924 American silent drama film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring Anna Q. Nilsson. It was produced by an independent company and released through Metro Pictures. Plot As described in a film magazine ...
'' (1924) * '' Loving Lies'' (1924) * '' The Beautiful Sinner'' (1924) * '' Winner Take All'' (1924) * '' Gold Heels'' (1924) * '' The Trail Rider'' (1925) * '' Hearts and Spurs'' (1925) * '' The Timber Wolf'' (1925) * '' The Desert's Price'' (1925) * '' Ranger of the Big Pines'' (1925) * ''
Barriers Burned Away ''Barriers Burned Away'' is a 1925 American silent historical drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of thi ...
'' (1925) * '' The Gentle Cyclone'' (1926) * '' War Paint'' (1926) * ''
Winners of the Wilderness ''Winners of the Wilderness'' is a 1927 American silent war drama film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and starring Tim McCoy and Joan Crawford. In this costume drama, set during the French and Indian War (1754-1763), Rene Contrecouer (Crawford), ...
'' (1927) * '' The Heart of the Yukon'' (1927) * ''
California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
'' (1927) * '' Spoilers of the West'' (1927) * '' Foreign Devils'' (1927) * ''
Eyes of the Totem ''Eyes of The Totem'' is a 1927 silent film directed by W.S. Van Dyke. It was one of three films produced by H.C. Weaver Studios in Tacoma, Washington between 1924-1928. Long considered lost, ''Eyes of the Totem'' is the only known survivi ...
'' (1927) * ''
Under the Black Eagle ''Under the Black Eagle'' is a 1928 American silent World War I drama film directed by W. S. Van Dyke, written by Norman Houston, Bradley King, and Madeleine Ruthven, and starring Ralph Forbes, Marceline Day, Bert Roach, William Fairbanks, ...
'' (1928) * ''
Wyoming Wyoming ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States, Western United States. It borders Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho t ...
'' (1928) * ''
White Shadows in the South Seas ''White Shadows in the South Seas'' is a 1928 American synchronized sound romantic adventure film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and starring Monte Blue and Raquel Torres. It was produced by Cosmopolitan Productions in association with MGM and dis ...
'' (1928) * '' The Pagan'' (1929) * ''
Trader Horn Alfred Aloysius "Trader" Horn (born Alfred Aloysius Smith; 21 June 1861 – 26 June 1931) was an ivory trader in central Africa. His memoirs detailing his journeys, were transcribed and edited by the novelist Ethelreda Lewis and published in t ...
'' (1931) * '' The Cuban Love Song'' (1931) * ''
Guilty Hands ''Guilty Hands'' is a 1931 American pre-Code crime film starring Lionel Barrymore and Kay Francis and directed by W. S. Van Dyke. The story concerns an attorney who murders a man who wants to marry his daughter. Plot On a train trip, lawyer R ...
'' (1931) * '' Never the Twain Shall Meet'' (1931) * '' Tarzan the Ape Man'' (1932) * ''
Night Court ''Night Court'' is an American television sitcom that premiered on NBC on January 4, 1984, and ended on May 31, 1992, after nine seasons consisting of List of Night Court episodes, 193 episodes. The show is set in the night shift of a Manhattan ...
'' (1932) * ''
Penthouse Penthouse most often refers to: *Penthouse apartment, a special apartment on the top floor of a building * ''Penthouse'' (magazine), a British-founded men's magazine *Mechanical penthouse, a floor, typically located directly under a flat-roof, tha ...
'' (1933) * ''
The Prizefighter and the Lady ''The Prizefighter and the Lady'' is a 1933 pre-Code Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer romance film directed by Howard Hawks and W. S. Van Dyke starring Myrna Loy and the professional boxers Max Baer, Primo Carnera, and Jack Dempsey. The film was adapted ...
'' (1933) * ''
Eskimo ''Eskimo'' () is a controversial Endonym and exonym, exonym that refers to two closely related Indigenous peoples: Inuit (including the Alaska Native Iñupiat, the Canadian Inuit, and the Greenlandic Inuit) and the Yupik peoples, Yupik (or Sibe ...
'' (1933) * ''
Manhattan Melodrama ''Manhattan Melodrama'' is a 1934 American pre-Code crime drama film, produced by MGM, directed by W. S. Van Dyke, that stars Clark Gable, William Powell, and Myrna Loy. The movie also provided one of Mickey Rooney's earliest film roles. (Roon ...
'' (1934) * ''
The Thin Man ''The Thin Man'' (1934) is a detective novel by Dashiell Hammett, originally published in a condensed version in the December 1933 issue of '' Redbook''. It appeared in book form the following month. A film series followed, featuring the main ...
'' (1934) * ''
Hide-Out ''Hide-Out'' is a 1934 American comedy, crime, drama, romance film produced by MGM in 1934. Robert Montgomery (actor), Robert Montgomery and Maureen O'Sullivan star, with Edward Arnold (actor), Edward Arnold and Elizabeth Patterson (actress), E ...
'' (1934) * ''
Forsaking All Others ''Forsaking All Others'' is a 1934 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by W.S. Van Dyke, and starring Robert Montgomery, Joan Crawford and Clark Gable. The screenplay was written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, which was based upon a 1933 ...
'' (1934) * '' Laughing Boy'' (1934) * ''
I Live My Life ''I Live My Life'' is a 1935 American comedy-drama film starring Joan Crawford, Brian Aherne and Frank Morgan. It is based on the story "Claustrophobia" by A. Carter Goodloe. Plot Bored socialite Kay Bentley travels to Greece on her wealthy f ...
'' (1935) * '' Naughty Marietta'' (1935) * ''
Rose Marie Rose Marie (born Rose Marie Mazzetta; August 15, 1923 – December 28, 2017) was an American actress, singer, comedian, and vaudeville performer with a career spanning nine decades, which included film, radio, records, theater, night clubs and ...
'' (1936) * ''
San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
'' (1936) * ''
His Brother's Wife ''His Brother's Wife'' is a 1936 American romantic drama film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor. Written by Leon Gordon and John Meehan, based on a story by George Auerbach, the film is about a scienti ...
'' (1936) * ''
The Devil Is a Sissy ''The Devil Is a Sissy'' is a 1936 American MGM comedy-drama film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and Rowland Brown. The film stars Freddie Bartholomew, Jackie Cooper and Mickey Rooney, three of the biggest child stars of the 1930s. The film pre ...
'' (1936) * '' Love on the Run'' (1936) * ''
After the Thin Man ''After the Thin Man'' is a 1936 American murder mystery comedy film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring William Powell, Myrna Loy and James Stewart. A sequel to the 1934 feature ''The Thin Man (film), The Thin Man'', the film presents Powel ...
'' (1936) * ''
They Gave Him a Gun ''They Gave Him a Gun'' is a 1937 American crime drama film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring Spencer Tracy, Gladys George and Franchot Tone. The picture bears a resemblance to later films noir, with its dark theme regarding the struggles ...
'' (1937) * ''
Personal Property Personal property is property that is movable. In common law systems, personal property may also be called chattels or personalty. In civil law (legal system), civil law systems, personal property is often called movable property or movables—a ...
'' (1937) * '' Rosalie'' (1937) * ''
Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette (; ; Maria Antonia Josefa Johanna; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was the last List of French royal consorts, queen of France before the French Revolution and the establishment of the French First Republic. She was the ...
'' (1938) * '' Sweethearts'' (1938) * '' Stand Up and Fight'' (1939) * '' It's a Wonderful World'' (1939) * ''
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever ''Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever'' is a 1939 American romantic comedy film directed by W. S. Van Dyke. The plot is about Andy Hardy having a crush on his high school drama teacher, Miss Rose Meredith. It is the seventh of sixteen Andy Hardy films s ...
'' (1939) * ''
Another Thin Man ''Another Thin Man'' is a 1939 American detective film directed by W. S. Van Dyke, the third of six in the ''Thin Man'' series. It again stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles and is based on Dashiell Hammett's Contin ...
'' (1939) * '' I Take This Woman'' (1940) * '' I Love You Again'' (1940) * '' Bitter Sweet'' (1940) * ''
New Moon In astronomy, the new moon is the first lunar phase, when the Moon and Sun have the same ecliptic longitude. At this phase, the lunar disk is not visible to the naked eye, except when it is silhouetted against the Sun during a solar eclipse. ...
'' (1940) (uncredited) * ''
Rage in Heaven ''Rage in Heaven'' is a 1941 American psychological thriller film noir about the destructive power of jealousy. It was directed by W.S. Van Dyke and based on the 1932 novel by James Hilton. It features Robert Montgomery, Ingrid Bergman, and Ge ...
'' (1941) * '' The Feminine Touch'' (1941) * ''
Shadow of the Thin Man ''Shadow of the Thin Man'' is a 1941 American murder mystery comedy film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles. It was produced and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as the fourth in the ser ...
'' (1941) * ''
Dr. Kildare's Victory ''Dr. Kildare's Victory'' is a 1942 film directed by W. S. Van Dyke. It stars Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore. It is the ninth and last of the MGM Dr. Kildare movie series. Plot Dr. Kildare is involved in a dispute between two competing hospit ...
'' (1942) * ''
I Married an Angel ''I Married an Angel'' is a 1938 musical comedy by Rodgers and Hart. It was adapted from a play by Hungarian playwright János Vaszary, entitled ''Angyalt Vettem Felesegul''. The book was by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, with music by Rodger ...
'' (1942) * ''
Cairo Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...
'' (1942) * ''
Journey for Margaret ''Journey for Margaret'' is a 1942 American drama film set in London in World War II. It stars Robert Young and Laraine Day as a couple who have to confront the loss of their unborn child due to a bombing raid. It is an adaptation of the book o ...
'' (1942)


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Van Dyke, W. S. 1889 births 1943 suicides 1943 deaths American Christian Scientists American people of Dutch descent Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Film directors from California Mass media people from San Diego American silent film directors Suicides in California American vaudeville performers American comedy film directors Western (genre) film directors