DIRECTORS

FRED L. GUIOL

     Born in 1898, Guiol began his career as prop man on Mack Sennett comedies, started working for Roach in 1919. Directed most of the early, pre-team Laurel and Hardy films, then relinquished his chair to others once they became an official team. Worked with director George Stevens over the years, and served as Stevens' assistant on the classic Western SHANE in 1953. Also worked extensively throughout Hollywood as a writer and cameraman. Died 1964.

CLYDE BRUCKMAN

     Directed five classic Laurel and Hardy silents in 1927, was one of Keaton's main collaborators (he co-directed THE GENERAL), and later worked with Harold Lloyd and W.C. Fields. A one-time brilliant gagman who seemed to have run out of inspiration as the years passed. Most of Bruckman's later efforts recycle gags he helped create in the late 20's and early 30's. Beset with personal problems, Bruckman borrowed a gun from Keaton and used it to commit suicide in 1955 at the age of 60.

JAMES W. HORNE
b. December 14, 1881; d. June 29, 1942

     Horne served the longest tenure of L&H's directors, from 1928 to 1937. After trying his hand at acting and stage directing, he began his film career at Kalem Studios in 1911. He began his career directing serials, something he was to return to in his later years with even greater success. After directing Buster Keaton in his classic feature COLLEGE (1926), he signed with Hal Roach in 1928 where he became one of the studio's workhorses. Many of the best Todd-Kelly, Our Gang, Charlie Chase and L&H films were under Horne's direction. While it has been said that no director left any sort of personal imprint on any L&H film (Stan being the true guiding hand), Horne had an unusually high batting average among his counterparts. All-time classics such as Liberty, Big Business, Laughing Gravy, Our Wife, THE BOHEMIAN GIRL and WAY OUT WEST are among his credits. Returning to serials upon leaving Roach in 1937, he was responsible for such Saturday morning cliffhangers as The Shadow, Terry and the Pirates, The Iron Claw and Captain Midnight.

GEORGE MARSHALL
b. December 29, 1891; d. February 17, 1975

      Along with McCarey and Stevens, Marshall went on to a prestigious Hollywood directing career after serving an apprenticeship with Laurel and Hardy. Beginning his career as an extra at Universal in 1912, he later directed numerous action and comedy short subjects for Fox and Pathe throughout the 1920's. Directed Towed in a Hole, regarded by many as among the finest L&H sound shorts, as well as Their First Mistake and the feature PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES. In the latter two films, he also gave fine performances as a supporting player. Though a man of versatile talents, he was probably most successful with comedy and worked with the likes of W.C. Fields, Bob Hope and Martin and Lewis. His best-known films include YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN, DESTRY RIDES AGAIN, MURDER HE SAYS, THE BLUE DAHLIA, MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE, MY FRIEND IRMA and FANCY PANTS.

LEO McCAREY

     One of Hollywood's legendary directors, and the man most often credited with the inspired notion of making Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy a permanent comedy team. Began working for Roach in 1924, and wound up supervising virtually all of the studio's comedies from 1927 to early 1929. Collaborated on several L&H scripts, and directed the Boys in three of their classic silents. Went on to direct the Marx Brothers in their classic DUCK SOUP in 1933, as well as Burns and Allen and W.C. Fields in SIX OF A KIND (1934) and Harold Lloyd in THE MILKY WAY (1936). McCarey twice won the Academy Award for Best Director for THE AWFUL TRUTH and GOING MY WAY, and directed the popular sequel to GOING MY WAY, THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S. Despite his impressive record of accomplishment, he found in later years that interviewers were most interested in his days with Laurel and Hardy. Died of emphysema at the age of 70 in 1969.

JAMES PARROTT

     Parrott was the younger brother of Charlie Chase, and directed Chase in several films. Directed the majority of Laurel and Hardy films during the years 1928 - 1933, and also served in that capacity for numerous Roach-produced films. One of Stan Laurel's main collaborators, Parrott died at the early age of 42 in 1939. The official cause of death was listed as a heart attack, but it was strongly rumored that Parrott's addictions to heroin and alcohol played their part in his demise.

WILLIAM A. SEITER
b. June 10, 1892; d. (?), 1964

     As a director, Seiter was a prolific and skilled craftsman who turned out enjoyable, if insignificant, feature films from the silent era through the mid-1950's. He broke into films as a performer (he was one of the original Keystone Cops) but soon graduated to directing and screenwriting. Seiter directed Laurel and Hardy only once, but that effort, SONS OF THE DESERT, is widely regarded as the finest of their feature films. Also worked with The Marx Brothers on their most uncharacteristic film, ROOM SERVICE, in 1938. His best-known works include GIRL CRAZY, ROBERTA, DIMPLES, YOU WERE NEVER LOVLIER, and ONE TOUCH OF VENUS.

MALCOLM ST. CLAIR
b. May 17, 1897; d. June 1, 1952

     Pehaps best known as Buster Keaton's directorial collaborator on The Goat and The Blacksmith, Mal St. Clair worked in movies from 1919 to 1948. 20th Century Fox thought that this silent comedy veteran would work well with Laurel and Hardy and assigned him to direct four of the Boys' later films: JITTERBUGS, THE DANCING MASTERS, THE BIG NOISE and THE BULLFIGHTERS. By all accounts, he and the Boys enjoyed working with each other, and it may be significant that, slight as they are, JITTERBUGS and THE BULLFIGHTERS are usually cited by fans as the best of the Boys' last features.