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Ralph Graves

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Ralph Graves
Graves in 1924
Born
Ralph Horsburgh

(1900-01-23)January 23, 1900
DiedFebruary 18, 1977(1977-02-18) (aged 77)
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • film director
  • actor
Years active1918–1949

Ralph Graves (born Ralph Horsburgh; January 23, 1900 – February 18, 1977) was an American screenwriter, film director and actor who appeared in more than 90 films between 1918 and 1949.[1]

Biography

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Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Graves had already been cast in 46 films, half of them produced by Mack Sennett, before he wrote, directed, and starred in Swell Hogan in 1926.[citation needed] That film was produced by Howard Hughes, whose father had once supported the young actor in the early stages of his career by placing him on the payroll of the Hughes Tool Company between screen assignments, even though Graves never actually worked there.[citation needed]

Photoplay, September 1921

Graves and the younger Hughes met on the Wilshire Country Club golf course, and over lunch the actor pitched a film about a Bowery bum who adopts a baby. The plot intrigued Hughes, who had a strong interest in Hollywood, and he invested $40,000 in the project. During filming he sat on the sidelines in order to familiarize himself with the technical aspects of production. The budget eventually doubled, and after seeing the completed film numerous times, Hughes hired Dorothy Arzner to help him re-edit it, but there was little they could do to salvage it.[citation needed]

When asked his opinion of it, Hughes' uncle, novelist and film director Rupert Hughes, said, "It's nothing. No plot. No build up. No character development. The acting stinks. Destroy the film. If anybody sees it, you and that homo Graves will be the laughing stock of Hollywood."[citation needed] Hughes took his uncle's advice and ordered the screening room projectionist to burn the sole copy. Graves later claimed he and Hughes had engaged in a sexual relationship while collaborating on Swell Hogan.[2][3]

Despite this temporary setback, Graves directed four more films in 1927 and contributed the story or wrote the screenplay for 12 additional films, but most of his career was spent acting. While working for Sennett, Graves met director Frank Capra, who later cast him in several films, which include the 1929 release Flight, based on a story by Graves, as well as a series of adventure films with fellow actor Jack Holt.[citation needed]

Graves became engaged to actress Ann May after meeting her at the studio of D.W. Griffith.[4]

Graves retired from films in 1949.[citation needed] He died in Santa Barbara, California, aged 77.

Selected filmography

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Year Film Role Director Notes
1918 Men Who Have Made Love to Me The Callow Youth Arthur Berthelet
1918 Tinsel Bobby Woodward Oscar Apfel
1918 The Sporting Life John, Earl of Woodstock Maurice Tourneur
1918 The Yellow Dog Tom Blakely Colin Campbell
1919 The Scarlet Shadow Van Presby Robert Z. Leonard
1919 What Am I Bid? Ralph McGibbon
1919 The White Heather Alec McClintock Maurice Tourneur
1919 The Home Town Girl John Stanley Robert G. Vignola
1919 I'll Get Him Yet Harold Packard Elmer Clifton
Leigh R. Smith (assistant)
1919 Nobody Home Malcolm Dale Elmer Clifton
1919 Her Kingdom of Dreams Billy Dayne Marshall Neilan
1919 Scarlet Days John Randolph aka Sir Whiteheart D. W. Griffith
1919 The Greatest Question John Hilton Jr. D. W. Griffith
1920 Mary Ellen Comes to Town Bob Fairacres Elmer Clifton
1920 Little Miss Rebellion Sgt. Richard Ellis George Fawcett
1920 Polly With a Past Rex Van Zile Leander de Cordova
1921 Dream Street James 'Spike' McFadden D. W. Griffith
1922 Kindred of the Dust Donald McKaye Raoul Walsh
1922 Come on Over Shane O'Mealia Alfred E. Green
1922 The Long Chance Bob McGraw Jack Conway
1922 The Jilt Sandy Sanderson Irving Cummings
1923 Mind Over Motor Jasper McCutcheon Ward Lascelle
1923 The Ghost Patrol Terry Rafferty [2]
1923 Just Like a Woman James Landon Hugh McClung
1923 Prodigal Daughters Roger Corbin Sam Wood
1923 The Extra Girl Dave Giddings F. Richard Jones
1924 Off His Trolley The Boy
1924 Daughters of Today Ralph Adams Rollin S. Sturgeon
1924 Yolanda Maximillian of Styria Robert G. Vignola
1926 Womanpower Johnny White Bromley Harry Beaumont
1926 Blarney James Carabine Marcel De Sano
1926 The Country Beyond Roger McKay Irving Cummings
1926 Swell Hogan
1927 The Kid Sister Ralph Graves
1927 Rich Men's Sons Arnold Treadway Ralph Graves
1927 Alias the Deacon Jim Adams Edward Sloman
1927 The Swell-Head Lefty Malone Ralph Graves
1927 A Reno Divorce David Ralph Graves
1928 That Certain Thing Andy B. Charles, Jr. Frank Capra
1928 The Cheer Leader Jimmy Grant Alan James
1928 Bachelor's Paradise Joe Wallace George Archainbaud
1928 Submarine Bob Mason Frank Capra
1928 Bitter Sweets Ralph Horton Charles Hutchison
1928 The Sideshow Gentleman Ted Rogers Erle C. Kenton
1929 The Flying Fleet Steve Randall George W. Hill
1929 The Fatal Warning Russell Thorne Richard Thorpe
1929 The Eternal Woman Hartley Forbes John P. McCarthy
1929 Glad Rag Doll John Fairchild Michael Curtiz
1929 The College Coquette George Archainbaud
1929 Flight 'Lefty' Phelps Frank Capra
1929 Song of Love Tom Gibson Erle C. Kenton
1930 Ladies of Leisure Jerry Strong Frank Capra
1930 Vengeance Archie Mayo
1930 Sisters James Flood
1930 Hell's Island Griff Edward Sloman
1931 Dirigible 'Frisky' Pierce Frank Capra
1931 Hell Divers George W. Hill (uncredited)
1931 Salvation Nell Jim Platt James Cruze
1931 A Dangerous Affair Wally Cook Edward Sedgwick
1931 West of Broadway Harry Beaumont
1932 When a Feller Needs a Friend Mr. Tom Randall Harry A. Pollard
1932 Huddle Coach Malcolm Gale Sam Wood
1932 Scandal for Sale Russell Mack
1932 War Correspondent Franklyn Bennett Paul Sloane
1934 Ticket to a Crime Clay Holt Lewis D. Collins
1934 Born to Be Bad Lowell Sherman
1935 Speed Limited Jerry Paley Albert Herman
1936 The Black Coin Walter Prescott
1937 Outlaws of the Orient Ernest B. Schoedsack
1939 The Flying Irishman First Man Grounding Doug in New York (uncredited) Leigh Jason
1939 Street of Missing Men Mike Reardon Sidney Salkow
1939 Three Texas Steers George Ward George Sherman
1939 Eternally Yours Mr. Morrisey Charles Kerr (assistant)
1944 Double Exposure William Berke
1947 The Spirit of West Point Burt (uncredited) Ralph Murphy
1949 Amazon Quest Anna's Attorney Steve Sekely
1949 Batman and Robin Winslow Harrison [Chs. 7–8] Spencer Gordon Bennet
1949 Alimony George W. Griswold / Curtis P. Carter Alfred Zeisler
1949 Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch Dr. Colman

References

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  1. ^ "Ralph Graves". Silent Hollywood. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  2. ^ Porter, Darwin (2005). Howard Hughes: Hell's Angel. Blood Moon Productions, Ltd. pp. 224–225. ISBN 0-9748118-1-5.
  3. ^ Hack, Richard (2002). Hughes: The Private Diaries, Memos and Letters. Phoenix Books, Inc. pp. 60–61. ISBN 1-59777-549-5.
  4. ^ "Flashes". Los Angeles Times. November 15, 1919. p. II9.
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