Raymond Griffith
Encyclopedia
Raymond Griffith was one of the great silent movie
comedians.
Griffith was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost his voice at an early age, causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse whisper. Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a child actor—others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause.
Although a few comedy films of his are considered classics he is almost totally forgotten today. His film debut was for the L-KO Kompany
. Many of his starring feature films have long since been lost, but probably the best known of his films today is Hands Up!
, a 1926 Civil War comedy feature directed by Clarence G. Badger
, and co-starring Mack Swain
, which was entered into the National Film Registry in 2005. Also considered a classic is Badger's Paths to Paradise, a caper film that is in all circulating prints missing its final reel. Like many silent comedians, he had a traditional costume; his was a top hat, white tie and tails, often augmented by a cape and/or walking stick.
The coming of sound ended Griffith's acting career, but he did have one memorable role in a motion picture before retiring from the screen, playing a French soldier killed by Lew Ayres
in the 1930 Lewis Milestone
film All Quiet on the Western Front. He then segued into a writing/producing career at Twentieth Century Fox.
Griffith choked to death at The Masquers Club in Los Angeles, California
, aged 62, on November 25, 1957.
Silent Movie
Silent Movie is a 1976 satirical comedy film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks, and released by 20th Century Fox on June 17, 1976...
comedians.
Griffith was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost his voice at an early age, causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse whisper. Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a child actor—others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause.
Although a few comedy films of his are considered classics he is almost totally forgotten today. His film debut was for the L-KO Kompany
L-KO Kompany
The L-KO Kompany, or L-KO Komedies, was an American motion picture company founded by Henry Lehrman that produced silent one-, two- and very occasionally three-reel comedy shorts between 1914 and 1919...
. Many of his starring feature films have long since been lost, but probably the best known of his films today is Hands Up!
Hands Up! (1926 film)
Hands Up! is a silent comedy film directed by Clarence Badger, co-written by Monte Brice and Lloyd Corrigan, and starring Raymond Griffith, one of the great silent movie comedians.-Plot:...
, a 1926 Civil War comedy feature directed by Clarence G. Badger
Clarence G. Badger
Clarence G. Badger was an American film director of feature films in the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s. His most noteworthy films include It, starring Clara Bow, more than a dozen features and shorts starring Will Rogers, and two features starring Raymond Griffith, Paths to Paradise and Hands...
, and co-starring Mack Swain
Mack Swain
Mack Swain was an American actor and vaudevillian, prolific throughout the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s.-Film career:...
, which was entered into the National Film Registry in 2005. Also considered a classic is Badger's Paths to Paradise, a caper film that is in all circulating prints missing its final reel. Like many silent comedians, he had a traditional costume; his was a top hat, white tie and tails, often augmented by a cape and/or walking stick.
The coming of sound ended Griffith's acting career, but he did have one memorable role in a motion picture before retiring from the screen, playing a French soldier killed by Lew Ayres
Lew Ayres
Lew Ayres was an American actor, best known for starring as Paul in All Quiet on the Western Front and for playing Dr...
in the 1930 Lewis Milestone
Lewis Milestone
Lewis Milestone was a Russian-American motion picture director. He is known for directing Two Arabian Knights and All Quiet on the Western Front , both of which received Academy Awards for Best Director...
film All Quiet on the Western Front. He then segued into a writing/producing career at Twentieth Century Fox.
Griffith choked to death at The Masquers Club in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, aged 62, on November 25, 1957.
Selected filmography
- White TigerWhite Tiger (film)White Tiger is a 1923 crime film directed by Tod Browning and featuring Wallace Beery in a supporting role.- Cast :* Priscilla Dean - Sylvia Donovan* Matt Moore - Dick Longworth* Raymond Griffith - Roy Donovan* Wallace Beery - Count Donelli / Hawkes...
(1923) - The Yankee ConsulThe Yankee Consul (film)The Yankee Consul is a 1924 American black-and-white silent comedy film directed by James W. Horne and written by Raymond Cannon. With a screen adaptation by Lewis Milestone and Raymond Griffith, the film is based upon the 1904 Broadway play The Yankee Consul; a Musical Comedy by Alfred G...
(1924) - Lily of the DustLily of the DustLily of the Dust is a 1924 silent drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. This movie is based on the novel Das Hohe Lied by Hermann Sudermann and it's spawn, the Broadway play The Song of Songs by Edward Sheldon. It is a remake of a previous silent film...
(1924) - Hands Up!Hands Up! (1926 film)Hands Up! is a silent comedy film directed by Clarence Badger, co-written by Monte Brice and Lloyd Corrigan, and starring Raymond Griffith, one of the great silent movie comedians.-Plot:...
(1926) - Trent's Last CaseTrent's Last Case (1929 film)Trent's Last Case is an American detective film directed by Howard Hawks, starring Raymond Griffith, Marceline Day, Raymond Hatton, and Donald Crisp, and released by Fox Film Corporation...
(1929) - All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)