William Berke: Difference between revisions
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'''William A. Berke''' ( |
'''William A. Berke''' (October 3, 1903 in [[Milwaukee]], Wisconsin – February 15, 1958 in [[Los Angeles]], California) was an American film director, film producer, actor and screenwriter.<ref name="NY Times">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/617871/William-Berke/biography |title=William Berke |access-date=September 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929073838/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/617871/William-Berke/biography |archive-date=September 29, 2015 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He wrote, directed, and/or produced some 200 films over a three-decade career. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Berke broke into motion pictures in 1922 as a writer for silent westerns. For these assignments he used the pseudonym |
Berke broke into motion pictures in 1922 as a writer for silent westerns. For these assignments, he used the pseudonym William Lester. In the early 1930s, he formed a partnership with independent producer [[Bernard B. Ray]] to make feature films at Ray's Reliable Pictures studio, next door to [[Columbia Pictures]]. Berke, now using his own name for screen credits, was equally capable in making comedies, mysteries, action adventures, and westerns. In 1942, he joined Columbia, initially directing that studio's westerns with [[Charles Starrett]] and [[Russell Hayden]], and then branching into more mainstream fare. In 1944, he moved to [[RKO Radio Pictures]], handling a variety of movies, including detective fiction ([[Dick Tracy]], [[The Falcon (fictional detective)|The Falcon]]), musical comedies, and [[Zane Grey]] westerns. |
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His RKO colleague [[Richard Fleischer]] later recalled that William Berke "was known as King of the B's. For years and years he had made nothing but pictures with |
His RKO colleague [[Richard Fleischer]] later recalled that William Berke "was known as King of the B's. For years and years he had made nothing but pictures with 10- or 12-day shooting schedules, minuscule budgets of about $100,000, and no stars. Without bothering with editing or any postproduction chores and with short shooting schedules, he was able to squeeze in eight or ten pictures a year. And he was going nuts."<ref name="richard">{{cite book |first=Richard |last=Fleischer |author-link=Richard Fleischer |title=Just Tell Me When to Cry: A Memoir |year=1993 |publisher=Carroll and Graf |page=47 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_tm3QgAACAAJ |isbn=9780881849448}}</ref> According to Fleischer, Berke eventually pestered [[RKO Pictures|RKO]] executives enough to be assigned an A picture with a long shooting schedule and stars, and he still shot it in twelve days.<ref name="richard"/> |
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William Berke also worked independently for the [[Pine-Thomas]] unit at Paramount, and then for producer [[Robert L. Lippert]]. Like many seasoned directors, Berke moved into television in the 1950s. He directed the 1954 comedy series ''[[Life with Elizabeth]]'', starring [[Betty White]]. |
William Berke also worked independently for the [[Pine-Thomas]] unit at Paramount, and then for producer [[Robert L. Lippert]]. Like many seasoned directors, Berke moved into television in the 1950s. He directed the 1954 comedy series ''[[Life with Elizabeth]]'', starring [[Betty White]]. |
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Berke died in harness, suffering a heart attack on the set of |
Berke died in harness, suffering a heart attack on the set of ''The Lost Missile'' (1958); the film was completed by his son, Lester William Berke. |
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==Partial filmography== |
==Partial filmography== |
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* ''[[The Forbidden Trail]]'' (1923) |
* ''[[The Forbidden Trail]]'' (1923) |
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* ''[[Gallopin' Through]]'' (1923) |
* ''[[Gallopin' Through]]'' (1923) |
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* ''[[The Love Pirate]]'' (1923) |
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* ''[[Wolf Tracks (1923 film)|Wolf Tracks]]'' (1923) |
* ''[[Wolf Tracks (1923 film)|Wolf Tracks]]'' (1923) |
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* ''[[Gentle Julia (1923 film)|Gentle Julia]]'' (1923) (actor) |
* ''[[Gentle Julia (1923 film)|Gentle Julia]]'' (1923) (actor) |
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* ''[[The Back Trail]]'' (1924) |
* ''[[The Back Trail]]'' (1924) |
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* ''[[Trigger Fingers (1924 film)|Trigger Fingers]]'' (1924) |
* ''[[Trigger Fingers (1924 film)|Trigger Fingers]]'' (1924) |
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* ''[[Pioneer's Gold]]'' (1924) |
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* ''[[The Hellion (1924 film)|The Hellion]]'' (1924) (actor) |
* ''[[The Hellion (1924 film)|The Hellion]]'' (1924) (actor) |
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* ''[[The Terror of Pueblo]]'' (1924) (actor) |
* ''[[The Terror of Pueblo]]'' (1924) (actor) |
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* ''[[Galloping Vengeance]]'' (1925) (writer) |
* ''[[Galloping Vengeance]]'' (1925) (writer) |
||
* ''[[Riding Romance]]'' (1925) (writer) |
* ''[[Riding Romance]]'' (1925) (writer) |
||
* ''[[Barriers of the Law]]'' (1925) (writer) |
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* ''[[Unseen Enemies]]'' (1926) (writer) |
* ''[[Unseen Enemies]]'' (1926) (writer) |
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*''[[The Broncho Buster (1927 film)|The Broncho Buster]]'' (1927) (writer) |
*''[[The Broncho Buster (1927 film)|The Broncho Buster]]'' (1927) (writer) |
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* ''[[The Golden Stallion (1927 film)|The Golden Stallion]]'' (1927) (story by) |
* ''[[The Golden Stallion (1927 film)|The Golden Stallion]]'' (1927) (story by) |
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* ''[[Straight Shootin']]'' (1927) (story by) |
* ''[[Straight Shootin']]'' (1927) (story by) |
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* ''[[The Price of Fear (1928 film)|The Price of Fear]]'' (1928) |
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* ''[[The Flaming Signal]]'' (1933) (producer) |
* ''[[The Flaming Signal]]'' (1933) (producer) |
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* ''[[The Woman Who Dared (1933 film)|The Woman Who Dared]]'' (1933) ( |
* ''[[The Woman Who Dared (1933 film)|The Woman Who Dared]]'' (1933) (producer) |
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* ''[[Social Error]]'' (1935) (producer) |
* ''[[Social Error]]'' (1935) (producer) |
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* ''[[Adventurous Knights]]'' (1935) (producer) |
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* ''[[Rustler's Paradise]]'' (1935) (producer) |
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* ''[[Wagon Trail (film)|Wagon Trail]]'' (1935) (producer) |
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* ''[[Aces Wild]]'' (1936) (producer) |
* ''[[Aces Wild]]'' (1936) (producer) |
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* ''[[Confessions of Boston Blackie]]'' (1941) (producer) |
* ''[[Confessions of Boston Blackie]]'' (1941) (producer) |
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* ''[[The Lone Prairie]]'' (1942) (director) |
* ''[[The Lone Prairie]]'' (1942) (director) |
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* ''[[Law of the Northwest]]'' (1943) (director) |
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* ''[[Frontier Fury (1943 film)|Frontier Fury]]'' (1943) (director) |
* ''[[Frontier Fury (1943 film)|Frontier Fury]]'' (1943) (director) |
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* ''[[Tornado (film)|Tornado]]'' (1943) (director) |
* ''[[Tornado (1943 film)|Tornado]]'' (1943) (director) |
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* ''[[The Fighting Buckaroo]]'' (1943) (director) |
* ''[[The Fighting Buckaroo]]'' (1943) (director) |
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* ''[[Minesweeper (film)|Minesweeper]]'' (1943) (director) |
* ''[[Minesweeper (film)|Minesweeper]]'' (1943) (director) |
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* ''[[Riding West]]'' (1944) (director) |
* ''[[Riding West]]'' (1944) (director) |
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* ''[[Sailor's Holiday (1944 film)|Sailor's Holiday]]'' (1944) (director) |
* ''[[Sailor's Holiday (1944 film)|Sailor's Holiday]]'' (1944) (director) |
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* ''[[Dark Mountain (film)|Dark Mountain]]'' (1944) (Director) |
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* ''[[Betrayal from the East]]'' (1945) (director) |
* ''[[Betrayal from the East]]'' (1945) (director) |
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* ''[[High Powered]]'' (1945) (director) |
* ''[[High Powered]]'' (1945) (director) |
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* ''[[On the Isle of Samoa]]'' (1950) (director) |
* ''[[On the Isle of Samoa]]'' (1950) (director) |
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* ''[[The Bandit Queen (film)|The Bandit Queen]]'' (1950) (director and producer) |
* ''[[The Bandit Queen (film)|The Bandit Queen]]'' (1950) (director and producer) |
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*''[[I Shot Billy the Kid]]'' (1950) (director) |
* ''[[I Shot Billy the Kid]]'' (1950) (director) |
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* ''[[ |
* ''[[Roaring City]]'' (1951) (director) |
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* ''[[FBI Girl]]'' (1951) (director and producer) |
* ''[[FBI Girl]]'' (1951) (director and producer) |
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* ''[[Kaadu (1952 film)|Kaadu (The Jungle)]]'' (1952) (director and producer) |
* ''[[Kaadu (1952 film)|Kaadu (The Jungle)]]'' (1952) (director and producer) |
Latest revision as of 21:15, 16 March 2024
William Berke | |
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Born | Milwaukee, United States | October 3, 1903
Died | February 15, 1958 Los Angeles, United States | (aged 54)
Occupation(s) | Film director, film producer, actor, screenwriter |
Years active | 1922–1958 |
William A. Berke (October 3, 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – February 15, 1958 in Los Angeles, California) was an American film director, film producer, actor and screenwriter.[1] He wrote, directed, and/or produced some 200 films over a three-decade career.
Biography[edit]
Berke broke into motion pictures in 1922 as a writer for silent westerns. For these assignments, he used the pseudonym William Lester. In the early 1930s, he formed a partnership with independent producer Bernard B. Ray to make feature films at Ray's Reliable Pictures studio, next door to Columbia Pictures. Berke, now using his own name for screen credits, was equally capable in making comedies, mysteries, action adventures, and westerns. In 1942, he joined Columbia, initially directing that studio's westerns with Charles Starrett and Russell Hayden, and then branching into more mainstream fare. In 1944, he moved to RKO Radio Pictures, handling a variety of movies, including detective fiction (Dick Tracy, The Falcon), musical comedies, and Zane Grey westerns.
His RKO colleague Richard Fleischer later recalled that William Berke "was known as King of the B's. For years and years he had made nothing but pictures with 10- or 12-day shooting schedules, minuscule budgets of about $100,000, and no stars. Without bothering with editing or any postproduction chores and with short shooting schedules, he was able to squeeze in eight or ten pictures a year. And he was going nuts."[2] According to Fleischer, Berke eventually pestered RKO executives enough to be assigned an A picture with a long shooting schedule and stars, and he still shot it in twelve days.[2]
William Berke also worked independently for the Pine-Thomas unit at Paramount, and then for producer Robert L. Lippert. Like many seasoned directors, Berke moved into television in the 1950s. He directed the 1954 comedy series Life with Elizabeth, starring Betty White.
Berke died in harness, suffering a heart attack on the set of The Lost Missile (1958); the film was completed by his son, Lester William Berke.
Partial filmography[edit]
- The Double O (1921)
- The Firebrand (1922)
- The Crow's Nest (1922)
- Barb Wire (1922)
- Back Fire (1922)
- The Forbidden Trail (1923)
- Gallopin' Through (1923)
- The Love Pirate (1923)
- Wolf Tracks (1923)
- Gentle Julia (1923) (actor)
- Flashing Spurs (1924)
- The Back Trail (1924)
- Trigger Fingers (1924)
- Pioneer's Gold (1924)
- The Hellion (1924) (actor)
- The Terror of Pueblo (1924) (actor)
- Galloping Vengeance (1925) (writer)
- Riding Romance (1925) (writer)
- Barriers of the Law (1925) (writer)
- Unseen Enemies (1926) (writer)
- The Broncho Buster (1927) (writer)
- Hard Fists (1927) (writer)
- Rough and Ready (1927) (writer)
- Desert Dust (1927) (writer)
- The Fighting Three (1927) (writer)
- The Golden Stallion (1927) (story by)
- Straight Shootin' (1927) (story by)
- The Price of Fear (1928)
- The Flaming Signal (1933) (producer)
- The Woman Who Dared (1933) (producer)
- Social Error (1935) (producer)
- Adventurous Knights (1935) (producer)
- Rustler's Paradise (1935) (producer)
- Wagon Trail (1935) (producer)
- Aces Wild (1936) (producer)
- Confessions of Boston Blackie (1941) (producer)
- The Lone Prairie (1942) (director)
- Law of the Northwest (1943) (director)
- Frontier Fury (1943) (director)
- Tornado (1943) (director)
- The Fighting Buckaroo (1943) (director)
- Minesweeper (1943) (director)
- Hail to the Rangers (1943) (director)
- Dangerous Passage (1944) (director)
- Riding West (1944) (director)
- Sailor's Holiday (1944) (director)
- Dark Mountain (1944) (Director)
- Betrayal from the East (1945) (director)
- High Powered (1945) (director)
- Dick Tracy (1945) (director)
- The Falcon's Alibi (1946) (producer)
- Sunset Pass (1946) (producer)
- Shoot to Kill (1947) (director and producer)
- Jungle Jim (1949)
- Treasure of Monte Cristo (1949) (director)
- On the Isle of Samoa (1950) (director)
- The Bandit Queen (1950) (director and producer)
- I Shot Billy the Kid (1950) (director)
- Roaring City (1951) (director)
- FBI Girl (1951) (director and producer)
- Kaadu (The Jungle) (1952) (director and producer)
- Four Boys and a Gun (1957)
- Street of Sinners (1957)
- Island Women (1958)
- Cop Hater (1958) (director and producer)
- The Mugger (1958) (director and producer)
References[edit]
- ^ "William Berke". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2015. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
- ^ a b Fleischer, Richard (1993). Just Tell Me When to Cry: A Memoir. Carroll and Graf. p. 47. ISBN 9780881849448.
External links[edit]
- 1903 births
- 1958 deaths
- Film directors from Wisconsin
- American male screenwriters
- Male actors from Milwaukee
- American male film actors
- American male silent film actors
- Screenwriters from Wisconsin
- Film producers from Wisconsin
- 20th-century American male writers
- 20th-century American screenwriters
- 20th-century American male actors
- 20th-century American businesspeople