William Beaudine Biography

Fast Facts

• Though he was an atheist, he directed nearly a dozen evangelical films for the Protestant Film Commission
• After dying of uremic poisoning, he was interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
• Directed his first picture, "Almost a King," in 1915 and continued to exclusively direct shorts until 1922 when he transitioned to making features
• Worked as a prop boy for silent movie director D․W․ Griffith
• His television work included directing approximately 70 episodes of "Lassie․"
• Would make films quickly, sometimes in only 5 days, and was known for oftentimes shooting only one take, even if actors flubbed their lines or special effects malfunctioned, though this was usually by necessity in low budget work
• A prolific director who worked in many genres, he started his career working for Biography studio, but later worked for Paramount, Warner Bros․, Allied Artists, 20th Century Fox, Columbia, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Walt Disney
• During his time working at the Poverty Row studios, he mastered the technique of editing in the camera, shooting only what he knew was necessary instead of shooting full coverage of scenes
• In 1966 when his last two feature films were released, he was the oldest working director in the film industry
• Befriended director James Flood while the two were growing up in the same New York City neighborhood, and their wives were sisters