James Anderson (filmmaker)

James Anderson (November 6, 1902 – November 26, 1960) was an American assistant director during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. In his twenty-five year career, Anderson worked on almost 75 pictures. He is sometimes confused with James K. Anderson, the actor, because their careers overlapped. He was also known as James A. Anderson or James H. Anderson.

James Anderson
Born(1902-11-06)November 6, 1902
Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
DiedNovember 26, 1960(1960-11-26) (aged 58)
Los Angeles, California, United States
OccupationAssistant director
Years active1930-1954

Anderson began his career in film as an actor with a featured role in the silent era, in 1925's The Freshman, starring Harold Lloyd. After appearing in several silent films, with the advent of sound he moved behind the camera, where he was a perennial assistant director. He would spend almost his entire career with RKO Radio Pictures, from their inception in 1929 through 1949.[1]

As an assistant director he would work with such famous directors as George Archainbaud, William A. Wellman, Walter Lang, Garson Kanin, Dorothy Arzner, Leo McCarey, and Ida Lupino. Late in his career he would also work as a unit or production manager on several films, including the classic Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House in 1948.[1] His final film credit would be on the small screen, as the assistant director and production manager for the 1957 episode "The Mothers", on Lupino's television series, Mr. Adams & Eve.[2] Anderson died on November 26, 1960, in Los Angeles, California.

Filmography

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(as per AFI's database)[1]

Year Title Role Notes
1925 The Freshman Actor - "Chester A. 'Chet' Trask"
1926 The College Boob Actor - "Horatio Winston, Jr."
1926 Flying High Actor - "Carson"
1927 Butterflies in the Rain Actor - "Dennis Carteret"
1928 Fleetwing Actor - "Mansoni"
1930 The Runaway Bride Assistant director
1931 The Sin Ship Assistant director
1931 The Public Defender Assistant director
1931 Secret Service Assistant director
1931 Young Donovan's Kid Assistant director
1932 The Lost Squadron Assistant director
1932 The Conquerors Assistant director
1932 Hell's Highway Assistant director
1932 Is My Face Red? Assistant director
1932 The Roadhouse Murder Assistant director
1933 Chance at Heaven Assistant director
1933 No Other Woman Assistant director
1933 No Marriage Ties Assistant director
1934 Man of Two Worlds Assistant director
1935 Hooray for Love Assistant director
1935 A Dog of Flanders Assistant director
1935 Star of Midnight Assistant director
1935 In Person Assistant director
1936 Yellow Dust Assistant director
1936 Mummy's Boys Assistant director
1936 The Last Outlaw Assistant director
1936 Special Investigator Assistant director
1937 We Who Are About to Die Assistant director
1937 Criminal Lawyer Assistant director
1937 New Faces of 1937 Assistant director
1937 Stage Door Assistant director
1938 Having Wonderful Time Assistant director
1938 Tarnished Angel Assistant director
1938 Mother Carey's Chickens Assistant director
1938 Room Service Assistant director
1939 Nurse Edith Cavell Assistant director
1939 Love Affair Assistant director
1939 Fixer Dugan Assistant director
1939 Reno Assistant director
1939 Three Sons Assistant director
1939 The Girl and the Gambler Assistant director
1940 Mexican Spitfire Assistant director
1940 My Favorite Wife Assistant director
1940 Dance, Girl, Dance Assistant director
1941 A Girl, a Guy and a Gob Assistant director
1942 Once Upon a Honeymoon Assistant director
1942 Highways by Night Assistant director
1942 Joan of Paris Assistant director
1942 My Favorite Spy Assistant director
1946 Crack-Up Assistant director
1946 Dick Tracy vs. Cueball Assistant director
1946 The Falcon's Alibi Assistant director
1946 Lady Luck Assistant director
1946 Nocturne Assistant director
1947 Trail Street Assistant director
1947 Out of the Past Unit manager
1948 Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House Unit manager
1949 Adventure in Baltimore Assistant director
1949 They Live by Night Production manager
1950 Borderline Assistant director
1950 Never Fear Assistant director
1950 Outrage Assistant director
1951 Hard, Fast and Beautiful Assistant director
1951 On the Loose Assistant director
1953 The Bigamist Production manager
1953 The Hitch-Hiker Assistant to producer
1953 Main Street to Broadway Assistant director
1954 Private Hell 36 Assistant director, production manager
1955 Mad at the World Associate producer
1956 Huk! Production manager

References

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  1. ^ a b c "James Anderson". American Film Institute. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  2. ^ "Mr. Adams & Eve, "The Mothers": Full Cast and Crew". Internet Movie Database. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
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