George Loane Tucker

• Name — George Loane Tucker • Birth Name — George S. Loane • Born — 12 June 1872 • Birthplace — Chicago, Illinois, U.S. • Died — 20 June 1921 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Resting Place — Hollywood Forever Cemetery • Education — University of Chicago • Occupation — Film director, actor, producer, screenwriter, editor • Years Active — 1909–1921

Tucker was born George S. Loane in Chicago to George Loane and stage actress Ethel Tucker.[2][3] After graduating from the University of Chicago, he got a job as a railroad clerk. He was chief clerk for the Maintenance of Way. Tucker was later the youngest man to be promoted to Contracting Freight Agent. After his first wife died while giving birth to the couple's son, Tucker quit his job. On the advice of friends, he began acting in stage productions. By the mid-1910s, films were becoming a more popular draw for audiences which led Tucker to film acting and scenario writing. In 1911, he wrote a script for the short drama film Their First Misunderstanding. The film, which starred Mary Pickford, was a surprise hit. Over the course of his career, Tucker directed 69 films, 19 of which he also wrote. In 1913 he directed Traffic in Souls, which concerned the topic of white slavery. The film was an enormous hit (it made over a million dollars in profit) and remains an early influential example of realism in early cinema. Traffic in Souls served to establish Tucker as a respected director and writer.[4] Shortly after the film was released, he moved to England where he was hired as the Director-general for the London Film Company. It was there that Tucker met and married his second wife, British actress Elisabeth Risdon.[5] While living in England, Tucker directed and produced several films for London Film including The Manxman (1917). An adaptation of the 1894 novel of the same name, it was one of the few British films that was distributed in the United States and would go on to become a financial and critical success.[6] In late 1916, Tucker returned to the United States in where he was hired as the Director-general for Goldwyn Pictures. That year, he wrote and directed The Cinderella Man which became that year's most profitable film. The following year, Tucker wrote and directed another hit, Virtuous Wives, starring Anita Stewart. In 1919, Tucker wrote, produced and directed what became his most well known and financially successful film, The Miracle Man. The film featured Lon Chaney in a breakout role as a man who pretends to be handicapped. The Miracle Man was a critical and financial success (some critics called it "the greatest picture ever made")[7] and made the film's stars, Chaney and Thomas Meighan, established stars.[8] Shortly before his death, Tucker completed direction on the drama Ladies Must Live.[9] The film was released in October 1921, approximately four months after his death.[10]

On June 20, 1921, Tucker died after a year long illness at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 49.[11][12] He was survived by his wife, actress Elisabeth Risdon. Tucker is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.[13]

As actor: • Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1909 — The Awakening of Bess — The Heavy — Short film • 1911 — Pictureland — The Tourist — Short film • 1911 — Second Sight — Short film • 1911 — The Fair Dentist — Dental Patient — Alternative title: Mary's Patients Short film • 1911 — Uncle's Visit — Mr. Sperry — Short film • 1911 — The Piece of String — The Tourist — also director Short film • 1911 — In the Sultan's Garden — Short film • 1911 — For the Queen's Honor — Duke Arturo — Short film • 1911 — A Gasoline Engagement — Rev. John Maxwell — Short film • 1911 — Dorothy's Family — Dorothy's Second Suitor — Short film • 1912 — Does Your Wife Love You? — George — Credited as George Tucker Short film • 1912 — The Closed Bible — The Convict's Daughter's Husband — Credited as George Tucker Short film • 1912 — The Winning Punch — James Roth — Short film • 1912 — Next — Edward Robbins, Successful Suitor — Short film • 1912 — An Old Lady of Twenty — Credited as George Tucker Short film • 1913 — The Whole Truth — George Truthtell — also director Short film • 1913 — The Temptation of Jane — Harry Charlton — Short film • 1913 — Traffic in Souls — Wireless Operator — also director As director/producer/writer: • Year — Title — Credit — Notes • 1911 — Their First Misunderstanding — Director Writer — Short film • 1911 — Little Red Riding Hood — Director — Short film • 1911 — Over the Hills — Director — Short film • 1911 — The Portrait — Director Writer — Short film • 1911 — The Aggressor — Director — Short film • 1911 — Behind the Stockade — Director Writer — Short film • 1911 — The Brothers — Director • 1911 — The Dream — Director • 1911 — For Her Brother's Sake — Director • 1911 — The Piece of String — Director — also actor • 1911 — The Rose's Story — Director — Short film • 1911 — The Scarlet Letter — Director — Short film • 1911 — Dangerous Lines — Director — Short film • 1912 — The Old Folks' Christmas — Director Writer — Short film • 1912 — Prince Charming — Director Writer — Short film • 1913 — Traffic in Souls — Director Writer — also actor • 1913 — The Big Sister — Director — Short film • 1913 — His Hour of Triumph — Director — Short film • 1913 — Their Parents — Director — Short film • 1913 — The Whole Truth — Director — also actor Short film • 1913 — Just a Fire Fighter — Director — Short film • 1913 — The Count Retires — Director — Short film • 1913 — The Jealousy of Jane — Director — Short film • 1913 — A Possibility — Director — Short film • 1913 — The Yogi — Director — Short film • 1913 — In Peril of the Sea — Director — Short film • 1913 — Hidden Fires — Director — Short film • 1913 — Jane of Moth-Eaten Farm — Director — Short film • 1913 — The Temptation of Jane — Director — Short film • 1913 — Jane's Brother, the Paranoiac — Director — Short film • 1914 — The Third String — Director • 1914 — The Revenge of Mr. Thomas Atkins — Director — Short film • 1914 — The Dawn of Romance — Director — Short film • 1914 — She Stoops to Conquer — Director — Short film • 1914 — The Cage — Director — Short film • 1914 — The Black Spot — Director — Short film • 1914 — A Bachelor's Love Story — Director — Short film • 1914 — The Difficult Way — Director — Short film • 1914 — England Expects — Director Writer — Short film • 1914 — 0-18 or A Message from the Sky — Director • 1914 — Called Back — Director • 1914 — The Fringe of War — Director • 1915 — His Lordship — Director • 1915 — Her Uncle — Director • 1915 — The Prisoner of Zenda — Director • 1915 — The Sons of Satan — Director • 1915 — The Christian — Director • 1915 — 1914 — Director • 1915 — The Middleman — Director • 1915 — Rupert of Hentzau — Director • 1915 — The Folly of Desire — Director • 1915 — A Man of His Word — Director Writer • 1916 — The Game of Liberty — Director — Alternative title: Under Suspicion • 1916 — Arsène Lupin — Director • 1916 — The Manxman — Director — Lost film[14] • 1916 — The Heel of the Law — Director • 1916 — Homeless — Director — Short film • 1916 — A Story from Life — Director • 1916 — Mixed Relations — Director Writer — Short film • 1916 — An Odd Freak — Director Writer — Short film • 1916 — The Hypocrites — Director • 1916 — I Believe — Director Writer • 1917 — The Mother of Dartmoor — Director • 1917 — The Cinderella Man — Director Writer • 1918 — Dodging a Million — Director Writer • 1918 — Joan of Plattsburg — Director Writer • 1918 — Virtuous Wives — Director Writer • 1918 — The Beloved Traitor — Writer Editor • 1919 — The Miracle Man — Director Writer Producer • 1921 — Ladies Must Live — Director Writer