Motion Picture Director, Producer. Born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, he was a journalist before entering films in 1915 as a screenwriter and gagman for Mack Sennett. Two years later, he began directing two-reel comedies starring Billy Bevan and Harry Langdon, among others, and moved up to features in the mid-1920s. A versatile, efficient craftsman, Del Ruth adapted easily to the demands of the different Hollywood studios that employed him. At Warner Bros. in the early 1930s he turned out gritty, fast-paced films on topical subjects; later at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and 20th Century-Fox, he directed glossy, escapist musicals. Overall, his work is entertaining but routine, and he ended his career making Poverty Row quickies. Perhaps from a historical standpoint, his most interesting film is "The Maltese Falcon" (1931), the first screen adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's novel, which served as the basis for the classic 1941 remake starring Humphrey Bogart. Del Ruth's 106 other credits include "Gold Diggers of Broadway" (1929), "Divorce Among Friends" (1930), "Blonde Crazy" (1931), "Taxi!" (1932), "Beauty and the Boss" (1932), "The Little Giant" (1933), "Lady Killer" (1933), "Kid Millions" (1934), "Broadway Melody of 1936" (1935), "Born to Dance" (1936), "Broadway Melody of 1938" (1937), "Topper Returns" (1940), "Du Barry Was a Lady" (1943), "The Babe Ruth Story" (1948), "Stop You're Killing Me" (1953), "Phantom of the Rue Morgue" (1954), and "Why Must I Die?" (1960). He was the younger brother of writer-director Hampton Del Ruth and husband of singer-actress Winnie Lightner.
Motion Picture Director, Producer. Born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, he was a journalist before entering films in 1915 as a screenwriter and gagman for Mack Sennett. Two years later, he began directing two-reel comedies starring Billy Bevan and Harry Langdon, among others, and moved up to features in the mid-1920s. A versatile, efficient craftsman, Del Ruth adapted easily to the demands of the different Hollywood studios that employed him. At Warner Bros. in the early 1930s he turned out gritty, fast-paced films on topical subjects; later at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and 20th Century-Fox, he directed glossy, escapist musicals. Overall, his work is entertaining but routine, and he ended his career making Poverty Row quickies. Perhaps from a historical standpoint, his most interesting film is "The Maltese Falcon" (1931), the first screen adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's novel, which served as the basis for the classic 1941 remake starring Humphrey Bogart. Del Ruth's 106 other credits include "Gold Diggers of Broadway" (1929), "Divorce Among Friends" (1930), "Blonde Crazy" (1931), "Taxi!" (1932), "Beauty and the Boss" (1932), "The Little Giant" (1933), "Lady Killer" (1933), "Kid Millions" (1934), "Broadway Melody of 1936" (1935), "Born to Dance" (1936), "Broadway Melody of 1938" (1937), "Topper Returns" (1940), "Du Barry Was a Lady" (1943), "The Babe Ruth Story" (1948), "Stop You're Killing Me" (1953), "Phantom of the Rue Morgue" (1954), and "Why Must I Die?" (1960). He was the younger brother of writer-director Hampton Del Ruth and husband of singer-actress Winnie Lightner.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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