Arthur C. Pierce
Encyclopedia
Arthur C. Pierce was an American screenwriter
and director specialising in low budget science fiction
films.
. Following the war Pierce unsuccessfully attempted to produce a film about US Navy Submarines entitled The Silent Service to star Robert Montgomery
.
He studied drama and worked as an actor and stage manager in various stage productions. Beginning in 1948 Pierce worked for Raphael G. Wolff Studios, an industrial film production company, for three years. Pierce acted as a cameraman contributing to over 100 industrial films made throughout North America. In 1952 he joined the Howard Anderson Company that produced special effects for various motion pictures where he acquired a strong knowledge of optical effects.
Pierce entered the world of screenwriting through his friend Mark Hanna, a screenwriter and actor. His first work was 1959's The Cosmic Man starring John Carradine
that had many of the same ideas as The Day the Earth Stood Still
. Pierce then wrote the screenplay for Beyond the Time Barrier
for Robert Clarke
and Edgar G. Ulmer. This was a low budget film designed to exploit The Time Machine (1960 film)
, Pierce also appeared as one of the mutants.
Renowned and typecast for low budget science fiction, Pierce worked his way up to producing and directing The Human Duplicators
and Mutiny in Outer Space both without credit. Pierce's first directoral credit was Women of the Prehistoric Planet
(1965) and the non science fiction The Las Vegas Hillbillys
in (1966). Pierce also wrote several spy-fi
films The Human Duplicators
(1965), Dimension 5 (1966 film) and The Destructors (1966 film) both in 1966.
In the 1970s Pierce wrote for the American television series Fantasy Island
and The Next Step Beyond.
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and director specialising in low budget science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
films.
Biography
Pierce, a native of Dallas, enlisted in the US Navy during the Second World War serving as a combat photographer in the Pacific under Edward SteichenEdward Steichen
Edward J. Steichen was an American photographer, painter, and art gallery and museum curator. He was the most frequently featured photographer in Alfred Stieglitz' groundbreaking magazine Camera Work during its run from 1903 to 1917. Steichen also contributed the logo design and a custom typeface...
. Following the war Pierce unsuccessfully attempted to produce a film about US Navy Submarines entitled The Silent Service to star Robert Montgomery
Robert Montgomery (actor)
Robert Montgomery was an American actor and director.- Early life :Montgomery was born Henry Montgomery, Jr. in Beacon, New York, then known as "Fishkill Landing", the son of Mary Weed and Henry Montgomery, Sr. His early childhood was one of privilege, since his father was president of the New...
.
He studied drama and worked as an actor and stage manager in various stage productions. Beginning in 1948 Pierce worked for Raphael G. Wolff Studios, an industrial film production company, for three years. Pierce acted as a cameraman contributing to over 100 industrial films made throughout North America. In 1952 he joined the Howard Anderson Company that produced special effects for various motion pictures where he acquired a strong knowledge of optical effects.
Pierce entered the world of screenwriting through his friend Mark Hanna, a screenwriter and actor. His first work was 1959's The Cosmic Man starring John Carradine
John Carradine
John Carradine was an American actor, best known for his roles in horror films and Westerns as well as Shakespearean theater. A member of Cecil B DeMille's stock company and later John Ford's company, he was one of the most prolific character actors in Hollywood history...
that had many of the same ideas as The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Day the Earth Stood Still is a 1951 American science fiction film directed by Robert Wise and written by Edmund H. North based on the short story "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates. The film stars Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Sam Jaffe, and Hugh Marlowe...
. Pierce then wrote the screenplay for Beyond the Time Barrier
Beyond the Time Barrier
Beyond the Time Barrier is a 1959 Cold War era black and white time travel science fiction film filmed in ten days in Texas. It was produced by and starred Robert Clarke and was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer. Ulmer's wife Shirley acted as a script editor whilst their daughter Arianne Arden...
for Robert Clarke
Robert Clarke
Robert Irby Clarke was an American actor best known for his cult classic science fiction films of the 1950s.-Early life:...
and Edgar G. Ulmer. This was a low budget film designed to exploit The Time Machine (1960 film)
The Time Machine (1960 film)
The Time Machine is a 1960 American science fiction film based on the 1895 novel of the same name by H. G. Wells in which a man in Victorian England constructs a time-travelling machine which he uses to travel to the future...
, Pierce also appeared as one of the mutants.
Renowned and typecast for low budget science fiction, Pierce worked his way up to producing and directing The Human Duplicators
The Human Duplicators
The Human Duplicators is an American science fiction film released in 1965 by independent company Woolner Brothers Pictures Inc.-Plot:The plot involves a giant alien named Dr. Kolos who is dispatched to Earth from a faraway galaxy on orders to create android doppelgängers by employing the...
and Mutiny in Outer Space both without credit. Pierce's first directoral credit was Women of the Prehistoric Planet
Women of the Prehistoric Planet
Women of the Prehistoric Planet is a 1966 film. It was featured in the first season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 1989.-Plot:A spacefaring crew from an advanced civilization is preparing to return home after an extended voyage...
(1965) and the non science fiction The Las Vegas Hillbillys
The Las Vegas Hillbillys
The Las Vegas Hillbillys is a 1966 American country music comedy film directed by Arthur C. Pierce.-Cast:*Ferlin Husky ... Woody*Jayne Mansfield ... Tawny*Mamie Van Doren ... Boots Malone*Don Bowman ... Jeepers*Billie Bird ... Ma...
in (1966). Pierce also wrote several spy-fi
Spy-fi
-Definition and characteristics:It often uses a secret agent or superspy whose mission is a showcase of science fiction elements such as technology and ideas used for extortion, plots for world domination or world destruction, futuristic weapons, gadgets and fast vehicles that can travel on land,...
films The Human Duplicators
The Human Duplicators
The Human Duplicators is an American science fiction film released in 1965 by independent company Woolner Brothers Pictures Inc.-Plot:The plot involves a giant alien named Dr. Kolos who is dispatched to Earth from a faraway galaxy on orders to create android doppelgängers by employing the...
(1965), Dimension 5 (1966 film) and The Destructors (1966 film) both in 1966.
In the 1970s Pierce wrote for the American television series Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
and The Next Step Beyond.