Edgar Selwyn
Encyclopedia
Edgar Selwyn was a prominent figure in American theater and film in the first half of the 20th Century.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio
, Selwyn flourished in the Broadway theater as an actor
, playwright
, director, and producer
from 1899 to 1942. With his brother Archie Selwyn (November 3, 1877 - June 21, 1959) he founded the theatrical production company The Selwyns which produced plays on Broadway from 1919 to 1932.
Selwyn also worked in Hollywood, producing
and directing
eight films between 1929 and 1942. Among these was The Sin of Madelon Claudet
which Selwyn directed for MGM in 1931. The film starred Helen Hayes
, who won an Academy Award for her performance. In addition, Selwyn wrote two screenplays and many more films were adapted from his original plays. He died in Los Angeles, California
.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, Selwyn flourished in the Broadway theater as an actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, director, and producer
Theatrical producer
A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...
from 1899 to 1942. With his brother Archie Selwyn (November 3, 1877 - June 21, 1959) he founded the theatrical production company The Selwyns which produced plays on Broadway from 1919 to 1932.
Selwyn also worked in Hollywood, producing
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and directing
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
eight films between 1929 and 1942. Among these was The Sin of Madelon Claudet
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
The Sin of Madelon Claudet is a 1931 American drama film directed by Edgar Selwyn and starring Helen Hayes. The screenplay by Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht was adapted from the play The Lullaby by Edward Knoblock...
which Selwyn directed for MGM in 1931. The film starred Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes Brown was an American actress whose career spanned almost 70 years. She eventually garnered the nickname "First Lady of the American Theatre" and was one of twelve people who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award...
, who won an Academy Award for her performance. In addition, Selwyn wrote two screenplays and many more films were adapted from his original plays. He died in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Selected filmography
- The ArabThe Arab (1915 film)The Arab is a 1915 silent adventure film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Edgar Selwyn had starred in the Broadway play version of the story in 1911. This film is based on that play. A print of the film survives at the Gosfilmfond film archive.-Cast:...
(1915) (actor) - For Better, for Worse (1919) (play)
- The Sin of Madelon ClaudetThe Sin of Madelon ClaudetThe Sin of Madelon Claudet is a 1931 American drama film directed by Edgar Selwyn and starring Helen Hayes. The screenplay by Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht was adapted from the play The Lullaby by Edward Knoblock...
(1931) (director) - Skyscraper SoulsSkyscraper SoulsSkyscraper Souls is a Pre-Code 1932 drama film starring Warren William and Maureen O'Sullivan. The film was directed by Edgar Selwyn and is based upon the novel Skyscraper by Faith Baldwin.-Plot:...
(1932) (director) - Turn Back the ClockTurn Back the Clock (film)Turn Back the Clock is an MGM comedy drama film directed by Edgar Selwyn, written by Edgar Selwyn and Ben Hecht, and starring by Lee Tracy and Mae Clarke...
(1933) (director and co-writer) - The Mystery of Mr. XThe Mystery of Mr. XThe Mystery of Mr. X is a 1934 crime film starring Robert Montgomery as a jewel thief who gets mixed up in a series of murders in 19th century London. It is based on the novel X v. Rex by Philip MacDonald .-Plot:...
(1934) (director)
External links
- The Selwyns at the Internet Broadway Database