Edward Woods
Encyclopedia
Edward Woods was an American actor best known for his extensive role in The Public Enemy
opposite James Cagney
.
's teenage son. In New York City
, he appeared in many successful Broadway
productions then began a movie career. He worked with Cary Grant
, Greta Garbo
, Jean Harlow
, John Barrymore
, and Clark Gable
.
His most famous role was playing "Matt Doyle" opposite James Cagney's "Tom Powers" in The Public Enemy (1931), a seminal and arguably the most widely acclaimed gangster movie. Although initially cast in the lead role as Powers, director William Wellman switched Woods' role with Cagney's after viewing Cagney's electrifying performance in the dailies. In the flashback sequences at the beginning of the film, the children's appearances are reversed because those scenes were filmed before the switch and the studio opted not to pay to refilm them, which has confused viewers ever since. The studio had promised to make the role switch up to him with later parts but reneged and dropped him when his contract expired. Woods soon wound up working at the worst B-picture studios, terminally damaging his movie career.
After his film acting career ended, Woods went into producing, directing, and theatrical management, working with the Schubert Organization and 20th Century Fox
. During WWII he worked with Ronald Reagan
making training films for the U.S Army. He retired in 1975, and moved to Salt Lake City.
Film Appearances
Broadway Appearances
The Public Enemy
The Public Enemy is a 1931 American Pre-Code crime film starring James Cagney and directed by William A. Wellman. The film relates the story of a young man's rise in the criminal underworld in prohibition-era urban America...
opposite James Cagney
James Cagney
James Francis Cagney, Jr. was an American actor, first on stage, then in film, where he had his greatest impact. Although he won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of performances, he is best remembered for playing "tough guys." In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him eighth...
.
Early life
An obituary from the Salt Lake City Tribune, dated October 10, 1989, names Woods' parents as Mary Clark and William B. Woods, and mentions two brothers, Roy C. and William B.Acting career
After graduating from the University of Southern California, Woods became an actor. He appeared at the old Salt Lake Theatre in "The Copperhead," as Lionel BarrymoreLionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
's teenage son. In New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he appeared in many successful Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
productions then began a movie career. He worked with Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
, Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo , born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, was a Swedish film actress. Garbo was an international star and icon during Hollywood's silent and classic periods. Many of Garbo's films were sensational hits, and all but three were profitable...
, Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow was an American film actress and sex symbol of the 1930s. Known as the "Blonde Bombshell" and the "Platinum Blonde" , Harlow was ranked as one of the greatest movie stars of all time by the American Film Institute...
, John Barrymore
John Barrymore
John Sidney Blyth , better known as John Barrymore, was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III...
, and Clark Gable
Clark Gable
William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
.
His most famous role was playing "Matt Doyle" opposite James Cagney's "Tom Powers" in The Public Enemy (1931), a seminal and arguably the most widely acclaimed gangster movie. Although initially cast in the lead role as Powers, director William Wellman switched Woods' role with Cagney's after viewing Cagney's electrifying performance in the dailies. In the flashback sequences at the beginning of the film, the children's appearances are reversed because those scenes were filmed before the switch and the studio opted not to pay to refilm them, which has confused viewers ever since. The studio had promised to make the role switch up to him with later parts but reneged and dropped him when his contract expired. Woods soon wound up working at the worst B-picture studios, terminally damaging his movie career.
After his film acting career ended, Woods went into producing, directing, and theatrical management, working with the Schubert Organization and 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
. During WWII he worked with Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
making training films for the U.S Army. He retired in 1975, and moved to Salt Lake City.
Film Appearances
- Shadows Over ShanghaiShadows Over Shanghai- Cast :*James Dunn as Johnny McGinty*Ralph Morgan as Howard Barclay*Lynda Grey as Irene Roma*Robert Barrat as Igor Sargoza*Paul Sutton as Fuji Yokahama*Edward Woods as Peter Roma*Edwin Mordant as Dr...
- Navy BluesNavy BluesJapanese Bonus TracksB-sides* "Keep on Thinkin' " - Trivia :* "She Says What She Means" was the last song recorded for the album...
- Fighting Lady
- Marriage on Approval
- Dinner at EightDinner at EightDinner at Eight may refer to:* Dinner at Eight , a 1932 Broadway play written by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber.* Dinner at Eight , a 1933 adaptation...
with Wallace BeeryWallace BeeryWallace Fitzgerald Beery was an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill in Min and Bill opposite Marie Dressler, as Long John Silver in Treasure Island, as Pancho Villa in Viva Villa!, and his titular role in The Champ, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...
and John BarrymoreJohn BarrymoreJohn Sidney Blyth , better known as John Barrymore, was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III... - Tarzan the FearlessTarzan the FearlessTarzan the Fearless is a 12 chapter film serial starring Buster Crabbe in his only appearance as Tarzan. It was also released as a 71-minute feature film which comprised the first four chapters of the serial version. Co-starring was actress Jacqueline Wells, who later changed her name to Julie...
- Bondage
- Reckless Decision
- Hot SaturdayHot SaturdayHot Saturday is Cary Grant's first movie as leading man. The movie was directed by William A. Seiter and based on a novel written by Harvey Fergusson...
with Cary GrantCary GrantArchibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship... - They Never Come BackThey Never Come Back- Cast :*Regis Toomey as Jimmy Nolan*Dorothy Sebastian as Adele Landon*Edward Woods as Ralph Landon*Greta Granstedt as Mary Nolan*Earle Foxe as Jerry Filmore*Gertrude Astor as Kate*James J. Jeffries as First Referee*George Byron as Eddie Donovan...
- Local Boy Makes Good
- The Public EnemyThe Public EnemyThe Public Enemy is a 1931 American Pre-Code crime film starring James Cagney and directed by William A. Wellman. The film relates the story of a young man's rise in the criminal underworld in prohibition-era urban America...
- Mothers Cry
Broadway Appearances
- Tortilla Flat, Jan 12, 1938 - Jan 1938
- One Good Year, Nov 27, 1935 - Jun 1936
- Houseparty, Sep 9, 1929 - Feb 1930
- Zeppelin, Jan 14, 1929 - Mar 1929
- Trapped, Sep 11, 1928 - Sep 1928
- Speak Easy, Sep 26, 1927 - Nov 1927