Harry Revier
Encyclopedia
Harry Jack Revier was an independent American director, producer and first generation exploitation film maker best known for his sound films; The Lost City (1935), Lash of the Penitentes (1936) and Child Bride
(1938).
; one of these, The Son of Tarzan
(1920) was a considerable hit. Shortly after, he discovered actress Dorothy Revier
, whom he married and launched in her film debut, The Broadway Madonna(1922). Though Dorothy Revier did go on to some popularity in the 1920s, it was without her husband as they divorced in 1926. With the dawn of sound, Harry Revier travelled to England to make a quota quickie and worked on a couple of routine westerns. Revier scored notoriety with the poverty row serial The Lost City (1935) featuring William “Stage” Boyd, an actor known for his alcoholism who died shortly after the film’s completion; The Lost City is sometimes called “the worst serial ever made.” With Lash of the Penitentes (1936),Revier discovered some ethnographic footage of flagellant monks shot in Mexico and built a racy feature around it, with star Marie DeForrest presented in a nude crucifixion scene. Child Bride followed, the first film produced by notorious exploitation mogul Kroger Babb
who marketed it as an educational film; its signature scene was a lengthy skinny dipping sequence featuring pre-pubescent starlet Shirley Mills
. Afterwards, Revier disappears from the rolls of feature production, but reappears for a final time in 1953 with Planet Outlaws (1953). Through the use of creative editingRevier converted the 1939 serial Buck Rogers
into an Atomic Age, Cold War context. Revier died in Winter Park, Florida at age 67.
. Among the missing is the predecessor to The Son of Tarzan, The Revenge of Tarzan
(1920), The Challenge of Chance (1919) starring prizefighter Jess Willard
and at least one of his talkies, Convict's Code (1930). Some of the sound films are to some extent compromised as well; censors savaged Lash of the Penitentes and in its longest known version, held at the Library of Congress, only 42 minutes remain of its original 65 minute running time. Moreover, one of the feature length condensations of The Lost City -- there were at least four—has been lost as well. Although Revier's remaining output is slim, his films are quite unlike other films of the time; lacking technical polish, Revier's work is wholly without regard for the production code and prefigures the far better known work of Edward D. Wood in its scripting and handling of actors, though it shares little of Wood's artistic ambition.
Child Bride
Child Bride, also known as Child Brides , is a 1938 film directed by Harry Revier. Set in a remote town in the Ozarks, it claims to be an attempt to draw attention to the lack of laws banning child marriage in many states...
(1938).
Biography
Born in Philadelphia in 1890, some sources state that Revier gained early experience as a cinematographer in Europe, but as his name is absent from passenger lists from that time. Revier’s earliest known screen credit is as director for the Victor Film Company’s The Imp Abroad (1914), starring James Cruze. Although Revier worked in the film industry for about 40 years, he had only occasional contact with major studios. Most of Revier's output consisted of States Rights distributed, one shot features or serials, often for companies organized only to make one film. A notable exception is the two Tarzan films that Revier co-directed for Edgar Rice BurroughsEdgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
; one of these, The Son of Tarzan
The Son of Tarzan
The Son of Tarzan is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fourth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. It was written between January 21 and May 11, 1915, and first published in the magazine All-Story Weekly as a six-part serial from December 4, 1915-January 8, 1916. It...
(1920) was a considerable hit. Shortly after, he discovered actress Dorothy Revier
Dorothy Revier
Dorothy Revier was an American actress.She was educated in the public schools of Oakland before going to New York City to study classical dancing...
, whom he married and launched in her film debut, The Broadway Madonna(1922). Though Dorothy Revier did go on to some popularity in the 1920s, it was without her husband as they divorced in 1926. With the dawn of sound, Harry Revier travelled to England to make a quota quickie and worked on a couple of routine westerns. Revier scored notoriety with the poverty row serial The Lost City (1935) featuring William “Stage” Boyd, an actor known for his alcoholism who died shortly after the film’s completion; The Lost City is sometimes called “the worst serial ever made.” With Lash of the Penitentes (1936),Revier discovered some ethnographic footage of flagellant monks shot in Mexico and built a racy feature around it, with star Marie DeForrest presented in a nude crucifixion scene. Child Bride followed, the first film produced by notorious exploitation mogul Kroger Babb
Kroger Babb
Howard W. "Kroger" Babb was an American film and television producer and showman. His marketing techniques were similar to a travelling salesman's, with roots in the medicine-show tradition...
who marketed it as an educational film; its signature scene was a lengthy skinny dipping sequence featuring pre-pubescent starlet Shirley Mills
Shirley Mills
Shirley Olivia Mills was an American actress. Mills' most notable role was in the 1938 film Child Bride, made when she was only twelve years old...
. Afterwards, Revier disappears from the rolls of feature production, but reappears for a final time in 1953 with Planet Outlaws (1953). Through the use of creative editingRevier converted the 1939 serial Buck Rogers
Buck Rogers
Anthony Rogers is a fictional character that first appeared in Armageddon 2419 A.D. by Philip Francis Nowlan in the August 1928 issue of the pulp magazine Amazing Stories. A sequel, The Airlords of Han, was published in the March 1929 issue....
into an Atomic Age, Cold War context. Revier died in Winter Park, Florida at age 67.
Legacy
Harry Revier did the bulk of his film work in the silent era, and most of that output is lost. Confirmed extant is the serial The Son of Tarzan (1920) and the melodrama What Price Love? (1927) starring Jane NovakJane Novak
-Background:Jane Novak was born in St. Louis, Missouri was born Johana B. Novak, daughter of Joseph, an immigrant from Bohemia, and Barbara Novak. Her father died when she was a child and her mother was left to raise 5 children. Novak attended convent school but ran away with a friend with whom...
. Among the missing is the predecessor to The Son of Tarzan, The Revenge of Tarzan
The Revenge of Tarzan
The Revenge of Tarzan is a silent adventure film, and the third Tarzan film produced. The film was produced by the Great Western Film Producing Company, a subsidiary of Numa Pictures Corporation. It was sold to Goldwyn Distributing Company before release...
(1920), The Challenge of Chance (1919) starring prizefighter Jess Willard
Jess Willard
Jess Willard was a world heavyweight boxing champion. He won the heavyweight title from Jack Johnson in April 1915 and lost it to Jack Dempsey in July 1919....
and at least one of his talkies, Convict's Code (1930). Some of the sound films are to some extent compromised as well; censors savaged Lash of the Penitentes and in its longest known version, held at the Library of Congress, only 42 minutes remain of its original 65 minute running time. Moreover, one of the feature length condensations of The Lost City -- there were at least four—has been lost as well. Although Revier's remaining output is slim, his films are quite unlike other films of the time; lacking technical polish, Revier's work is wholly without regard for the production code and prefigures the far better known work of Edward D. Wood in its scripting and handling of actors, though it shares little of Wood's artistic ambition.
Filmography (incomplete)
- The Imp Abroad (1914)
- The Weakness of StrengthThe Weakness of StrengthThe Weakness of Strength is a 1916 silent American drama film directed by Harry Revier. The film is considered to be a lost film.- Cast :* Edmund Breese as Daniel Gaynor* Clifford Bruce as Bill Jackson* Ormi Hawley as Mary Alden...
(1916) - Lust of the Ages (1917)
- The Grain of Dust (1918)
- A Romance of the Air (1918)
- What Shall We Do With Him? (1919)
- The Challenge of Chance (1919)
- The Son of TarzanThe Son of Tarzan (film)The Son of Tarzan is a 15 chapter film serial which focuses on the coming of age of Jack Clayton, also known as Korak, the son of Tarzan and Jane. The serial was produced by David P. Howells, written by Roy Somerville , and directed by Arthur J. Flaven and Harry Revier...
(serial; 1920) - The Revenge of TarzanThe Revenge of TarzanThe Revenge of Tarzan is a silent adventure film, and the third Tarzan film produced. The film was produced by the Great Western Film Producing Company, a subsidiary of Numa Pictures Corporation. It was sold to Goldwyn Distributing Company before release...
(serial; 1920) - Life's Greatest Question (1921)
- The Broadway Madonna (1923)
- Dangerous Pleasure (1925)
- The Silk Bouquet (1926)
- What Price Love? (1927)
- The Thrill Seekers (1927)
- The Slayer (1927)
- The Mysterious Airman (serial; 1928)
- The Lone Wolf's Daughter (writer; 1929)
- The Gay Caballero (1929) starring Frank CrumitFrank CrumitFrank Crumit was an American singer, composer. radio entertainer and vaudeville star. He shared his radio programs with his wife, Julia Sanderson, and the two were sometimes called "the ideal couple of the air."...
- Convict's CodeConvict's Code- Cast :*Robert Kent as Dave Tyler*Anne Nagel as Julie Warren*Sidney Blackmer as Gregory Warren*Victor Kilian as Bennett*Norman Willis as Russell*Maude Eburne as Mrs. Magruder*Ben Alexander as Jeff Palmer*Pat Flaherty as Sniffy*Carleton Young as Pete Jennings...
(1930) - Bill's Legacy (1931)
- When Lightning Strikes (1934)
- The Lost CityThe Lost City (1935 serial)The Lost City is an independently made film serial produced in 1935 directed by Harry Revier.-Plot:The film took the premise of that year's The Phantom Empire but transferred the lost civilization motif from the west to another popular serial locale, the African jungle...
(serial; 1935) - The Lost City (first condensation, 1935)
- The Lost City (second condensation, 1935)
- Lash of the Penitentes (1937) co-directed with Roland Price
- Child BrideChild BrideChild Bride, also known as Child Brides , is a 1938 film directed by Harry Revier. Set in a remote town in the Ozarks, it claims to be an attempt to draw attention to the lack of laws banning child marriage in many states...
(1938) - City of Lost Men (third condensation of The Lost City, 1940)
- Planet Outlaws (writer; 1953)
- City of Lost Men (fourth condensation of The Lost City, 1966)
External links
- Nitrateville Thread on Harry J. Revier http://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.phpt=6490&highlight=revier
- Harry Revier imdb entry http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0720886/
- Excerpt from Last of the Penitentes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddz0WM6AXN0
- Trailer to Lash of the Penitentes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJkTv6JYMzI&feature=related *Trailer to Child Bride http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pORXLJolRgI&feature=related
- Planet Outlaws http://www.archive.org/details/planet_outlaws