Malcolm McGregor
Encyclopedia
Malcolm McGregor was an American actor of the silent era
. He appeared in 55 films between 1922
and 1936
. He was born in Newark, New Jersey
and died in Hollywood, California.
A cross between Wallace Reid
and Rudolph Valentino
, McGregor, with slick-back hair, starred as the young whaling captain in a film version of Ben Ames Williams
' All the Brothers Were Valiant
(1923), perhaps the highlight of a busy career that mostly found the handsome, clean-cut actor supporting such glamorous female stars as Corinne Griffith
, Florence Vidor
, and Evelyn Brent
. Like so many of his contemporaries, McGregor's career quickly waned after the changeover to sound and he was reduced to playing second fiddle to Bela Lugosi
in the Mascot serial The Whispering Shadow
(1932). McGregor retired after playing a gangster in a low-budget screen version of radio's Special Agent K-7 (1937). McGregor reportedly died from burns suffered in an accident in his Hollywood home.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
. He appeared in 55 films between 1922
1922 in film
-Events:* June 11 - United States première of Robert J. Flaherty's Nanook of the North, the first commercially successful feature length documentary film....
and 1936
1936 in film
The year 1936 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 29 - Fritz Lang's first Hollywood film Fury, starring Spencer Tracy and Bruce Cabot, is released.*November 6 - first Porky Pig animated cartoon...
. He was born in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and died in Hollywood, California.
A cross between Wallace Reid
Wallace Reid
Wallace Reid was an actor in silent film referred to as "the screen's most perfect lover".-Early life:Born William Wallace Reid in St...
and Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
, McGregor, with slick-back hair, starred as the young whaling captain in a film version of Ben Ames Williams
Ben Ames Williams
Ben Ames Williams American writer who published over thirty novels, including All the Brothers Were Valiant ,Come Spring ,The Strange Woman , House Divided , Leave Her to Heaven and The Unconquered...
' All the Brothers Were Valiant
All the Brothers Were Valiant (1923 film)
All the Brothers Were Valiant is a 1923 silent film, sea adventure and romantic drama. It was produced and distributed by Metro Pictures corporation and directed by Irvin Willat. The films stars several well known actors, such as Lon Chaney, Malcolm McGregor, Billie Dove and Robert McKim...
(1923), perhaps the highlight of a busy career that mostly found the handsome, clean-cut actor supporting such glamorous female stars as Corinne Griffith
Corinne Griffith
Corinne Mae Griffith was an American actress. Dubbed "The Orchid Lady of the Screen", she was one of the most popular film actresses of the 1920s and widely considered the most beautiful actress of the silent screen...
, Florence Vidor
Florence Vidor
Florence Vidor was an American actress.Born Florence Arto, her father, J. P. Arto, was an important executive and she started working in silent movies thanks to her husband, film director King Vidor. She signed her first contract with Vitagraph Studios in 1916...
, and Evelyn Brent
Evelyn Brent
Evelyn Brent was an American film and stage actress.-Early life:Born Mary Elizabeth Riggs in Tampa, Florida and known as Betty, she was a child of 10 when her mother Eleanor died, leaving her father Arthur to raise her alone...
. Like so many of his contemporaries, McGregor's career quickly waned after the changeover to sound and he was reduced to playing second fiddle to Bela Lugosi
Béla Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó , commonly known as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen. He was best known for having played Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version, as well as having starred in several of Ed Wood's low budget films in the last years of his...
in the Mascot serial The Whispering Shadow
The Whispering Shadow
The Whispering Shadow is a Serial film, starring Béla Lugosi in his first of five serial roles. Lugosi received $10,000, the highest known salary of his career, for this film. . The serial was filmed in only 12 days...
(1932). McGregor retired after playing a gangster in a low-budget screen version of radio's Special Agent K-7 (1937). McGregor reportedly died from burns suffered in an accident in his Hollywood home.
Selected filmography
- The Prisoner of ZendaThe Prisoner of Zenda (1922 film)The Prisoner of Zenda is a 1922 silent adventure film, one of the many adaptations of Anthony Hope's popular 1894 novel of the same name and the subsequent 1896 play by Hope and Edward Rose.-Plot:...
(1922) - The CircleThe Circle (1925 film)The Circle is a 1925 film directed by Frank Borzage. The film stars Eleanor Boardman, Malcolm McGregor, Alec B. Francis and Joan Crawford on an early role. It is written by Kenneth B. Clarke based on the play by W. Somerset Maugham. The 1921 Broadway play had starred John Drew, Jr. and Mrs. Leslie...
(1925) - Lady of the NightLady of the NightLady of the Night is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Monta Bell. The film stars Norma Shearer in a dual role.-Plot:Chris Helmer is sentenced to 20 years in prison by Judge Banning , and has to leave his wife and baby girl...
(1925) - Alias Mary FlynnAlias Mary FlynnAlias Mary Flynn is a 1925 silent American drama film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Evelyn Brent. The film is considered to be lost.- Cast :* Evelyn Brent as Mary Flynn* Malcolm McGregor as Tim Reagan* William V...
(1925) - The Silent FlyerThe Silent FlyerThe Silent Flyer is a 1926 adventure film serial directed by William James Craft. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Silver Streak - Silver Streak, a dog* Malcolm McGregor - Lloyd Darrell * Louise Lorraine - Helen Corliss...
(1926) - A Million BidA Million BidA Million Bid is a 1927 drama film directed by Michael Curtiz.An incomplete print of this film, with Italian intertitles, is housed at the Library of Congress.-Cast:* Dolores Costello - Dorothy Gordon* Warner Oland - Geoffrey Marsh...
(1927) - Undersea KingdomUndersea KingdomUndersea Kingdom is a Republic Pictures film serial released in response to Universal's Flash Gordon. It was the second of the sixty-six serials made by Republic...
(1936)
