Allan Dwan and the Rise and Decline of the Hollywood Studios

by Frederic Lombardi

It could be said that the career of Canadian-born film director Allan Dwan (1885-1981) began at the dawn of the American motion picture industry. Originally a scriptwriter, Dwan became a director purely by accident. Even so, his creativity and problem-solving skills propelled him to the top of his profession. He achieved success with numerous silent film performers, most spectacularly with Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Gloria Swanson, and later with such legendary stars as Shirley Temple and John Wayne. Though his star waned in the sound era, Dwan managed to survive through pluck and ingenuity. Considering himself better off without the fame he enjoyed during the silent era, he went on to do some of his best work for second-echelon studios (notably Republic Pictures' Sands of Iwo Jima ) and such independent producers as Edward Small. Along the way, Dwan also found personal happiness in an unconventional manner. Rich in detail with two columns of text in each of its nearly 400 pages, and with more than 150 photographs, this book presents a thorough examination of Allan Dwan and separates myth from truth in his life and films.

384 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2012

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent biography of a major movie pioneer

The name Allan Dwan pops up in lots of movie memoirs and biographies, especially silent movie books and documentaries. I didn't know anything about Dwan and jumped on this book when I found it.

Allan Dwan was prolific, hardworking and gifted. He made good movies, brought them in on budget and deadline. No prima donna. He had industry-wide respect. He was also a very likeable, friendly, caring man.

I enjoyed the book. It is well researched, thorough and very readable. I highly recommend it to movie lovers, people interested in the silent era, and anyone who enjoys biographies of successful people, especially who did it nice.