Tommy Atkins (July 18, 1887 â€"June 18, 1968) was an American director
of the silent and early sound film eras. Born on July 18, 1887, in
Springfield, Massachusetts, he made his entrance into the film
industry as the assistant director to Ralph Ince on the 1920 silent
film Out of the Snows. Eight years later, he made another film, again
as assistant director, for FBO Pictures on another silent film, Crooks
Can't Win. He worked as the assistant director on another sixteen
films between 1928 and 1934, the most notable of which was 1933's
Morning Glory, directed by Lowell Sherman and starring Katharine
Hepburn and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.. In 1934 he directed his first
picture, The Silver Streak, which was one of the top money-makers for
RKO Pictures that year. He directed two more films, the second of
which, Hi, Gaucho!, he also wrote the story for.After Hi, Gaucho!,
Atkins left the film industry for the most part, although he did
return in 1940 as an associate producer on the Academy Award-nominated
docudrama The Fight for Life, which was directed by Pare Lorentz, who
also produced the film for the United States Film Service. Atkins died
on June 18, 1968, in Los Angeles, California.(Per AFI database)All
positions were as assistant director except where noted.
of the silent and early sound film eras. Born on July 18, 1887, in
Springfield, Massachusetts, he made his entrance into the film
industry as the assistant director to Ralph Ince on the 1920 silent
film Out of the Snows. Eight years later, he made another film, again
as assistant director, for FBO Pictures on another silent film, Crooks
Can't Win. He worked as the assistant director on another sixteen
films between 1928 and 1934, the most notable of which was 1933's
Morning Glory, directed by Lowell Sherman and starring Katharine
Hepburn and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.. In 1934 he directed his first
picture, The Silver Streak, which was one of the top money-makers for
RKO Pictures that year. He directed two more films, the second of
which, Hi, Gaucho!, he also wrote the story for.After Hi, Gaucho!,
Atkins left the film industry for the most part, although he did
return in 1940 as an associate producer on the Academy Award-nominated
docudrama The Fight for Life, which was directed by Pare Lorentz, who
also produced the film for the United States Film Service. Atkins died
on June 18, 1968, in Los Angeles, California.(Per AFI database)All
positions were as assistant director except where noted.
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