Frank E. Montgomery (June 14, 1870 – July 18, 1944) was an early American silent film director and actor.
Frank Montgomery | |
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| Born | Frank E. Montgomery June 14, 1870 |
| Died | July 18, 1944 (aged 74) |
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Biography
editMontgomery acted in 28 films but is most acclaimed as a silent film director in which he is credited with directing 82 films. He was married to actresses Florence McClain[1] as well as Josephine Mercedes Workman, who used the stage name Princess Mona Darkfeather to forge a career playing Native American roles.
Many of Montgomery's film titles contain Native American references, such as Darkfeather's Sacrifice, Apache Love, An Indian's Gratitude, The Red Girl's Sacrifice, Mona of the Modocs, An Apache Father's Vengeance, Big Rock's Last Stand, The Half-Breed Scout, A Blackfoot Conspiracy, A Red Man's Love, A Daughter of the Redskins, The Massacre of Santa Fe Trail, and A White Indian. He also directed the now-lost film The Spirit of '76 (1917).
He is referenced obliquely in Gerald Vizenor's short story "Almost Browne," in the character of Professor Monte Franzgomery, who teaches Romantic Literature but who sees the Native American culture through his own romanticizations.[2]
Selected filmography
edit- Two Knights of Vaudeville (1915)[3]
- The Kiss of Hate (1916)
- Notorious Gallagher (1916)
- Her Debt of Honor (1916)
- Life's Shadows (1916)
- The Brand of Cowardice (1916)
- The Call of Her People (1917)
- Cardigan (1920)
- Who's Cheating? (1924)
- Floodgates (1924)
- The Mad Dancer (1925)
- Red Love (1925)
- Children of the Whirlwind (1925)
- Aloma of the South Seas (1926)
- So's Your Old Man (1926)
References
edit- ^ "Pretty Stage Star, Arrested Recently For Bing In Immoral Play, Comes To Support Of Nudity On Stage" (Reprint). The Pittsburgh Courier. Pittsburgh, PA. 23 November 1926. p. 1 (Second Section). Retrieved 18 May 2020.
"Miss McClain's husband is Frank Montgomery, producer of the show in which she takes leading role.
- ^ "Almost Browne," from Landfill Meditation: Crossblood Stories by Gerald Vizenor, Hanover, NH: UP of New England-Wesleyan UP, 1991, 1-10.
- ^ "Two Knights of Vaudeville".