Connection
Anthony J. Xydias is a Producer American born on 22 may 1879 at Tinos (Grece)
Anthony J. Xydias (22 May 1882 in Tinos –27 October 1952) was a film producer for such films as Heroes of the Alamo (1937), Devil's Canyon (1935), and Five Bad Men (1935). His career took off after he opened a theater in Dallas, Texas in 1906. From this came a chain of successful theaters.
A former exhibitor, Greek-born American film executive Anthony J. Xydias founded Sunset Pictures in 1922. He wanted to produce inexpensive Westerns starring former rodeo rider Jack Hoxie. Despite their meager budgets, the Hoxie oaters proved well above par for the period, but Xydias found himself without a star when Hoxie left in favor of Universal. Kenneth MacDonald, whom Xydias chose from the ranks of supporting players, did not fill the bill and was quickly replaced by J.B. Warner, a lanky cowboy from Nebraska. Warner died of tuberculosis after only six Westerns.
Xydias then turned his attention to saluting the country that had received him so warmly by producing a series of historical melodramas featuring heroes from America's past. In short order, Sunset released Kit Carson Over the Great Divide (1925), Buffalo Bill on the U.P. Trail (1926), Daniel Boone Through the Wilderness (1926), Davy Crockett at the Fall of the Alamo (1926), General Custer at Little Big Horn (1926), and finally, Sitting Bull at the Spirit Lake Massacre (1927). He retired due to ill health in 1931.
Xydias returned to the scene six years later with the promise of remaking his six historical "epics," this time, of course, with sound. In the end, only Heroes of the Alamo was actually produced and it proved the slipshod affair expected from the veteran penny pincher. The film reused the silent battle scenes from Davy Crockett at the Fall of the Alamo and was later sold to Columbia Pictures with Xydias's name removed from the credits when Columbia released it in 1938.
Retired from the movie business following the less than spectacular reception of Heroes of the Alamo, Xydias was unfortunate enough to be caught behind enemy lines while visiting the Philippines in 1941. He spent the duration of the war in the infamous Santo Tomas camp.
Source : Wikidata
Anthony J. Xydias
- Infos
- Photos
- Best films
- Family
- Characters
- Awards
A former exhibitor, Greek-born American film executive Anthony J. Xydias founded Sunset Pictures in 1922. He wanted to produce inexpensive Westerns starring former rodeo rider Jack Hoxie. Despite their meager budgets, the Hoxie oaters proved well above par for the period, but Xydias found himself without a star when Hoxie left in favor of Universal. Kenneth MacDonald, whom Xydias chose from the ranks of supporting players, did not fill the bill and was quickly replaced by J.B. Warner, a lanky cowboy from Nebraska. Warner died of tuberculosis after only six Westerns.
Xydias then turned his attention to saluting the country that had received him so warmly by producing a series of historical melodramas featuring heroes from America's past. In short order, Sunset released Kit Carson Over the Great Divide (1925), Buffalo Bill on the U.P. Trail (1926), Daniel Boone Through the Wilderness (1926), Davy Crockett at the Fall of the Alamo (1926), General Custer at Little Big Horn (1926), and finally, Sitting Bull at the Spirit Lake Massacre (1927). He retired due to ill health in 1931.
Xydias returned to the scene six years later with the promise of remaking his six historical "epics," this time, of course, with sound. In the end, only Heroes of the Alamo was actually produced and it proved the slipshod affair expected from the veteran penny pincher. The film reused the silent battle scenes from Davy Crockett at the Fall of the Alamo and was later sold to Columbia Pictures with Xydias's name removed from the credits when Columbia released it in 1938.
Retired from the movie business following the less than spectacular reception of Heroes of the Alamo, Xydias was unfortunate enough to be caught behind enemy lines while visiting the Philippines in 1941. He spent the duration of the war in the infamous Santo Tomas camp.
Usually with
Filmography of Anthony J. Xydias (5 films)
Producer
Add to a movie list
Heroes of the Alamo (1937)
, 1h15Directed by Harry L. Fraser
Origin USA
Genres War, Historical, Western
Themes Political films
Actors Lane Chandler, Rex Lease, Ruth Findlay, Earle Hodgins, William Costello, Roger Williams
Roles Producer
Rating55%
Unlike other Alamo films that concentrate on Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, the main protagonists are Almaron (Bruce Warren) and Susanna Dickinson (Ruth Findlay) and their daughter Angelina (Marilyn Haslett). The film gives a fictionalised fast moving account of the restriction on American emigration to Texas, the arrest of Stephen F. Austin by Santa Anna (Julian Rivero), Sam Houston (Edward Piel) appointed General to build the Texian Army, and Dickinson's participation in both the Battle of Gonzales and the Battle of the Alamo.
Directed by Robert N. Bradbury
Origin USA
Genres Western
Actors Bryant Washburn, Bob Steele, Chief Yowlachie, Anne Schaefer, Shirley Palmer, E. Alyn Warren
Roles Producer
Rating61%
, 1hDirected by Robert N. Bradbury
Origin USA
Genres Historical, Western
Themes Political films
Actors Cullen Landis, Kathryn McGuire, Steve Clemente, Edward Hearn, Joe Rickson, Thomas G. Lingham
Roles Producer
Rating67%
Dynamite Dan (1924)
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action
Themes Sports films, Martial arts films, Boxing films
Actors Frank Rice, Kenneth MacDonald, Boris Karloff, Harry Woods, Jack Richardson, Emily Gerdes
Roles Producer
Rating57%
The Forbidden Trail (1923)
Directed by Robert N. Bradbury
Origin USA
Genres Western
Actors Jack Hoxie, Frank Rice, William Berke, Joseph McDermott, Thomas G. Lingham, Steve Clemente
Roles Producer
Rating59%