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Willard Robertson is a Actor and Scriptwriter American born on 31 december 1885

Willard Robertson

Willard Robertson
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Nationality USA
Birth 31 december 1885
Death 5 april 1948 (at 62 years) at Hollywood (USA)

Willard Robertson (January 1, 1886 – April 5, 1948) was an American actor and writer. He appeared in 147 films between 1924 and 1948. He was born in Runnels, Texas and died in Hollywood, California.

Willard Robertson first worked as a lawyer in Texas, but he left his profession for a sudden interest in acting. He appeared on Broadway in 16 plays between 1907 and 1930. Robertson played supporting roles in many Hollywood films from 1930 until the year he died, typically portraying men of authority such as doctors, elected officials, military officers and also lawyers. He played Jackie Cooper's stern but loving father in the oscar-winning drama Skippy (1931) and its sequel Sooky (1931). Robertson also portrayed a flamboyant lawyer in Remember the Night (1940) and the straight sheriff in The Ox-Bow Incident (1943).

Willard Robertson was also a notable writer of numerous plays, two of them were adapted into films. He also wrote the novel Moontide which was turned into Archie Mayo's drama thriller Moontide (1942) starring Jean Gabin and Ida Lupino.

Biography

Au théâtre, Willard Robertson joue à Broadway (New York) entre 1907 et 1930, dans quinze pièces, dont The Warrens of Virginia de William C. de Mille en 1907-1908, aux côtés de Cecil B. DeMille (qu'il retrouvera à l'écran, notamment sur Pacific Express en 1939) et de Mary Pickford (faisant ses débuts à Broadway). Il est lui-même l'auteur de quatre pièces représentées sur les planches new-yorkaises (dont la dernière qu'il y interprète, en 1930), l'une qu'il met également en scène, et deux qui seront ensuite portées à l'écran.

Au cinéma, excepté un film muet en 1924, sa carrière d'acteur (comme second rôle de caractère) se déroule durant la période du parlant, avec cent-quarante-quatre films américains (dont des westerns) de 1930 à 1948, année de sa mort. Parmi ses films notables, mentionnons Je suis un évadé de Mervyn LeRoy (1932, avec Paul Muni et Glenda Farrell), L'Odyssée des Mormons d'Henry King (1940, avec Dean Jagger et Tyrone Power), ou encore La Brune de mes rêves d'Elliott Nugent (1947, avec Bob Hope et Dorothy Lamour).

On doit aussi à Willard Robertson trois romans, dont Moontide (publié en 1940), adapté au cinéma sous le même titre original (titre français : La Péniche de l'amour ; film d'Archie Mayo sorti en 1942, avec Jean Gabin et Ida Lupino).

Best films

Moontide (1942)
(Novel)
Skippy (1931)
(Actor)

Usually with

Orry-Kelly
Orry-Kelly
(15 films)
Hal B. Wallis
Hal B. Wallis
(15 films)
James Flavin
James Flavin
(14 films)
Hans Dreier
Hans Dreier
(13 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Willard Robertson (118 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

Fury at Furnace Creek, 1h28
Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone
Origin USA
Genres Western
Actors Victor Mature, Coleen Gray, Glenn Langan, Reginald Gardiner, Albert Dekker, Fred Clark
Roles Gen. Leads
Rating67% 3.383793.383793.383793.383793.38379
Troops are massacred at a Furnace Creek fort in 1880 after an army captain, Walsh, cites orders forcing him to abandon a wagon train. Apache Indians hid inside the wagons to gain access to the fort.
Sitting Pretty, 1h23
Directed by Walter Lang
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Children's films
Actors Robert Young, Maureen O'Hara, Clifton Webb, Richard Haydn, Ed Begley, Randy Stuart
Roles Mr. Ashcroft
Rating73% 3.6937853.6937853.6937853.6937853.693785
Lawyer Harry (Robert Young) and his wife Tacey King (Maureen O'Hara) have trouble retaining a nanny for their three young rambunctious boys. When the latest in a string of servants quits, Tacey advertises and hires Lynn Belvedere sight unseen, only to find out that Lynn is a dapper older man (Clifton Webb), one with many skills and achievements. Despite their misgivings (and Belvedere's declaration that he detests children), the Kings reluctantly agree to a trial period. Belvedere quickly wins over the kids, although his superior attitude annoys Harry.
My Favorite Brunette, 1h27
Directed by Elliott Nugent
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Actors Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Alan Ladd, Peter Lorre, Lon Chaney, Jr., Frank Puglia
Roles Prison Warden
Rating66% 3.3485453.3485453.3485453.3485453.348545
The story is told in flashback from Death Row as Ronnie Jackson (Hope) relates to a group of reporters the events that lead to his predicament. Jackson is a baby photographer who dreams about being a real private detective like his friend Sam McCloud (Ladd). One day he is mistaken for a detective by a mysterious lady in distress (Lamour) and soon finds himself involved in a murder mystery. In the end of the flashback, Ronnie is released from prison.
Deep Valley, 1h44
Directed by Jean Negulesco
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Crime, Romance
Actors Ida Lupino, Dane Clark, Wayne Morris, Fay Bainter, Henry Hull, Willard Robertson
Roles Sheriff Akers
Rating67% 3.388123.388123.388123.388123.38812
A young woman, Libby Saul (Ida Lupino), lives with her parents, who are themselves estranged, on an isolated farm not far from the California coast. Libby is used by her parents as a diplomatic middle-man, since they no longer speak to ach other directly. She has developed a stammer over the years, and spends ost of her spare time wandering around in the nearby woods with her beloved dog, Joe. One day when she is out wandering she bumps into a group of convicts who are building a road along the coastline. She takes an interest in the convicts and their building, so she returns for several days, without her parents knowing, to watch them at a distance. She is particularly interested in one of the handsome young convicts, Barry Burnett (Dane Clark).
To Each His Own, 2h2
Directed by Mitchell Leisen
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Melodrama
Themes Films about adoption, Films about children
Actors Olivia de Havilland, Mary Anderson, John Lund, Roland Culver, Phillip Terry, Victoria Horne
Roles Dr. Hunt
Rating75% 3.7932253.7932253.7932253.7932253.793225
In World War II London, fire wardens Josephine "Jody" Norris (Olivia de Havilland) and Lord Desham (Roland Culver) keep a lonely vigil. When Jody saves Desham's life, they become better acquainted. With a bit of coaxing, the ageing spinster tells the story of her life, leading to a flashback.
Gallant Journey, 1h26
Directed by William A. Wellman
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Historical
Themes Transport films, Aviation films
Actors Glenn Ford, Janet Blair, Charles Ruggles, Henry Travers, Charles Kemper, Arthur Shields
Roles Zachary Montgomery
Rating60% 3.049223.049223.049223.049223.04922
The story picks up as Father Dick Ball in San Diego, California, tells the story of his childhood friend, John Joseph Montgomery, who was the first American to ever fly a glider plane in 1883. As early as 1879, John told his girlfriend Regina Cleary about his dreams of flying, although his family was very much opposed to this idea and considered him a fool. Regina believed in him, and secretly supported his work, until the first test flight in 1883, which was successful. John named his flying machine "aeroplane".
The Virginian, 1h27
Directed by Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich
Origin USA
Genres Romance, Western
Themes Films based on plays
Actors Joel McCrea, Brian Donlevy, Sonny Tufts, Minor Watson, Barbara Britton, Fay Bainter
Rating63% 3.196563.196563.196563.196563.19656
In 1885, Molly Wood (Barbara Britton) leaves the security (and dullness) of Vermont to be a schoolteacher in frontier Wyoming. On arrival, she becomes frightened by a spooked steer, and is "rescued" by the Virginian (Joel McCrea), only to discover the animal is so mild, it is a little girl's pet. As a result, she takes a strong dislike to the cowboy. He, on the other hand, is smitten with her. When Trampas (Brian Donlevy) voices his scurrilous speculation as to why she came west, the Virginian confronts him and forces him, at gunpoint, to take it back.
Renegades
Renegades (1946)
, 1h27
Directed by George Sherman
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Western
Actors Evelyn Keyes, Willard Parker, Larry Parks, Edgar Buchanan, Jim Bannon, Forrest Tucker
Roles Nathan Brockway
Rating58% 2.90682.90682.90682.90682.9068
La bande des Denbrow fait des ravages dans l'ouest. Alors qu'ils font un raid sur la ville de Prairie City, Ben le fils du meneur Kirk Denbrow, se porte au secours d'Hannah Brockway. Cette dernière tombe aussitôt amoureuse de lui. Elle décide de le suivre et vivre avec les criminels mais Ben est bien décidé à changer de vie et devenir honnête ...
Along Came Jones, 1h30
Directed by Stuart Heisler
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Action, Romance, Western
Actors Gary Cooper, Loretta Young, Dan Duryea, William Demarest, Lane Chandler, Frank Sully
Roles Luke Packard
Rating64% 3.2449353.2449353.2449353.2449353.244935
Easygoing Melody Jones (Gary Cooper) and his friend George Fury (William Demarest) wander into a town. Jones is mistaken for a wanted bandit named Monte Jarrad (Dan Duryea), which causes him no end of trouble. Meanwhile, the real Jarrad is hiding out in the home of his girl, Cherry de Longpre (Loretta Young). At first, she tries to use the newcomer to distract the townsfolk, but as she gets to know Jones, her feelings start to change.
Nine Girls
Nine Girls (1944)
, 1h18
Directed by Leigh Jason
Genres Comedy
Actors Ann Harding, Evelyn Keyes, Anita Louise, Leslie Brooks, Jeff Donnell, Jinx Falkenburg
Roles Capt. Brooks
Rating64% 3.2336453.2336453.2336453.2336453.233645
Une jeune fille est retrouvée assassinée, ses camarades de classe entreprennent de mener l'enquête.
The Ox-Bow Incident, 1h15
Directed by James Tinling, William A. Wellman
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action, Western
Themes Films about capital punishment, Children's films
Actors Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews, Anthony Quinn, Harry Morgan, Jane Darwell, William Eythe
Roles Sheriff Risley
Rating79% 3.997143.997143.997143.997143.99714
In Bridger's Wells, Nevada in 1885, Art Croft (Harry Morgan) and Gil Carter (Henry Fonda) ride into town and enter Darby's Saloon. The atmosphere is subdued due to recent incidents of cattle-rustling. Art and Gil are suspected to be rustlers because they are rarely seen in town.
No Time for Love, 1h23
Directed by Mitchell Leisen
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Themes Films about writers, Films about journalists
Actors Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray, Ilka Chase, Richard Haydn, Paul McGrath, June Havoc
Roles Construction Company President
Rating67% 3.393993.393993.393993.393993.39399
Mirror magazine's top photographer Katherine Grant (Claudette Colbert) is assigned to photograph the Interborough Vehicular River Tunnel project in New York City. Wearing a hardhat and boots, the beautiful photographer is taken underground to the construction site where she is not greeted warmly by the superstitious tunnel workers, called "sandhogs", who believe that women in the tunnel bring bad luck. When she sneaks closer to the drilling point to get a better view, her presence distracts some of the workers and causes an accident that nearly kills Jim Ryan (Fred MacMurray), the cocky well-built sandhog they call "Superman". When she sees the unconscious Ryan about to be crushed by a machine, she drags him to safety.
Air Force
Air Force (1943)
, 2h4
Directed by Howard Hawks
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Action, Adventure, Historical
Themes Politique, Transport films, Aviation films, Political films, United States Armed Forces in films
Actors John Garfield, John Ridgely, Gig Young, Harry Carey, Charles Drake, John Arthur Kennedy
Roles Colonel at Hickam Field
Rating69% 3.493923.493923.493923.493923.49392
On December 6, 1941, at Hamilton Field, near San Francisco, a United States Army Air Corps B-17D bomber Mary-Ann and its crew are being readied for a flight across the Pacific.
Background to Danger, 1h20
Directed by Raoul Walsh
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Thriller, Spy, Historical, Crime
Themes Spy films, Political films
Actors George Raft, Brenda Marshall, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Osa Massen, Turhan Bey
Roles 'Mac' McNamara
Rating63% 3.1993153.1993153.1993153.1993153.199315
In 1942, Nazi Germany attempts to bring neutral Turkey into the war on its side by staging an assassination attempt on Franz von Papen, its own ambassador to the country. Much to the annoyance of Colonel Robinson (Sydney Greenstreet), von Papen survives and the Russians that his agent provocateur was trying to frame have solid alibis, forcing him to turn to another scheme to inflame Turkey's traditional rivalry with Russia.