The Screen Director

Released: March 12, 1951 (1951)

Runtime: 9 minutes

Genres: Documentary

A documentary short film depicting the work of the motion picture director. An anonymous director is shown preparing the various aspects of a film for production, meeting with the writer and producer, approving wardrobe and set design, rehearsing scenes with the actors and camera crew, shooting the scenes, watching dailies, working with the editor and composer, and attending the first preview. Then a number of real directors are shown in archive footage (as well as a predominance of staged 'archive' footage) working with actors and crew.

Main Cast (Top 10 billed, oldest first)

Edward Biby as Actor (uncredited)
Age at release: 64
Creighton Hale as Theatre Manager (uncredited)
Age at release: 62
Bess Flowers as Woman in Audience (uncredited)
Age at release: 52
Paul Douglas as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Age at release: 43
Art Gilmore as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Age at release: 38
Vivien Leigh as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Age at release: 37
Burt Lancaster as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Age at release: 37
Ida Lupino as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Age at release: 33
Gordon MacRae as Self (uncredited)
Age at release: 30
Phyllis Coates as Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited)
Age at release: 24

Show more cast

Jack Wise as Preview Audience Spectator (uncredited)
Age at release: 63
Jack Mower as Man in Audience (uncredited)
Age at release: 60
Harold Miller as Actor (uncredited)
Age at release: 56
Brick Sullivan as Stagehand (uncredited)
Age at release: 51
John Wayne as Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited)
Age at release: 43
John Pickard as Jack - Assistant Director (uncredited)
Age at release: 37
Jane Wyman as Self (uncredited)
Age at release: 34
Ruth Roman as Self (uncredited)
Age at release: 28