Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William A. Seiter (June 10, 1890 - July 26, 1964) was an American film director. He was born in New York City. After attending Hudson River Military Academy, Seiter broke into films in 1915 as a bit player at Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, doubling a cowboy. He graduated to director in 1918.
At Universal Studios in the mid-1920s, Seiter was principal director of the popular Reginald Denny vehicles, most of which co-starred Seiter's then wife Laura La Plante (his second wife was actress Marian Nixon). This period also included The Beautiful and Damned and The Family Secret.
In the early talkie era, Seiter helped nurture the talents of RKO's comedy duo Wheeler & Woolsey in such rollicking features as Caught Plastered (1931) and Diplomaniacs (1933). He also directed the Laurel and Hardy feature Sons of the Desert (1933), their only film together. Other films include Sunny, Going Wild, Kiss Me Again, Hot Saturday, Way Back Home, Girl Crazy, Rafter Romance, Roberta, Room Service, Susannah of the Mounties, Allegheny Uprising, You Were Never Lovelier, Up in Central Park, and One Touch of Venus.
Among the many stars directed by Seiter during his long career were Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Henry Fonda, Margaret Sullavan, Jack Haley, Deanna Durbin, Jean Arthur, John Wayne, Fred MacMurray, Lucille Ball, Rita Hayworth and the Marx Brothers.
While many of his films were minor gems, Seiter was capable of turning out bad movies once in a while. For example, if he ran into friction from his star—as was the case with Lou Costello in 1946's Little Giant -- Seiter would get even by adhering religiously to the script, refusing to add any nuance or creativity to the project (this pettiness may have been the reason that one prominent actress of the 1930s referred to Seiter as the most unimaginative director she'd ever worked with). On his final four films, before he retired in 1954, Seiter functioned as both producer and director. These films included The Lady Wants Mink (1953), a gentle satire of the then topical "raise your own coat" craze.
He died in Beverly Hills, California, of a heart attack, aged 74.
Filmography
all 114
Director 111
Movies 108
TV Shows 6
Producer 2
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The Gale Storm Show (1956)
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Want Ad Wedding (1955)
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The Wild Bunch (1955)
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The Millionaire (1955)
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Champ for a Day (1953)
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The Lady Wants Mink (1953)
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Cavalcade of America (1952)
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Four Star Playhouse (1952)
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Dear Brat (1951)
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Borderline (1950)
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One Touch of Venus (1948)
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Up in Central Park (1948)
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I'll Be Yours (1947)
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Lover Come Back (1946)
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Little Giant (1946)
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That Night with You (1945)
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The Affairs of Susan (1945)
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It's a Pleasure (1945)
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Belle of the Yukon (1944)
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Four Jills in a Jeep (1944)
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Destroyer (1943)
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Broadway (1942)
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Appointment for Love (1941)
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Nice Girl? (1941)
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Hired Wife (1940)
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It's a Date (1940)
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Allegheny Uprising (1939)
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Room Service (1938)
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Three Blind Mice (1938)
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This Is My Affair (1937)
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Stowaway (1936)
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Dimples (1936)
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The Moon's Our Home (1936)
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In Person (1935)
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Orchids to You (1935)
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The Daring Young Man (1935)
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Roberta (1935)
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We're Rich Again (1934)
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Love Birds (1934)
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Sing and Like it (1934)
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Sons of the Desert (1933)
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Chance at Heaven (1933)
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Rafter Romance (1933)
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Diplomaniacs (1933)
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Hello, Everybody! (1933)
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If I Had a Million (1932)
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Hot Saturday (1932)
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Is My Face Red? (1932)
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Young Bride (1932)
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Girl Crazy (1932)
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Peach-o-Reno (1931)
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Way Back Home (1931)
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Caught Plastered (1931)
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Too Many Cooks (1931)
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Big Business Girl (1931)
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The Aviator (1931)
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Kiss Me Again (1931)
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Going Wild (1930)
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Sunny (1930)
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Back Pay (1930)
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The Flirting Widow (1930)
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Strictly Modern (1930)
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The Love Racket (1929)
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Footlights and Fools (1929)
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Smiling Irish Eyes (1929)
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Prisoners (1929)
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Why Be Good? (1929)
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Synthetic Sin (1929)
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Outcast (1928)
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Waterfront (1928)
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Happiness Ahead (1928)
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Good Morning, Judge (1928)
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The Small Bachelor (1927)
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Out All Night (1927)
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The Cheerful Fraud (1926)
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Take It from Me (1926)
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Rolling Home (1926)
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Skinner's Dress Suit (1926)
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The Teaser (1925)
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Where Was I? (1925)
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Dangerous Innocence (1925)
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The Mad Whirl (1925)
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The Fast Worker (1924)
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Helen's Babies (1924)
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The Family Secret (1924)
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His Forgotten Wife (1924)
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The White Sin (1924)
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Daddies (1924)
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Bell Boy 13 (1923)
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When Love Comes (1922)
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Gay and Devilish (1922)
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The Foolish Age (1921)
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Passing Through (1921)
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Camouflage (1918)
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Oh! What a Day (1918)
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Pierre of the North (1913)
Information
Known ForDirecting
GenderMale
Birthday1890-06-10
Deathday1964-07-26 (74 years old)
Birth PlaceNew York City, United States
RelationshipsLaura La Plante (1926 - 1934), Marian Nixon (1934 - 1964)
CitizenshipsUnited States
Also Known AsWilliam Alfred Seiter, William Seiter
Awardsstar on Hollywood Walk of Fame
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
Last updated:
- William A. Seiter
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