John M. Stahl(1886-1950)
- Producer
- Director
- Writer
John Stahl was the final executive in charge of Tiffany Pictures
(located on the Talisman lot, later owned by Monogram Pictures), once a
big fish in the pond of "Poverty Row", which in those days also
included Columbia Pictures. With a B-movie history dating back to the
silent era and after making 70 talkies, Tiffany imploded in 1932 in the
midst of the deepening Depression and ended its days grinding out the
"Chimp Comedies" series of shorts, in which chimps "lip-synched"--by
means of having them chew bubble gum--to dubbed actors' voices scripted
to corny plots. These simian shorts were popular as filler in
second-run movie houses until the freakish novelty wore thin. A sad end
to a studio once notable for a roster of stars that included
Rex Lease,
Ken Maynard,
Conway Tearle,
Bob Steele and
Mae Murray.
Stahl moved over to MGM, producing and directing the notable flop Parnell (1937), widely considered the studio's worst effort to date. Despite this, he would continue in the business as a producer and director of some note until his death in 1950.
Stahl moved over to MGM, producing and directing the notable flop Parnell (1937), widely considered the studio's worst effort to date. Despite this, he would continue in the business as a producer and director of some note until his death in 1950.
