Raymond Griffith
Raymond Griffith was one of the great silent movie comedians. Later in his career, he worked behind the camera as writer and producer. Griffith was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost his voice at an early age, causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse whisper. Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a child actor —others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause. Although a few comedy films of his are considered classics, Griffith is almost totally forgotten today. Many of his starring feature films have long since been lost, but probably the best known of his films today is Hands Up! (1926), a Civil War comedy feature directed by Clarence G. Badger, and co-starring Mack Swain, which was entered into the National Film Registry in 2005. Also considered a classic is Badger's Paths to Paradise, a caper film that is in all circulating prints missing its final reel. Like many silent comedians, he had a traditional costume; his was a top hat, white tie and tails, often augmented by a cape and/or walking stick. The coming of sound ended Griffith's acting career, but he did have one memorable role in a motion picture before retiring from the screen, playing a French soldier killed by Lew Ayres in the 1930 Lewis Milestone film All Quiet on the Western Front. He then segued into a writing/producing career at Twentieth Century Fox. Griffith choked to death at the Masquers Club in Los Angeles, California, aged 62, on November 25, 1957.
All Quiet on the Western Front
(Gérard Duval (uncredited))
A Dash of Courage
(Policeman)
Fools First
(Tony)
Changing Husbands
(Bob Hamilton)
Poisoned Paradise
(Martel)
The Crossroads of New York
(Wall Street 'Wolf')
Hands Up!
(Jack)
Paths to Paradise
(The Dude from Duluth)
White Tiger
(Roy Donovan)
Trent's Last Case
(Philip Trent)
Miss Bluebeard
(Bertie Bird)
The Eternal Three
(Leonard Foster)
The Day of Faith
(Tom Barnett)
Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model
(Shorty Burchell)
Souls for Sale
(Self - Celebrity Actor)
Red Lights
(Sheridan Scott)
You'd Be Surprised
(Mr. Green - The Coroner)
Lily of the Dust
(Karl Dehnecke)
Open All Night
(Igor)
The Night Club
(Robert White)
Time to Love
(Alfred Sava-Goiu)
The Surf Girl
(The Assistant Lifeguard)
He's a Prince!
(Prince)
A Scoundrel's Toll
(Victor Edison - the Inventor)
His Foothill Folly
(The Corn Doctor)
How Stars are Made
(The Janitor)
The Sleeping Porch
Fine Clothes
(Oscar)
Forty Winks
(Lord Chumley)
The Follies Girl
(Fredric)
The Crossroads of New York
(Writer)
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
(Producer)
Expensive Women
(Writer)
Day-time Wife
(Producer)
Girls About Town
(Writer)
Bought!
(Writer)
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
(Producer)
Blood Money
(Associate Producer)
God's Gift to Women
(Screenplay)
Poor Little Rich Girl
(Producer)
Wife, Doctor and Nurse
(Producer)
Three Blind Mice
(Producer)
Down on the Farm
(Writer)
Hotel for Women
(Producer)
Local Boy Makes Good
(Adaptation)
The Affairs of Cellini
(Associate Producer)
Parachute Jumper
(Supervising Producer)
Born to Be Bad
(Associate Producer)
Ladies They Talk About
(Producer)
Baby Face
(Producer)
Three on a Match
(Supervising Producer)
Life Begins
(Production Supervisor)
The Rich Are Always with Us
(Supervising Producer)
Girls About Town
(Associate Producer)
The Beloved Bachelor
(Adaptation)
Drums Along the Mohawk
(Associate Producer)
Going Up
(Writer)
Clive of India
(Associate Producer)
The Yankee Consul
(Writer)
The Village Chestnut
(Director)
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
(Associate Producer)
Private Number
(Associate Producer)