Monty Banks
Monty Banks was a short, stocky but somehow debonair Italian-born comic actor, later also writer and director. In the US from 1914, he first appeared on stage in musical comedy and cabaret. By 1917 he was working as a dancer in New York's Dominguez Cafe. After this he turned to films, acting and doing stunt work at Keystone, Universal and for Al Christie. Changing his name from Mario Bianchi to Monty Banks may have been prompted by Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle as a passing reference to his playing '"montebanks". By 1919 Banks had moved to Vitagraph to play a villain in The Grocery Clerk (1919), foil to star comic Larry Semon. Banks first came to the fore in his own right as star of the "Welcome Comedies" made by Warner Brothers. He spent the early 1920s at Fox and Grand Asher, graduating to writing and directing two-reel comedies with himself as the star. Most noteworthy entries in regard to inventive sight gags and Mack Sennett--style madcap plots are Pay or Move (1924) and The Golf Bug (1924). The success of this series prompted Banks to create an independent production company, the Monty Banks Pictures Corporation, in conjunction with writer/director Howard Estabrook. He made several feature-length films for Pathe, including Play Safe (1927)) (generally considered his best work), which featured a climactic runaway train sequence. This style of fast-action slapstick made it inevitable that Banks suffered more than his fair share of injuries, especially since he continued to do many of his own stunts. From the late 1920s Banks worked in England and made several appearances in sound films. However, his accent proved to be something of an obstacle. He therefore decided, after 1930, to concentrate on directing and producing. He helmed four features starring the popular entertainer Gracie Fields, who became his second wife in 1940. In 1935 he directed a well-received George Formby comedy, No Limit (1935), about the TT motorcycle races on the Isle of Man, which were shot on location there. With the outbreak of World War II Banks--being an Italian citizen--would have faced internment in England as an enemy alien. He therefore deemed it necessary to flee to Canada, and from there to the neutral United States. He eventually obtained American citizenship, for which he had applied years earlier, but had forgotten to submit the necessary paperwork. Back in Hollywood he ended up at 20th Century-Fox, directing Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in Great Guns (1941), arguably one of their lesser efforts. Banks died of a heart attack during a trip through Italy in January 1950, aged just 52. Sadly, the majority of his one- and two-reelers are now considered lost films. As a result, his status as a leading comic of the silent screen may have somewhat diminished--except, perhaps, in his home town of Cesena, where a foundation was established in his honor (the "Aula Didattica Monty Banks"), offering students "practical courses on experimental aspects of video production".
Falling in Love
(Film Director)
Play Safe
(The Boy)
Blood and Sand
(Antonio Lopez)
Tonight's the Night - Pass It On
(Convict)
The Grocery Clerk
(The Tow Gusher, a 'He Vamp')
The Slappiest Days of Our Lives
((archive footage))
The Garage
(Man with Dog (uncredited))
Derby Day
Pay or Move
(Monty)
The Covered Schooner
(The Boy)
Wedding Bells
(The Groom)
The Church Mouse
(Window Washer)
Africa F.O.B.
(Monty Banks, the Stranger)
Olympic Honeymoon
(Orban)
A Scrap of Paper
(Soldier)
Elstree Story
(Himself)
The Purple Mask
(Jack Elliot & Jacques, Patricia's Butler (as Mario Bianchi))
Don't Park Here
(A Rival)
Chasing Choo Choos
(Monty)
Flying Luck
(The Boy)
Love
(Farmhand)
Brilliantine the Bull Fighter
(Adolph Brilliantino)
Oils Well!
(Monty, the Office Force)
Hot Sands
For the Love of Mike
(Chef)
Shipyard Sally
Cold Hearts and Hot Flames
Nearly Married
(Count Up / Mac Aroni)
Queen of Hearts
(Montague Banking)
Always Late
Six A.M.
Days of Thrills and Laughter
(Self (archive footage))
You Made Me Love You
(Taxi Driver (uncredited))
A Blind Pig
(French Salesman)
Atta Boy
(Monty Milde)
One Night Only
A Bedroom Scandal
(A Husband)
Where Is My Wife?
(The Jealous Husband)
Heads We Go
(Chauffeur)
The Girl in Possession
(Caruso)
Coppers and Scents
(Sherlock McNutt)
Her First False Hare
(Unnamed)
A Flivver Wedding
(The Boy)
Fresh Air
(The boy)
Cleaned and Dry
(The Dry Cleaner Delivery Wagon Driver)
Love's Handicap
(The Watchful Waiter)
Squirrel Food
(The Jailbird)
Paging Love
(The Encyclopedia Salesman)
A Wild Goose Chase
(Monty)
Home Cooking
The Compulsory Husband
(Monty)
Week-End Wives
(Max Ammon)
Atlantic
(Dandy)
Adam's Apple
(Monty Adams)
A Perfect Gentleman
(Monty Brooks)
So You Won't Talk
(Tony)
Man of the Moment
(Doctor)
The Golf Bug
(Monty)
Taxi Please
(The Taxi Driver)
The Belles of Liberty
(Harold Hatband (Son) as Frenchie Bianchi)
Horse Shoes
(Monty Milde)
Keep Smiling
(The Boy)
A Bell for Adano
(Giuseppe)
Too Much Johnson
(Leon Dathis)
Camping Out
The Sheriff
In and Out
(Mr. Newlywed)
Did She Do Wrong?
Leave It to Me
Great Guns
(Director)
No Limit
(Director)
Pay or Move
(Producer)
Man of the Moment
(Director)
Keep Your Seats, Please
(Director)
The Church Mouse
(Director)
The Jerry Builders
(Director)
Olympic Honeymoon
(Writer)
Leave It to Me
(Director)
Shipyard Sally
(Director)
Queen of Hearts
(Director)
Chasing Choo Choos
(Story)
Keep Smiling
(Director)
Why Sailors Leave Home
(Director)
Hot Sands
(Director)
For the Love of Mike
(Director)
The Tenderfoot
(Adaptation)
Oils Well!
(Producer)
We're Going to Be Rich
(Director)
You Made Me Love You
(Director)
Tonight's the Night - Pass It On
(Director)
The Black Hand Gang
(Director)
Heads We Go
(Director)
Falling in Love
(Director)
Almost a Honeymoon
(Director)
Almost a Honeymoon
(Writer)
Amateur Night in London
(Director)
Amateur Night in London
(Writer)
Cocktails
(Director)
The Compulsory Husband
(Director)
Eve's Fall
(Director)
His First Car
(Director)
Kiss Me Sergeant
(Director)
Play Safe
(Story)
The Musical Beauty Shop
(Director)
The New Waiter
(Director)
Not So Quiet on the Western Front
(Director)
Old Soldiers Never Die
(Director)
Old Soldiers Never Die
(Producer)
Poor Old Bill
(Director)
Money for Nothing
(Director)
What a Night!
(Director)
What a Night!
(Producer)
My Wife's Family
(Director)
18 Minutes
(Director)
Atta Boy
(Producer)
Votre sourire
(Director)
Hello, Sweetheart
(Director)
The Girl in Possession
(Director)
The Girl in Possession
(Writer)
Father and Son
(Director)
Love and Luck
(Director)
Horse Shoes
(Screenplay)
Horse Shoes
(Story)
Horse Shoes
(Executive Producer)
Keep Smiling
(Writer)