George H. Melford (bornGeorge Henry Knauff, February 19, 1877 – April 25, 1961) was an American stage and film actor and director. Often taken for granted as a director today, the stalwart Melford's name by the 1920s was, like Cecil B. DeMille's, appearing in big bold letters above the title of his films.[1]
Born inRochester, New York, in 1877 (though older sources state 1888), he was the son of German immigrant Henrietta Knauff. Melford had four sisters: Mary Knauff (Mrs. Godfrey Willis Wainwright); Henrietta Knauff; Alice Irene Knauff (Mrs. Edmond Francois Bernoudy) — all of Los Angeles — and Mrs. Frederick Kells/Keils of Ottawa, Canada. Melford graduated fromMcGill University inMontreal, Quebec, Canada.[citation needed]
He was an accomplished stage actor working inCincinnati, Ohio, before joining theKalem Company motion picture studio in New York City in 1909. Hired by directorSidney Olcott forcharacter actor roles, in the fall of 1910 he was sent to work with a film crew on theWest Coast. In 1911, withRobert Vignola, he co-directedRuth Roland in his first short film,Arizona Bill based on a script he had written. From there, Melford went on to direct another 30 films for Kalem Studios until 1915, when he was hired byJesse L. Lasky to direct feature-length films for Lasky'sFeature Play Company. That same year, Melford became one of the founding members of theMotion Picture Directors Association.
Poster forThe Sheik (1921), directed by George Melford
Melford remained with Lasky's company for ten years, then joinedUniversal Pictures, where he directed his firsttalkie in 1929. The following year, he co-directed four Spanish-language films including the acclaimedSpanish version ofDracula. Melford filmed it simultaneously with the English version on the same sets at night using a different cast and crew. ActressLupita Tovar—who was in the film—said in an interview on the 75th anniversary DVD of the film that Melford did not speak Spanish and had to use a translator.
Melford loved the film business, and although financially independent, he never stopped working. Having directed more than 140 films, he continued to work in small character roles. In the 1940s he was part ofPreston Sturges' unofficial"stock company" of character actors, appearing in six films written and directed by Sturges.[a] He also made a notable appearance in the 1956 epicThe Ten Commandments.
On May 9, 1904, Melford married Louise Leroy. She filed for divorce on September 28, 1923, asserting that he deserted her on September 15, 1922.[3] The divorce was granted on January 10, 1924.[4] He also was married to actressDiana Miller.[5]
