Kane began his career as a professional cellist. In 1934 he took an interest in film directing and, starting in 1935, he co-directed serials forMascot Pictures andRepublic Pictures. He soon became Republic's top Western film director.[1]
Kane's first directorial credit was forThe Fighting Marines (1935). When Mascot Pictures and several other small film companies amalgamated into Republic Pictures in 1935, Kane became staff director, remaining at the studio until it ceased production in 1958.[1] He piloted manyGene Autry andRoy Rogers movies and directedJohn Wayne in films such asThe Lawless Nineties (1936) andFlame of Barbary Coast (1944), andJoseph Schildkraut onThe Cheaters (1945). Between 1935 and his death in 1975 he directed 119 films and numerous television series episodes.[1][2]
Unlike most Republic house directors, Kane was also credited as associate producer on many of his films. During 1939–57 he was a major film producer, producing over 60 films. Kane was also a film editor and screenwriter responsible for the editing process of over 20 of his films, and he had a brief stint as an actor.[1]
During the 1950s Kane worked steadily intelevision, with emphasis on Westerns and action series. He spent the last decade of his life as a second-unit director on such productions asUniversal StudiosBeau Geste (1966) andIn Enemy Country (1968).[1]
Kane died on August 25, 1975, in Santa Monica, California.[1]
