Assembly-Line Auteur

Of the many stories from Hollywood’s vibrant, free-wheeling pre-Code era, one of the most intriguing has never received its full due: the astonishing achievement of director William “Wild Bill” Wellman during his epic three-year run at Warner Brothers.

Between 1930 and 1933, Wellman directed 18 feature films and co-directed another, almost all on the studio’s busy production assembly line. What makes this achievement especially notable is the very high quality of roughly half of them—films that resonate deeply with audiences today. These range from such masterpieces as The Public Enemy, Heroes for Sale, and Wild Boys of the Road to such undisputed “pre-Code gems” as Night Nurse, Safe in Hell, and Midnight Mary. Considered as a body of work, they also give us a clearer understanding of Wellman the budding auteur, who, with each new film, refined his craft and sharpened his perspectives on themes he would revisit throughout his long career. Exploring each of these as well as other Wellman pre-Code films in depth, this book is an invaluable resource for those desiring to learn more about both this gifted director and a fascinating filmmaking era.

Author Biography

The author of multiple books on film history, David Meuel has also published two books of poems, more than two dozen short stories, and hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from U.S. national parks to high technology. He lives in Gig Harbor, Washington.