Fred Niblo(1874-1948)
- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Fred Niblo entered films in 1917 after two decades as a touring actor
in vaudeville and one-time manager of 'The Four Cohans' (he married
Josephine Cohan, the sister of
George M. Cohan). He made his film debut with two
early Australian silent films in 1916. He worked for
Thomas H. Ince from 1917 as
producer-director, many of his films starring his second wife,
Australian actress Enid Bennett. Niblo
joined Paramount under a three-year contract from 1918-21 and
then settled at MGM (1923-31). During this period, his chief claim to
fame rests on directing the epic
Ben-Hur (1925),
filmed in Italy (though completed in California) at the (then)
staggering cost of $4 million. Niblo was brought in by
Louis B. Mayer to replace director Charles Brabin after the production ran
into financial difficulties.He not only rescued it but made it
into one of the biggest blockbusters of the decade. However, it was
second-unit director B. Reeves Eason who
deserves credit for the famous chariot race.
In 1926 Niblo replaced Swedish director Mauritz Stiller who had a disagreement with producer Irving Thalberg, on Greta Garbo's La tentatrice (1926). This, alongside Camille (1926) and La belle ténébreuse (1928), were his last successes. His career failed to survive the transition to sound and even a stint in England could not resuscitate it. After a few small parts as an actor, Niblo slipped quietly into relative obscurity in 1943.
In 1926 Niblo replaced Swedish director Mauritz Stiller who had a disagreement with producer Irving Thalberg, on Greta Garbo's La tentatrice (1926). This, alongside Camille (1926) and La belle ténébreuse (1928), were his last successes. His career failed to survive the transition to sound and even a stint in England could not resuscitate it. After a few small parts as an actor, Niblo slipped quietly into relative obscurity in 1943.
