James Gleason
Biography
James Gleason was born in New York City to William Gleason and Mina Crolius, who were both in the theatre. He was married to Lucile Gleason (born Lucile Webster), and had a son, Russell Gleason. As a young man James fought in the Spanish-American War. After the war he joined the stock company at the Liberty Theater in Oakland, California, which his parents were running. James and his wife then moved to Portland, Oregon, where they played in stock at the Baker Theater. For several years afterward they toured in road shows until James enlisted in the army during World War I. When he returned he appeared on the stage in "The Five Million." He then turned to writing, including "Is Zat So", which he produced for the NY stage. He also wrote and acted in "The Fall Guy" and "The Shannons on Broadway." Next he wrote The Broadway Melody (1929) for MGM. He collaborated, in 1930, on The Swellhead (1930), Dumbbells in Ermine (1930), What a Widow! (1930), Rain or Shine (1930) and His First Command (1929). He and his wife were then contracted to Pathe, Lucille to act, and James (or Jimmie as he was known) as a writer. Probably his most famous acting role was as Max Corkle, the manager of Joe Pendleton who was wrongly plucked from this life into the next, in the hit fantasy Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941).
Acting (125 movies)
Arsenic and Old Lace
1944
The Night of the Hunter
1955
Blondie of the Follies
1932
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
1945
Take One False Step
1949
We're Not Married!
1952
Earl of Puddlestone
1940
The Covered Trailer
1939
Meet John Doe
1941
Tales of Manhattan
1942
A Guy Named Joe
1943
I'll See You in My Dreams
1951
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
1949
Footlight Serenade
1942
A Date with the Falcon
1942
The Big Gamble
1931
Hollywood Thrill-Makers
1954
The Falcon Takes Over
1942
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
1941
Polly of the Follies
1922
Murder on a Bridle Path
1936
Once Upon a Time
1944
Down to Earth
1947
Loving You
1957
The Keys of the Kingdom
1944
Suddenly
1954
The Bishop's Wife
1947
A Free Soul
1931
Oh, Yeah!
1929
What Price Glory
1952
The Hoodlum Saint
1946
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
1936
The Clock
1945
Crash Dive
1943
Hoopla
1933
The Last Hurrah
1958
Affectionately Yours
1941
The Penguin Pool Murder
1932
Tycoon
1947
Murder on a Honeymoon
1935
Man or Gun
1958
Helldorado
1935
Nine Lives Are Not Enough
1941
Puttin' on the Ritz
1930
This Man's Navy
1945
The Plot Thickens
1936
Hay Foot
1942
The Yellow Cab Man
1950
On Your Toes
1939
The Story of Will Rogers
1952
My Gal Sal
1942
West Point of the Air
1935
Money, Women and Guns
1958
Key to the City
1950
Riding High
1950
Come Fill the Cup
1951
The Jackpot
1950
Star in the Dust
1956
Smart Woman
1948
Home Sweet Homicide
1946
Swellhead
1930
Her Man
1930
The Crooked Circle
1932
Forever Female
1953
Forty Naughty Girls
1937
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
1938
The Girl Rush
1955
Clear All Wires!
1933
When My Baby Smiles at Me
1948
Murder on the Blackboard
1934
Lady and Gent
1932
Spring Reunion
1957
Army Girl
1938
Sweepstakes
1931
The Return of October
1948
Suicide Fleet
1931
High Hats and Low Brows
1932
Meet the Missus
1929
Manhattan Merry-Go-Round
1937
Don't Turn 'em Loose
1936
We're Only Human
1935
The Homestretch
1947
The Big Game
1936
The Life of Riley
1949
The Female Animal
1958
Lady Luck
1946
Dumb-bells in Ermine
1930
The Meanest Gal in Town
1934
Bad Boy
1949
The Devil Is Driving
1932
Rock-a-Bye Baby
1958
The Matrimonial Bed
1930
Search for Beauty
1934
The Dude Goes West
1948
Beyond Victory
1931
Manila Calling
1942
Two Gals and a Guy
1951
The Well Groomed Bride
1946
Yours for the Asking
1936
Man in the Shadow
1957
Directing (3 movies)
| Title | Year | Job |
|---|---|---|
| High Voltage | 1929 | Screenplay |
| His First Command | 1929 | Screenplay |
| Dumb-bells in Ermine | 1930 | Writer |
| The Fall Guy | 1930 | Writer |
| Rain or Shine | 1930 | Writer |
| What a Widow! | 1930 | Screenplay |
| Three Hollywood Girls | 1931 | Writer |
| Beyond Victory | 1931 | Writer |
| Orders Is Orders | 1933 | Screenplay |
| The Bowery | 1933 | Screenplay |
| Change of Heart | 1934 | Screenplay |