poster movie

Raymond Griffith

1895-01-22

The Biography

Raymond Griffith was one of the great silent movie comedians. Later in his career, he worked behind the camera as writer and producer. Griffith was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost his voice at an early age, causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse whisper. Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a child actor —others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause. Although a few comedy films of his are considered classics, Griffith is almost totally forgotten today. Many of his starring feature films have long since been lost, but probably the best known of his films today is Hands Up! (1926), a Civil War comedy feature directed by Clarence G. Badger, and co-starring Mack Swain, which was entered into the National Film Registry in 2005. Also considered a classic is Badger's Paths to Paradise, a caper film that is in all circulating prints missing its final reel. Like many silent comedians, he had a traditional costume; his was a top hat, white tie and tails, often augmented by a cape and/or walking stick. The coming of sound ended Griffith's acting career, but he did have one memorable role in a motion picture before retiring from the screen, playing a French soldier killed by Lew Ayres in the 1930 Lewis Milestone film All Quiet on the Western Front. He then segued into a writing/producing career at Twentieth Century Fox. Griffith choked to death at the Masquers Club in Los Angeles, California, aged 62, on November 25, 1957.

Raymond Griffith in

Movies

poster movie

All Quiet on the Western Front

7.8 average rating
poster movie

Souls for Sale

6.2 average rating
poster movie

White Tiger

5.5 average rating
poster movie

Hands Up!

5.3 average rating
poster movie

The Surf Girl

0 average rating
poster movie

Open All Night

7 average rating
poster movie

The Day of Faith

0 average rating
poster movie

Trent's Last Case

0 average rating
poster movie

Poisoned Paradise

0 average rating
poster movie

You'd Be Surprised

6.3 average rating
poster movie

The Night Club

0 average rating
poster movie

Fools First

0 average rating
poster movie

The Crossroads of New York

0 average rating
poster movie

Paths to Paradise

5.5 average rating
poster movie

Miss Bluebeard

6 average rating
poster movie

The Eternal Three

0 average rating
poster movie

Time to Love

0 average rating
poster movie

Changing Husbands

0 average rating
poster movie

His Foothill Folly

5 average rating
poster movie

The Follies Girl

0 average rating