Edward J. Montagne — Biographical Sketch (1927) 🇺🇸

Box-office records, production cost records and records of all descriptions have been claimed in motion pictures, but Edward J. Montagne, Scenario Editor-in-Chief of Universal Pictures Corporation, probably has a record that has rarely if ever been equaled, and he has never taken the trouble to claim it. Among his many outstanding achievements in the motion picture industry is the fact that he has written and had produced over 350 screen stories, and in between times he has adapted 250 plays and books. There are probably few motion picture houses in the United States that have not shown his product.

Montagne was born in London, England, and educated at Boys’ High School in Brooklyn, N. Y. Like many others who have made big successes in the picture industry, he is a product of the newspaper field. He had wide experience as a newspaper reporter and editor. He started his career on the scenario staff at the old Vitagraph Studios in Brooklyn, and afterwards became scenario editor, in which capacity he was also later connected with Selznick [Lewis J. Selznick]. He has written original stories and screen plays for practically every prominent star in the business, including Mary Pickford, Norma Talmadge, Constance Talmadge, Corinne Griffith, Colleen Moore, Reginald Denny and Laura La Plante.

Among his successful pictures may be mentioned: “The Common Law,” “Rupert of Hentzau,” “One Week of Love,” “The Swamp Angel,” “The Storm Daughter,” “The Last of the Duanes,” and “The Flaming Frontier.” Included in his coming releases are: “The Show Boat,” “13 Washington Square,” “Ivanhoe,” “Foreign Legion,” and “The Braggart.”

For the past three or four years Montagne has served in an executive capacity with various of the larger companies. He has been chief supervising editor at Universal for a good part of that time, and for the past two years or more has supervised practically all of the important stories made by this concern, including the Reginald Denny and Laura La Plante product. He has just completed the adaptation and continuity for “The Big Gun,” which is to be one of Universal’s special pictures for next year.

Montagne is acknowledged as a leading authority on screen stories and entertainment values, and is one of the best-liked executives in Hollywood.

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Edward J. Montagne

Scenario Editor-in-Chief

Universal Pictures Corporation

Just Completed Adaptation and Continuity for

• The Big Gun

A Universal Special Feature

Coming Releases

• The Show Boat
• The Worm Turns
• Foreign Legion
• Ivanhoe
• The Braggart
• 13 Washington Square

Collection: Motion Picture News, October 1927 (Booking Guide and Studio Directory)