Francis Ford — Man Who Made Serials Popular (1919) 🇬🇧

Francis Ford — An actor, author, and producer of screen serials.

Francis Ford is one of the most distinguished figures in the film world. He has had a remarkable career since entering the silent drama, and has carved a niche in the screen Hall of Fame, as an actor, producer, and author of photo-plays.

The first serial in which Francis Ford appeared was called Lucille Love, and the character of Hugo Loubeque, which he played, became so well-known that many people still call him by this name. Grace Cunard, who also played in the picture, is still Lucille Love to many picturegoers.

Mr. Ford was born in Portland, Me., September 15, 1883. While still in a high school, he left to enlist in the Spanish-American War, and at the conclusion of the war decided not to return to school, preferring to complete his training in the college of Life.

He entered upon a business career; but city days and city ways had little attraction for one of his keen, artistic temperament, and soon he joined a road repertoire company playing small parts.

A Wise Change

He was, later, leading man with a prominent stock company. He soon tired of life on the boards, however, and took up the silent drama. That this change was a wise one cannot be denied, for to-day he is one of the most popular actors in the world.

Among the many successes in which he has appeared are Lucille Love, The Broken Coin, Peg O’ the Ring, The Campbells are Comin’, and scores of others.

Francis Ford’s great successes have been connected with serials, and in these he has not only played the leading part, assisted by Grace Cunard, but he has also directed the entire production as well.

On Making Serials

“Serial management means that the director must be always on the job,” said Francis recently. “It is the hardest kind of hard work, but I’ve never been afraid of work yet, and I’m not going to begin now. When I have a leading role myself in a production, as I have in the present one, I watch all the action, even my own scenes, from a position near the camera, until we are ready for the camera.

“Then I enter, the action myself, indicating, of course, what it will he beforehand, so that there will be no surprises. This is the way we managed in Lucille Love and in The Broken Coin, and we have found it to be a good way.

“I love acting, and always have. I was supposed to go to college, you know, but I preferred the army, and went to Cuba instead. That military experience has been invaluable to me in pictures.

“Then, after that excitement, I could not contemplate a business or professional career. Ordinary professions, I mean. I wanted to go on the stage.

Didn’t Like His Voice

“Well, I did go, as you know, but they didn’t like my voice. Did you ever hear of such a direct steer to the movies? I followed the lead of Providence while the industry was still young and rather insignificant.

“You need a good memory and the ability to look at things in a large way in order to produce a successful serial. The great thing is to have a good clear picture of what you want at the beginning, and never lose sight of the thing as a whole while working on the details.

What the Policeman Wanted

“The signs which come to us of our popularity are tremendously gratifying. Recently I had a little experience in Chicago which might interest you. Some one lent us a car, and I was driving it down the Michigan Boulevard when a big policeman shouted to me to halt.

“I pulled up, thinking that I had broken all the traffic regulations and wondering how much it would take to square him. ‘You Francis Ford?’ he asked, with a County Cork accent. ‘Guilty,’ said I; ‘what have I done?’

“‘Nothing at all, at all,’ said he, ‘but me darn boy makes me take him every week to see you in the pictures. Shure, Oi don’t want to spind my evenings at the movies, but he makes me. I just thought Oi’d loike to tell him Oi’d had a talk with ye. On ye go!’”

We shall soon see him in a new F.B.O. serial, entitled The Silent Mystery.

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Photo captions:

• What will his next move be?
• He wants watching carefully!
• Ah! That’s his game, then.
• I can be a tough customer, too!
• I’ve outwitted him again.

Collection: Picture Show Magazine, September 1919