George H. Plympton — Biographical Sketch (1927) 🇺🇸
The screen almost lost one of its most prolific writers when in the course of his duty back in the early days of Vitagraph, George H. Plympton was directing a three-reel picture in which the New York City fire department participated. He got tangled in a crash while riding to fires on the apparatus and escaped only through a miracle.
Plympton is what might be termed a writing veteran of the film industry, for he did his first picture for Vitagraph in 1914. It was a story for Norma Talmadge, and was titled “Miser Murray’s Wedding Present.” That effort followed a career as short story and newspaper writer, and Plympton has done little since but write and adapt stories for the screen.
He remained with Vitagraph for four years, writing for John Bunny, Sidney Drew and many of Vitagraph’s earliest successes. He adapted the Alfred Henry Lewis “Wolfville” series and also many of the O. Henry series.
Since departing from Vitagraph, Plympton has written stories and adaptations for Metro, Famous, Pathé and Universal. He is now and for some time has been under contract to Universal. Looking back over his long career, Plympton points with pride to the two Universal Collegian series, which he adapted, as his best work. He has adapted many westerns, among them “Hard Fists,” “Smilin’ Sam,” “Hands Off,” “The Stolen Ranch,” “Flashing Hoofs,” “Desert Dust” (an original), and others. He also wrote the adaptations for the Arthur Lake series of comedies for Universal.
Plympton is a native of Brooklyn, and got his education there in the public schools. His original intention was to become an electrical engineer, but he got dabbling with fiction and sold a number of original stories to Vitagraph, which brought him his first picture contract. He came naturally by his ability as a writer, as his father, Dr. Harry Plympton, was also a very successful writer of fiction.
The younger Plympton served during the World War and is a member of the American Legion. He is also a member of the Writers’ Club in Los Angeles.
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Geo. H. Plympton
Writer
Universal Pictures
Continuities for 7 of the first and all of the second series of
Five-reel Westerns:
- Hard Fists
- Smilin’ Sam
- Hands Off
- Breezin’ Through
- The Stolen Ranch
- Flashing Hoofs
- Desert Dust
Now writing a comedy series for Arthur Lake
Specialist in comedies and westerns
75 reels of produced continuity in 1926
Collection: Motion Picture News, October 1927 (Booking Guide and Studio Directory)