Harry Pollard — Biographical Sketch (1927) 🇺🇸
Harry Pollard, director of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and several notable successes for Universal during the past few years, was once one of the most popular actor stars in motion pictures. Oddly enough, he was the original Uncle Tom in Universal’s first picture version of the famous story, which he has now produced as a twelve-reel special. Quite as odd is the fact that Margarita Fischer, who is Mrs. Pollard in private life, and who ably portrays the leading rôle of Eliza in the present production, was the original Topsy in that same three-reel “epic.” [Uncle Tom’s Cabin — 1913]
Unlike many other noted picture di rectors, Harry Pollard’s entire life, since boyhood, has been devoted to the art of acting and directing on the stage, and later in motion pictures. Born in Republic City, Kansas, he was raised and educated at Fresno. Cal., which may be called his home town. He made his debut as an actor in his ‘teens in that famous San Francisco stock company, the Alcazar. Another odd fact of Pollard’s stage career, — he never played in New York City.
The romance of Harry Pollard and Margarita Fischer began on the stage when they were playing leading rôles opposite each other in stock. They entered motion pictures together at the American in Santa Barbara, where they speedily became established screen favorites.
Carl Laemmle recently tendered Pollard a five-year contract establishing him among the leaders, as a reward for his unblemished record of successes. Pollard’s productions have ranked among the first ten box office hits for the past five years. This began with the “Leather Pushers” series which started Reginald Denny on the road to fame, and “Sporting Youth,” which started Laura La Plante as well. “K-The Unknown” and “The Reckless Age” were next. Then Pollard continued to hit with such Denny opuses as “Oh, Doctor,” “I’ll Show You the Town” and “California Straight Ahead.” His “Poker Faces” was another Laura La Plante success. Perhaps his greatest box office hit was “The Cohens and Kellys.”
Uncle Tom’s Cabin is Harry Pollard’s latest achievement.
“Show Boat,” that colorful Edna Ferber story of Mississippi river life, will be his next directorial effort.
—
Harry Pollard — Director
Coming
- Show Boat
Universal
Collection: Motion Picture News, October 1927 (Booking Guide and Studio Directory)