Important Irish-born director of the silent cinema, educated at King's College, London. Started as a stagehand in New York. By 1909 he operated a small picture theatre in Pennsylvania. Two years later he was hired as a writer by
Carl Laemmle, directing his first short the next year. Signed by
William Fox in 1915, graduating to feature films. With Paramount from 1923, directing several spectacular productions with British themes, including a silent version of
Beau Geste (1926). Regarded sound pictures with a measure of apprehension. Returned to Britain in 1934, but his career was well on the decline and he retired in 1940.