An Introduction

“He started out to be a painter and he is a painter — a Master Artist. For he transcribes life — not to a small canvas hidden away in some musty, dusty museum. But he brings living creations to that universal canvas, the screen where you and I and all may go and see. We don’t need an expensive ticket on a luxurious boat. We don’t need a passport nor hundreds of dollars to reach his exhibition. His salon is your town and my town. A few cents and a few steps and his pictures appear before our eyes. Gregory La Cava is a true artist. He is the modern Rubens. But he hasn’t yet been given the opportunity to paint his masterpiece. But that will come. And in a few years from now La Cava will not be ranked with “other great directors.” These “other great directors” will be ranked with La Cava.”

– Screenland magazine, May 1927.

I wanted to open this blog with this glamorous early Gregory La Cava bio. It establishes, in that old Hollywood publicity way, that despite his relatively new career in live-action filmmaking (more on that in my following posts), La Cava was an artist. I decided on creating a research blog for Gregory La Cava as I found myself unintentionally researching this great and troubled man. I continue to be fascinated by his artistic independence and surprised at how he is rarely ranked with “other great directors.”

To give a vague outline to the planned structure of this blog, I will open with talking about La Cava’s early plans to become a painter and how he sort of fell into a career as an animator, but quickly became invested in the medium, and then dive right into his two-reelers and features. Interviews with La Cava and photographs will be transcribed and uploaded here too, with links to and descriptions of the original sources.

I may branch out to create a podcast to discuss his life and work, so if anyone would be interested in joining me as co-host, or guest, please message me using the contact details listed in the “About” page. My main focus will be on this blog and to provide links and updates to where his films are available in both digital and physical forms.

A little about me, my name is Annabel Jessica Goldsmith, and I am a London-based researcher. I also run an Ann Harding blog, “Starring Ann Harding,” so it will be fun when these both collide when I discuss Gallant Lady (1933), a great success for both of them.