Edward Sloman

Director
Confirmed Years:   1917-19
Biography:

Sloman directed a wide range of films and worked with some of the Flying A’s most recognizable actors including, Franklyn Ritchie, William Russell, and Mary Miles Minter, yet much of Sloman’s work has been lost and his name rarely shows up in history books. Sloman is virtually a ghost of the silent film era.

Born on July 19, 1886 in the Harrow Road, Bayswater, London, Sloman left home at the age of 19 to begin his career as an actor. Sloman explained that, “For several years I earned a precarious living as an actor, and later as a director in stock and vaudeville.”

Sloman began his film career in 1914 at the Universal Film Manufacturing Company. While acting at the Universal, Sloman also wrote scenarios which he sold for twenty five dollars per story.

Sloman moved on to Lubin’s West Coast studio in 1915 for an increase in salary and the chance to direct, though only one and two reelers.

Sloman finally moved to American in 1917 and began directing features. On October 5, 1916, one of Sloman’s first films at the American, "A Woman’s Daring," was released and received good reviews from the critics. He also directed the sequel to the Flying A’s earlier success, "The Diamond from the Sky" (1916). The four episode serial drama, appropriately entitled "The Sequel to the Diamond from the Sky", starred Charlotte Burton, William Tedmarsh, Orrall Humphrey, and William Russell. Sloman may have played an important role in building the popularity of Russell. Soon after directing the serial, Sloman directed "High Play," which was released April 9, 1917. Reviews gave the film high marks, praising it for its impressive cast.

In 1918, Sloman began directing other genre films including comedies and melodramas. His film, "A Bit of Jade," released April 1, 1918, was a social comedy starring Mary Miles Minter. The trade paper Wid's Film and Film Folk describes Sloman’s direction, stating that the film “kept action as interesting as the scenario allowed” recommending it to anyone who enjoys a good movie. Perhaps his most familiar film, due to its availability, is "The Ghost of Rosie Taylor," a social comedy starring Mary Miles Minter released July 8, 1918. However, Sloman did not think too highly of this film.



“The Ghost of Rosie Taylor, with Mary Miles Minter, was not one of my mightiest efforts. I didn’t like the story, and I didn’t like the star. Mary Miles Minter was quite young then- sixteen- and very beautiful. Without doubt, she was the best looking youngster I ever saw, and the lousiest actress.”

Later on in his career, Paramount offered him a large sum to direct a film starring Minter. However, Sloman declined because of its terrible script.

In 1918 and 1919, the American Film Company lacked work to keep directors under regular contracts so Edward Sloman returned to Los Angeles. He was hired again by Universal Pictures where he directed his most critically acclaimed film, Surrender (1927), starring Russian actor Ivan Mozzhukhin. Sloman continued to direct films for both Universal and Paramount Pictures. The last film he directed was The Jury’s Secret, a Universal feature released January 16, 1938. After the rise of talking pictures, Sloman shifted careers, focusing on radio broadcasting, working as a writer, producer, and director. Sloman died on September 29, 1972 in Woodland Hills, California.



- Brandon Chen

Film and Media Studies 181

March 21, 2008

Confirmed American Credits:

Director --

Writer --

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