Irving Cummings

New York-born Irving Cummings embarked upon a distinguished career in the performing arts, commencing his journey on the illustrious Broadway stage in his late teenage years, where he had the esteemed privilege of sharing the spotlight with the legendary Lillian Russell's company. As his talent and popularity continued to flourish, Cummings ventured into the realm of cinema in 1909, initially assuming the role of an actor, and subsequently ascending to the status of a highly sought-after leading man in the early 1920s. Concurrently, he began to develop his skills as a director, predominantly focusing on action-packed films and occasional comedies, but it wasn't until the 1930s, when he joined the prestigious 20th Century-Fox studio, that Cummings truly came into his own. With his unique expertise and flair for the dramatic, Cummings specialized in the creation of grand, Technicolor-infused musical extravaganzas that Fox became renowned for, and was instrumental in crafting many of the most memorable and enjoyable films featuring the talents of iconic actresses such as Betty Grable, Alice Faye, and Shirley Temple.