Melville (Buddy) Shyer, a true pioneer in Hollywood, spent over 50 years in the motion picture industry, leaving an indelible mark on the development of filmmaking. As one of the founding fathers of the Directors Guild of America, Shyer's impressive career spanned decades and saw him collaborate with legendary filmmakers such as Mack Sennett and D.W. Griffith.
Born on September 28, 1895, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Shyer's journey in the film industry began in New York, where he teamed up with fellow Tennessean Lem F. Kennedy to produce, direct, write, and act in motion pictures. This partnership with Universal Pictures lasted for five years, during which time Shyer honed his skills as a multifaceted filmmaker.
In 1929, Shyer joined the staff of the innovative director D.W. Griffith, working closely with him for two years before moving to Hollywood to become the Head of Production for Chesterfield Pictures. In this capacity, Shyer spearheaded the production of 37 films, cementing his reputation as a talented and dedicated filmmaker.
After leaving Chesterfield, Shyer co-founded Progressive Pictures, one of the first independent film companies, and went on to produce several films for the company. In 1933, he parted ways with Progressive to co-direct films with Dorothy Davenport, wife of the famous film actor Wallace Reid.
Together, Shyer and Davenport directed and produced a series of groundbreaking films, including Sucker Money and The Road to Ruin, both of which achieved significant commercial success and solidified Shyer's status as an emerging director. He went on to direct numerous films on his own, including The Murder in the Museum, Mad Youth, and Confessions of a Vice Baron.
As a writer, Shyer penned the screenplays for The Man from Hell and Green Eyes, both in 1934, and Dead Man's Trail, starring Johnny Mack Brown. In his later years, Shyer worked for various film companies, including Universal Pictures, Monogram Pictures Corp., and Allied Artists, before retiring in 1960.
Melville Shyer passed away on September 14, 1968, at the age of 72, leaving behind a legacy that continued to inspire future generations of filmmakers. His son, Charles Shyer, followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a successful screenwriter and director in his own right.
