ThomasI Ince American film director, producer. Date of Birth: 06.11.1882 Country: USA

1. Biography of Thomas H. Ince
2. Ince once boasted that he had never read a single book.

Biography of Thomas H. Ince

Thomas Harper Ince, an American film director and producer, was born in 1882 in Newport, into a family of poor vaudeville actors. He did not receive a formal education, but from the age of six, he started performing on stage. Before entering the film industry, he tried his hand at various professions, including working as a waiter in a cafe.

In 1906, Ince made his first appearances in small roles for Edison and then for Vitagraph. Five years later, his brother became a leading actor at Vitagraph. Ince and his wife worked as extras at Biograph, where he met Griffith. In 1910, he moved from New York to Hollywood.

In 1911, Adam Kessel, the owner of Independent Moving Pictures (IMP), appointed Ince as the head of Bison, a company specializing in cowboy films with circus acrobats. In October 1911, Thomas Ince directed his first western film, "Across the Prairies." By the beginning of World War I, Ince had established his own studio called Inceville. In 1915, he became the autonomous head of a creative group within the Triangle Motion Picture Company, along with Mack Sennett and David Griffith. On June 2, 1916, "Civilization" premiered.

After 1919, Ince's career declined, and between 1921 and 1924, he released about fifty films that did not achieve commercial success. In his later years, he directed films featuring Marion Davies.

Thomas Harper Ince passed away on November 19, 1924, due to food poisoning aboard the yacht "Idris." Although Ince was known as a director and producer, his organizing skills played a significant role in his career. He had a talent for creating the atmosphere, rhythm, and tension in films and had a keen sense of the camera's capabilities. Ince considered the screenplay the foundation of the production process. Although Gardner Sullivan was responsible for selecting scripts at Ince's studios, Ince maintained control and personally reviewed and made amendments to all scripts. This became known as Ince's "iron scenario."

Another distinctive feature of Ince's work was his simultaneous direction of multiple films. Over the years, Ince assembled a considerable team of directors, many of whom later became leading American filmmakers, such as Fred Niblo, Frank Borzage, Reginald Barker, Henry King, Walter Edwards, Raymond West, and Charles Miller. While Ince rarely directed films independently, he predominantly served as a producer, but he often personally edited films directed by others under his supervision.

On Ince's studios, aspiring actors such as William Hart, Charles Ray, and Sessue Hayakawa began their careers. In recognition of his work on the film "Civilization," Ince received thanks from the President and was honored as a guest at the White House. Ince earned the nickname "Doctor of Sick Films" for his ability to successfully salvage seemingly hopeless films, often giving them new meaning and entertainment value. He is considered the pioneer of the prototype system in American cinema.

Ince once boasted that he had never read a single book.