Charles Kerr (screenwriter)


Charles Kerr was an American assistant director who worked in both the silent and sound film eras. While he never was the main individual behind the helm, Kerr was an assistant director on over fifty feature films, and a production manager on several more. He was also involved in the creation of five screenplays, co-authoring three of them.
Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 6, 1892, he would break into the film industry as an assistant director on the 1925 film Three Wise Crooks. Initially, he would work almost exclusively with the director James Leo Meehan at FBO Pictures, and would continue on at RKO Radio Pictures after its creation by merging FBO with the KAO theater chain, under RCA. He would remain at RKO until 1937, when he moved over to United Artists. His career would begin to dwindle during the 1940s, although he would co-author two screenplays during that decade: Li'l Abner in 1940 and 1946's Vacation in Reno. During his career he would work with such notable directors as Gregory La Cava, Lew Landers, and William Dieterle.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1925Three Wise CrooksAssistant director
1926LaddieAssistant director
1926'Assistant director
1927'Assistant director
1927Judgment of the HillsAssistant director
1927Little Mickey GroganAssistant director
1927The Magic GardenAssistant director
1927MotherAssistant director
1927Naughty NanetteAssistant director
1928'Assistant director
1928'Assistant director
1928Gang WarAssistant director
1928'Assistant director
1928Son of the Golden WestAssistant director
1928WallflowersAssistant director
1928Young WhirlwindAssistant director
1929'Assistant director
1930Lovin' the LadiesAssistant director
1930Second WifeAssistant director
1931Consolation MarriageAssistant director
1931Traveling HusbandsAssistant director
1931'Assistant director
1932Little Orphan AnnieAssistant director
1933Bed of RosesAssistant director
1933One Man's JourneyAssistant director
1934Two AloneAssistant director
1934Their Big MomentAssistant director
1934'Assistant director
1934His Greatest GambleAssistant director
1935Grand Old GirlAssistant director
1935Captain HurricaneAssistant director
1935Seven Keys to BaldpateAssistant director
1935FrecklesAssistant director
1936Night WaitressAssistant director
1936Without OrdersAssistant director
1937Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938Assistant director
1937Stand-InAssistant director
193752nd StreetAssistant director
1938Maid's Night OutAssistant director
1938'Assistant director
1938BlockadeAssistant director
1939Slightly HonorableAssistant director
1939Eternally YoursAssistant director
1939Winter CarnivalAssistant director
1940'Assistant director
1940Li'l AbnerScreenwriter
1942'Assistant director
1942'Assistant director
1943Two Weeks to LiveAssistant director
1943Alaska HighwayAssistant director
1946Vacation in RenoScreenwriter
1946Behind the MaskProduction manager
1946Don't Gamble with StrangersProduction manager
1946Partners in TimeProduction manager
1950'Assistant director
1951'Assistant director
1951Fort DefianceAssistant director
1951Production manager
1951Queen for a DayProduction manager