John E. Burch


John E. Burch, more commonly referred to as simply John Burch, was an American film assistant director and production manager during the latter part of the silent era through the 1950s.

Early life

Burch was born on August 17, 1896 in Chicago, Illinois to John Sebastian Burch and Mary Ann Pettit. Upon the United States' entry into World War One, Burch enlisted in the Navy, where he served aboard a submarine. At some point after the war, he moved from Chicago to Los Angeles, in an attempt to break into the film industry.

Career

Burch's first foray into the cinematic world was as an actor in 1925's White Fang, adapted by Jane Murfin from the novel of the same name by Jack London. This would be his only on-screen appearance. The following year, as the assistant director on The Arizona Streak, would see him begin a long career behind the camera as an assistant director, production manager and supervisor. The remainder of the 1920s would see him continue in the role of assistant director, as well as prop manager.
In 1931 Burch was credited as supervisor on Fanny Foley Herself. It was only the second film shot in the new Technicolor process. Over the course of his career, Burch would be involved in over 65 films. Some of the more notable films he worked on include: Li'l Abner, where he was an assistant director for Albert S. Rogell; 1942's A Guy Named Joe, starring Spencer Tracy and Irene Dunne, on which he would be one of Victor Fleming's assistant directors; and Brewster's Millions, starring Dennis O'Keefe, and directed by Allen Dwan, assisted by Burch. In 1936, Burch would be one of the early members of the Director's Guild of America. His final work in film would be on 1958's Thunder Road, starring Robert Mitchum, on which he worked as the production manager. After leaving the film industry, Burch would work for a short time in television, doing a few episodes for shows like The Untouchables, before working steadily as an assistant director on Bonanza from 1960-62.
Burch died from pneumonia on July 28, 1969, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1925White FangCast-Bill Morry
1926'Assistant director
1926'Assistant director
1926Flaming FuryAssistant director
1926Flashing FangsAssistant director
1926'Assistant director
1926Out of the WestAssistant director
1926Wild To GoAssistant director
1929Gun LawAssistant director
1929Pals of the PrairieAssistant director
1929'Assistant director
1929'Assistant director
1931'Assistant director
1931Fanny Foley HerselfProduction supervisor
1931Peach O'RenoProduction supervisor
1932Bird of ParadiseProduction supervisor
1935Hi, Gaucho!Production supervisor
1936Two in RevoltProduction supervisor
1936ChatterboxProduction associate
1936'Production supervisor
1937'Assistant director
1937Artists and ModelsAssistant director
1937King of GamblersAssistant director
1937Murder Goes to CollegeAssistant director
1938'Production manager
1939Fast and FuriousAssistant director
1940Kit CarsonAssistant director
1940Li'l AbnerAssistant director
1940FlorianAssistant director
1940South of Pago PagoAssistant director
1941Miss PollyAssistant director
1941Scattergood BainesAssistant director
1941Scattergood Pulls the StringsAssistant director
1941Tanks a MillionAssistant director
1941Double CrossProduction manager
1942Here We Go AgainAssistant director
1942'Assistant director
1942Scattergood Rides HighAssistant director
1943Cinderella Swings ItAssistant director
1943'Assistant director
1943Two Weeks to LiveUnit manager
1944'Assistant director
1944Goin' to TownAssistant director
1944Three Is a FamilyAssistant director
1944Abroad with Two YanksAssistant director
1944Andy Hardy's Blonde TroubleAssistant director
1944Since You Went AwayUnit manager
1945Brewster's MillionsAssistant director
1946Sister KennyUnit manager
1947HoneymoonProduction manager
1950Armored Car RobberyProduction manager
1950Bunco SquadProduction manager
1950Never a Dull MomentProduction manager
1952On Dangerous GroundAssistant production manager
1953Second ChanceAssistant production manager
1955'Assistant director, production manager
1955Pearl of the South PacificProduction supervisor
1955'Unit manager
1955Not As a StrangerProduction manager
1956BandidoProduction supervisor
1956Great Day in the MorningUnit manager
1957Assistant director
1957Spring ReunionAssistant director
1957Jet PilotAssistant production manager
1958Thunder RoadProduction manager