Leo McCarey

Leo McCarey
Date of Birth: 03 Oct 1898
Country: USA
Biography: A three-time Academy Award winning director, screenwriter and producer, involved in nearly 200 movies, including Duck Soup, The Awful Truth, Love Affair, and Going My Way. While focusing mainly on screwball comedies during the 1930s, McCarey turned towards producing more socially aware and conservative movies during the 1940s, ultimately finding success and acclaim in both genres. (Wikipedia)
Total Credits at Criticker: 82 (Director), 53 (Writer)
Picture submitted by kangadoodoo
Find more information about Leo McCarey at The Internet Movie Database
Titles you haven't rated - Director (82) | Writer (53)
The Awful Truth
Before their divorce becomes final, Jerry and Lucy Warriner both do their best to ruin each other's plans for remarriage... (imdb)
Duck Soup
Rufus T. Firefly is named president/dictator of bankrupt Freedonia and declares war on neighboring Sylvania over the love of wealthy Mrs. Teasdale. (imdb)
An Affair to Remember
A couple falls in love and agrees to meet in six months at the Empire State Building - but will it happen? (imdb)
Make Way for Tomorrow
Ma & Pa spend their last day together in New York City, and depart to separate nursing homes from the same train station they had arrived on to being their Honeymoon. (imdb)
Mum\
Mum's the Word (1926) - Short Film
A widow has married rich, but didn't tell her husband about her son. And he's coming for a surprise visit... (imdb)
Mighty Like a Moose
Mr. and Mrs. Moose are not pretty. But after he has his teeth fixed and she has her nose done they look great... (imdb)
Big Business
Big Business (1929) - Short Film
Ollie and Stanley are two Christmas Tree sales reps who get into one of their usual mutual destruction fights with a homeowner. (imdb)
The Milky Way
Timid milkman, Burleigh Sullivan (Lloyd), somehow knocks out a boxing champ in a brawl. The fighter's manager decides to build up the milkman's reputation in a series of fixed fights and then have the champ beat him to regain his title. (imdb)
The Kid from Spain
Eddie and his Mexican friend Ricardo are expelled from college after Ricardo put Eddie in the girl's dormitory when he was drunk. Per chance Eddie gets mixed up in a bank robbery and is forced to drive the robbers to safety. To get rid of him they force him to leave the USA for Mexico, but a cop is following him... (imdb)
Ruggles of Red Gap
An English valet brought to the American west assimilates into the American way of life. (imdb)
Once Upon a Honeymoon
At the start of WWII, Katie O'Hara, an American burlesque girl intent on social climbing, marries Austrian Baron Von Luber. Pat O'Toole, an American radio reporter, sees this as a chance to investigate Von Luber, who is suspected of having Nazi ties... (imdb)
The Bells of St. Mary\
Father O'Malley the unconventional priest from 'Going My Way' continues his work for the Catholic Church. This time he is sent to St. Mary's, a run-down parochial school on the verge of condemnation. He and Sister Benedict work together in an attempt to save the school, though their differing methods often lead to good-natured disagreements. (imdb)
Love Affair
French playboy Michel Marnet and American Terry McKay fall in love aboard ship. They arrange to reunite 6 months later, after Michel has had a chance to earn a decent living. Unfortunately, their meeting is foiled when Terry is injured minutes before their rendezvous. (imdb)
Liberty
Liberty (1929) - Short Film
Two escaped convicts (Laurel & Hardy) change clothes in the getaway car, but wind up wearing each other's pants. The rest of the film involves their trying to exchange pants, in alleys, in cabs and finally high above the street on the girders of a construction site. (imdb)
Wrong Again
Wrong Again (1929) - Short Film
Among the horses stable hands Stanley and Oliver are tending is a thoroughbred named "Blue Boy." But when they overhear two men talking about a $5000 reward for the return of the stolen "Blue Boy," they miss the part about it being the painting, not the horse... (imdb)
Indiscreet
On New Year's Eve, Geraldine ('Jerry') Trent decides to break up with her boyfriend Jim Woodward, having finally grown tired of his dishonesty and his infidelities. Soon afterward, Geraldine meets and falls in love with novelist Anthony Blake. Blake knows that she has had a man in her past, but he is content as long as he never finds out who it was. All seems well until her sister Joan returns from a trip, and happily introduces Woodward as the new man in her life. (imdb)
Going My Way
A new priest shows up at the parish of a crusty old priest named Father Fitzgibbon. The new man, Father O'Malley, must ingratiate himself with both the old man and his congregation. There are various ups and downs in their relationship but on the whole, it all seems to be going rather well. Then one night, the church burns to the ground. (imdb)
Belle of the Nineties
Ruby Carter (Mae West), the American Beauty queen of the night club-sporting world, shifts her operations from St.Louis to New Orleans (which kind of belies the Western genre designation), mostly to get away from prizefighter Tiger Kid (Roger Pryor). Installed as the prize attraction of "The Sensation Club", ran by Ace Lamont (John Miljan), she quickly becomes the toast of the town... (imdb)
Pass the Gravy
Pass the Gravy (1928) - Short Film
Schultz (Bert Sprotte) raises prize chickens and roosters that are always getting into neighbor Max Davidson's garden and eating the seeds, leading to constant feuding between the two men. When their children announce their engagement the two men decide to bury the hatchet and Davidson suggests a dinner at his house. (imdb)
Good Sam
Sam Clayton has a good heart and likes to help out people in need. In fact, he likes to help them out so much that he often finds himself broke and unable to help his own family buy the things they need--like a house. (imdb)
My Son John
A small-town couple is shattered by the revelation that their son is a Commie agent.
Rally \
All about the citizens of Putnam's landing and their reactions to an army missile base in their back yard. (imdb)
Satan Never Sleeps
A priest arrives at a mission-post in China accompanied by a young native girl who has joined him along the way. His job is to relieve the existing priest, who is now too old and weak to continue with the upkeep of the church. However, Communist soldiers arrive at the mission and seize it as a command post. Their leader rapes the native girl and impregnates her, only later to realize that Communism is no good for him... (imdb)
Six of a Kind
When a respectable middle-class couple take a cross-country trip by auto, they share expenses with a decidedly oddball couple, none of whom know the car carries embezzled funds. (imdb)
Sugar Daddies
Sugar Daddies (1927) - Short Film
Rich oil tycoon (Finlayson) awakens one morning, after a night of carousing, to be told that he was married the night before. (imdb)
The Finishing Touch
Mayhem ensues as Stan and Ollie attempt to build a house in one day.
Should Married Men Go Home?
When Laurel visits Hardy at home, hi-jinx occur and the Mrs. orders them out. They go to a golf course where they try to impress two young ladies. (imdb)
Habeas Corpus
Habeas Corpus (1928) - Short Film
Loony scientist (Carle) hires Laurel and Hardy to raid the cemetery to keep him supplied with dead bodies for his experiments. (imdb)
We Faw Down
We Faw Down (1928) - Short Film
Stan & Ollie attempt to fool their wives by sneaking out to a poker game, but instead get involved with two flirty ladies, one of whom is the girlfriend of a jealous boxer. (imdb)
Why Girls Say No
Papa Whisselberg deals with the trials and tribulations of his daughter Becky's dating habits.
Jewish Prudence
Jewish Prudence (1927) - Short Film
Papa Gimplewart and his son attempt to commit insurance fraud.
Don\
Max and his son Asher are invited to a party, where Max meets a rich widow, but Asher keeps annoying all of the guests, so Max refuses to speak to him. 10 days later he has married the widow, but hasn't told her about Asher. Asher doesn't like the situation either, and enters the home disguised as the new maid, that leeds to a growing suspicion of his step mother, who has her own little secret. (imdb)
Should Second Husbands Come First?
A woman's two sons pretend to be insane in order to de-rail their mother's plans to remarry.
Flaming Fathers
Flaming Fathers (1927) - Short Film
Papa Gimplewart (Max Davidson) chaperones his daughter and her "steady" during a beach adventure.
Let\
Dress designer Joan Wood, who's heavily in debt, has created costumes for a Broadway show that is exported to Argentina. With the money she wants to pay her debts, but there was a mistake: she is receiving the money in Buenos Aires, not in New York. Her friend Wally Wendell, whose grandfather does not approve of his relationship with her, wants him to marry a girl he hasn't seen for some years named Constance Cook, whose grandfather is the owner of a ship traveling to Buenos Aires and Constance (imdb)
The Caretaker\
The two-reel silent film comedy The Caretaker's Daughter was distributed by Pathe in 1925. Produced by the prolific Hal Roach, the film stars the great Charley Chase in a case of multiple incarnations!
The Rat\
Charley Chase is a hapless inventor with a better mouse trap in this silent comedy from 1925. (imdb)
Innocent Husbands
Despite his faithfulness, Melvin is always under suspicion by wife Mame. Complications erupt when a woman from a party across the hall passes out in Melvin's bedroom just before Mame returns. (imdb)
Tell Em Nothing
Tell Em Nothing (1926) - Short Film
Charlie is the great divorce attorney, in demand by all women wishing to shed their husbands. While explaining to one woman how to obtain a divorce by getting photos in a compromising situation... (imdb)
Be Your Age
Be Your Age (1926) - Short Film
Charley needs $10,000 right away. Mrs. Schwartzkopple has inherited $2 million from her late husband and wants to marry a younger man. Mr. Blaylock, her attorney, sees a way to solve both their problems, and keep control of her $2 million. (imdb)
Mama Behave
Mama Behave (1926) - Short Film
A man finds out that his wife wishes he would act more like his twin brother, so he decides to impersonate his twin in an attempt to determine his wife's fidelity. (imdb)
Should Men Walk Home?
Mabel plays an out-and-out crook, a "Girl Bandit," no less. And she quickly hooks up with a male partner in crime, in this case a Gentleman Crook played by perpetually grinning Creighton Hale. Mabel seems a little livelier in this film than in some of her other late works. In the very first scene we find her hitch-hiking, and she's forced to make a mad dash for cover when Hale's car nearly hits her. Soon they team up and crash a swanky party in a mansion to steal a jewel from the host's safe. (imdb)
The Way of All Pants
A man delivering a pair of trousers loses his own pants, setting off a chaotic sequence of events. (imdb)
Eve\
Agnes Ayres was apparently a star of feature film who is top billed in this one-off Hal Roach short. She does well as the woman at the centre of the story, but it's pretty plain that it's actually the comic mind and performing talents of Stan Laurel, who plays her butler, that make this two-reel short shine. (imdb)
Dog Shy
Dog Shy (1926) - Short Film
Charley is afraid of dogs, and one chases him into a phone box, which a stuffy aristocrat has just left to get more change, to continue the phone call with his fiancée, who is being forced by her parents to marry him. Charley agrees to help the girl, and is mistakenly hired as a butler at the same house. That evening, there's a big party at the house, and he has to find out which of the 20 girls there is the right one. (imdb)
Isn\
Charley is plagued with failure and with his brother-in-law, who's allergic to labor. When he decides to take the family on a camping trip, his wife learns about a contest sponsored by a pen company, with the first prize being an ocean trip. To win the prize Charley has to sell those pens - surprisingly he wins, but the ship turns out to be a wreck on it's last trip to the scrapyard. To make things worse they accidentally leave their young daughter on the dock and the ship sails without her. (imdb)
What Price Goofy?
Jamison has a very jealous wife. Mrs. Jamison has a very gossipy friend. When the friend spots Jamison on the street talking to an attractive young woman, she reports back to Mrs. Jamison that her husband is obviously having an affair. Mrs. Jamison storms out, and a few minutes later a guest arrives for a visit -- a Professor Brown. Jamison doesn't realize the professor is a woman, and Mrs. Jamison, who has returned, doesn't realize the woman is Professor Brown. (imdb)
His Wooden Wedding
A few moments before Charley is going to marry, a "friend", who is jealous, gives him an anonymous note, stating that the bride has a wooden leg. Charley cancels the wedding, but agrees to leave her his very expensive engagement ring. His "friend" sees his chance to get the ring and tells her otherwise. But when he tries to hide the ring in his top hat, Charley finds out that he has mistakenly taken the wrong hat - the ring is in Charley's hat. And he decides to go on a cruise. (imdb)
Crazy Like a Fox
Two rich capitalists want to marry their children, but they don't like the idea at all. She tries to run away, and meets him at the station. They fall in love, unbeknownst to their real identities, and decide each on their own that they have to wreck their parents plan. He asks his valet, to put a small postscript on his letter of introduction, stating that he's crazy and has sometimes (at least six times a day) crazy spells. (imdb)
Bromo and Juliet
A young man puts on the play "Romeo and Juliet" as a fundraiser, but has to keep a close eye on his dad, who's had several drinks too many, and a pesky cab driver who's determined to collect his fare. (imdb)
Seeing Nellie Home
The situation is typically embarrassing and unlikely-but-possible for Charley, but it is at the same time such a simple idea -- Charley shows off by taking a pretty girl back home, wreaks havoc trying to get her in, then discovers that she's married. (imdb)
A Ten-Minute Egg
The main premise for the comedy is the Jimmy discovers he can convince people he is a tough figure to be reckoned with merely by giving them a business card identifying him as the bouncer of the "Bucket of Blood Cafe." (imdb)
Outdoor Pajamas
Outdoor Pajamas (1924) - Short Film
This funny Hal Roach comedy has Jimmy Jump (Charley Chase) waking up late for his wedding so in the mad rush he ends up leaving his house only dressed in his pajamas. As he makes his way to the church he finds one disaster after another. (imdb)
Young Oldfield
Young Oldfield (1924) - Short Film
Jimmy always fantasied about racing. But now he has to pay the mortgage before noon or else he won't own his shop any longer. (imdb)
Long Fliv the King
This offbeat comedy from future Hollywood screwball director McCarey is about a princess who must find a husband in 24 hours or forfeit her throne. She quickly marries a condemned man--but the man is pardoned. (imdb)
Too Many Mammas
Too Many Mammas (1924) - Short Film
Charley's boss insists that Charley come along with him. After all, the boss is stepping out with a woman and he's married and wants Charley along to provide cover. So, if they are caught, the wife will think the young woman is Charley's girl. Once there, he gets pulled into an attempt by a lady to make her husband (Noah Young) jealous. And, when the wife AND Charley's girlfriend arrive, things really heat up. (imdb)
Going Ga-ga
Going Ga-ga (1929) - Short Film
Anita and Marion realize that an abandoned baby they sneaked into an orphanage was kidnapped from a millionaire. For the reward, they proceed to break into the institution at night, dressed as men to beat curfew, to get the kid out again. (imdb)
You Can Change the World
An evil priest bores movie stars.
Should Husbands Be Watched?
Mr. Jump has come into some money and informs his wife that they can now hire a maid and won't have to do anymore housework. Circumstances cause Mrs. Jump to suspect that Mr. Jump is cavorting with the new maid. (imdb)
The Sophomore
Joe Collins (Eddie Quillan) arrives at Hanford College to begin his second year with $200 to pay his tuition, is enticed into a craps game, and loses all in this nostalgic slice of college, replete with songs, romance, prom dances and the inevitable big football game.
Is Marriage the Bunk?
Charley has in-laws that look down on him because he's not rich. So, to try to keep up, he rushes out to buy a car--but no matter, they still think he's a drip--as does his wife. Later, when he's given a simple job to do by his boss, he screws it up--and loses face once again with his family. (imdb)
Accidental Accidents
Approximately only 1 minute and 49 seconds of footage survives from the film.
The Poor Fish
The Poor Fish (1924) - Short Film
Charley, frustrated by his office job, quarrels with his wife, after which they decide to switch jobs. She goes to the office and Charley does the housework. Having never done something like this in his life before, he starts a chaos, something his mother-in-law was expecting... (imdb)
Bad Boy
Bad Boy (1925) - Short Film
In this two-reeler, Jimmy Jump wants to please both of his parents, but they disagree about everything. His father wants him to act more manly, although Jimmy gets his sensitivity from his mother. He wants to wed his girlfriend, and so accepts a job at his father's iron foundry, but does not excel there. Next, Jimmy goes to a tough dance-hall to impress his girl. A highlight is his parody of an Isadora Duncan dance. (imdb)
Publicity Pays
Publicity Pays (1924) - Short Film
A man tries to help his wife getting famous.
Stolen Goods
Stolen Goods (1924) - Short Film
A man starts working in a department store and has to deal with a female kleptomaniac.
Sittin\
Sittin' Pretty (1924) - Short Film
Charley pretends to be a cop--using his girlfriend's father's uniform to convince a thief to stop and give back the stolen car. However, things snowball and the guy insists that he wants to be arrested and forces Chase to take him to jail. Once at the police station, Charley is then ordered to help a group of real cops to apprehend a crazed killer (Parrott). Not wanting to go to jail for imitating a policeman, Chase reluctantly goes along--but looks for every opportunity to escape.
Jeffries Jr.
Jeffries Jr. (1924) - Short Film
Jimmy Jump goes training with boxing legend James J. Jeffries.
Hello Baby!
Hello Baby! (1925) - Short Film
Jimmy Jump (Charley Chase) and his wife find a baby left at their door. They happily take the baby in but find themselves at a loss when they want to sleep but the baby cries all night.
Fighting Fluid
Fighting Fluid (1925) - Short Film
Charley Chase plays the type of character he does best, which is a weak nerd who is constantly letting people push him around. This happens at his work when a co-worker sneaks off with the boss's daughter who just happens to be the crush for Charley. After accidentally getting loaded on bootleg whiskey, Charley gets some courage and goes out to get his woman.
Big Red Riding Hood
Jimmy is asked by the Swedish Government to translate for educational purpose "Little Red Riding Hood", but he can't afford to buy the book, so he tries reading it at the book shop, something the owner doesn't like. But with a little help by the owner's wife it is not impossible, even when the book is bought by somebody else, put in a car and the car is stolen. (imdb)
Looking for Sally
Jimmie Jump is returning from Europe to the USA. His parents and an old girl-friend, Sally - whom he hasn't seen for years, are expecting him at the dock. But, due to some unfortunate coincidences they are mistaken about the identity of each other, but meet unbeknownst to that fact. Jimmie decides that he has to find that girl. Finally, after having annoyed a policeman, and a great fraction of the female population, he finds her working as a temperance worker. (imdb)
No Father to Guide Him
Charley's battle-axe mother-in-law breaks up his marriage and tries to separate him from his son. Charlie abducts the boy for a father-son outing to the beach. The mother-in-law pursues and comedy ensues. (imdb)
The Uneasy Three
A crook, his moll, and his moll's dimwitted brother set about stealing a valuable jewel during a high-society party. They impersonate a trio of musicians hired to play for the affair, and when the real musicians show up, the gang must not only convince the party-goers that they can play the instruments, they must also persuade the party-goers that the real musicians are crooks out to steal the jewel. (imdb)
Charley My Boy!
Charley My Boy! (1926) - Short Film
A hard boiled business man wants his daughter to marry for wealth, and not for love. Charley comes into the office seeking a job, and gets confused with an old geezer there as a prospective groom. Both show up at the business man's home later, where a scramble around the house has Charley trying to hide his boss's liquor from prohibition cops. (imdb)
Wild Company
The son of a wealthy politician falls in with a notorious gangster planning to rob a night club.
All Wet
All Wet (1924) - Short Film
Jimmie Jump is a boarding house resident who receives a telegram telling him to pick up an important shipment at the train station at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. No good deed goes unpunished, and Jimmie has a whole lot of trouble getting to the depot.
Screen Directors Playhouse
Part Time Wife
The story concentrates of neglectful husband Jim Murdock (Edmund Lowe) and his frustrated wife Betty (Leila Hyams). For lack of anything else to do, Betty takes up golf, soon achieving professional status. Meanwhile, Jim’s doctor advises him to start playing golf as an outlet for his frustrations. Sure enough, Jim and Betty are reteamed on the links, and all is well – for everyone except Betty’s erstwhile beau Tommy Milligan (Tom Clifford). (Letterboxd)
Plain and Fancy Girls
Jimmy Jump has a "plain" girlfriend, and becomes intrigued by a "fancy" girl he spots in a park. Eventually he realizes he is better off with his no-frills girl.
Came the Dawn
Came the Dawn (1928) - Short Film
The husband purchases a new home, which a neighbor quips took just two days to build but a full two years to sell.As soon as the family moves in, things start to fall apart.
Us
Us (1927) - Short Film
Charley tries to muster enough courage to take an airplane ride, then ends up with the flight of his life.