Crane Wilbur

Writing

Crane Wilbur

Born — Died

1886-11-17 — 1973-10-18

Place of birth

Athens, New York, USA

Known for

Writing

Credits

66 titles

From Wikipedia Crane Wilbur (November 17, 1886 – October 18, 1973) was an American writer, actor and director for stage, radio and screen. He was born in Athens, New York and died in Toluca Lake, California.

Known for

House of Wax poster
6.9

A sculptor opens a wax museum to showcase the likenesses of famous historical figures, but quickly runs into trouble when his business partner demands the exhibits become more extreme in order to increase profits.

House of Wax

1953

Mysterious Island poster
6.6

During the US Civil War, Union POWs escape in a balloon and end up stranded on a South Pacific island, inhabited by giant plants and animals. They must use their ingenuity to survive the dangers, and to devise a way to return home. Sequel to '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' .

Mysterious Island

1961

Crime Wave poster
7.1

Reformed parolee Steve Lacey is caught in the middle when a wounded former cellmate seeks him out for shelter. The other two former cellmates then attempt to force him into doing a bank job.

Crime Wave

1953

Solomon and Sheba poster
6.5

Near death, King David has a vision that his poet son, Solomon, should succeed him, rather than hot-headed Adonijah. Furious, Adonijah departs the court, swearing he will become king. Other rulers are concerned that Solomon's benevolent rule and interest in monotheism will threaten their tyrannical, polytheistic kingdoms. The Queen of Sheba makes an agreement with the Egyptian pharaoh to corrupt Solomon for their mutual benefit.

Solomon and Sheba

1959

The Mad Magician poster
6.9

Don Gallico is an inventor of stage magic effects who aspires to become a star in his own right. Just before his first performance his act is shut down by capricious manager Ross Ormond who wants Gallico's brilliant buzz saw effect for the act of The Great Rinaldi, an established star. With this defeat, and the humiliation of having already lost his wife Claire to Ormond, Gallico decides it is time to take matters into his own hands.

The Mad Magician

1954

He Walked by Night poster
6.7

Roy Martin aka Roy Morgan is a burglar and former war-time Radio & Electronics Engineer who listens in to radio police calls, allowing him to stay one step ahead of the cops.

He Walked by Night

1949

Film credits

1930s · 6 titles

1920s · 2 titles

1910s · 18 titles

The Perils of Pauline poster
5.7

The Perils of Pauline is a motion picture serial shown in weekly installments featuring the actress Pearl White playing the title character. Pauline has often been cited as a famous example of a damsel-in-distress, although viewers will find her character more resourceful and less helpless than the classic 'damsel' stereotype. Nine episodes (from a condensed 1916 re-release) survive to this day.

The Perils of Pauline

1914

The Eye of Envy poster
7.7

At the crook of a road leading to Success is the little hamlet of Sleepy Hollow. One day, the regular road is closed for repairs, and the detour forces traffic to pass through Sleepy Hollow on the way to Success. Passing through the town is Avarice and his beautiful bride Innocence who stirs the envy of the village blacksmith, Ambition. Following them along the road to Success, the blacksmith encounters a wishing tree which enables him to switch bodies with Avarice.

The Eye of Envy

1917

No artwork available
NR

Molly is a young woman who out of desperation after failing to find work steals a pocketbook from a society woman, Blanche Armstrong. This act leads her into a legal conflict involving the District Attorney, Roger Hackett, who uses the situation to pursue his own lustful interests.

The Protest

1915

No artwork available
9.0

The Conscience of John David (1916) tells the story of a wealthy spender who promises marriage to a "Worldly Woman" and plans a big announcement party. Their engagement is interrupted by another admirer, the "Libertine," and John David's life is disrupted by scandal and societal pressure, ultimately leading him to seek a more meaningful existence and a deeper love beyond superficial pleasures.

The Conscience of John David

1916

No artwork available
8.0

Orphaned and disabled Hope Hathaway has been left in the guardianship of the rapacious Rufus Flint and his son Abner. They scheme to force Hope to marry Abner to access her fortune but are held at bay by her faithful housekeeper Susie. Nearby a movie is being filmed and the picture's star Neil Stuart happens upon Hope one day when she is alone in a field. Concerned for her situation Neil tells Susie to contact him if he is ever needed. When Rufus and Abner make their play Neil swoops in and rescues Hope.

A King o' Make-Believe

1916

No artwork available
9.0

Peyton Carothers and Margaret Grayton want to marry but are impoverished. Margaret makes a calculated bargain with the wealthy Robert Van Allen to marry him for a million dollars. He agrees feeling he can win her love. What he doesn't know is she continues to see Carothers. When Van Allen discovers the duplicity he shackles the pair together and forces them to live together in a remote location. It does not go well with the lovers ending up hating each other and Carothers turning violent. Ultimately Margaret sees the error of her ways and stays with Van Allen.

The Fool's Game

1916

The Road o' Strife poster
NR

15 chapter mystery serial: [1] “The House of Secrets,” released 5 April 1915; [2] “The Face of Fear,” released 12 April 1915; [3] “The Silver Cup,” released 19 April 1915; [4] “The Ring of Death,” released 26 April 1915; [5] “No Other Way,” released 3 May 1915; [6] “The Strength of Love,” released 10 May 1915; [7] “Into the Night,” released 17 May 1915; [8] “In the Wolf’s Den,” released 24 May 1915; [9] “The Iron Hand of the Law,” released 31 May 1915; [10] “The Inspiring Sword,” released 7 June 1915; [11] “The Valley of the Shadow,” released 14 June 1915; [12] “The Sacrifice,” released 21 June 1915; [13] “The Man Who Did Not Die,” released 28 June 1915; [14] “A Story of the Past,” released 5 July 1915; [15] “The Coming of the Kingdom,” released 12 July 1915.

The Road o' Strife

1915

Vengeance Is Mine! poster
NR

Stanley Clark seduces innocent young Marion in a hotel room, then tears out the incriminating page from the hotel register to use for blackmailing. Years later, Marion marries Governor John Loring whose brother, Richard, overhears Clark extorting money from Marion. Richard follows Marion to Clark's room where she begs for more time to raise the required money.

Vengeance Is Mine!

1916

No artwork available
7.0

Neurologist and hypnotist Dr. Andrew Smiley is the guardian of wealthy siblings Wilfred and Marcie Redmond. Smiley wants to marry Marcia, as he desperately needs money, but when he proposes to her, she rejects him. Smiley has a secret lover, Sarah Kayton, the head nurse of his sanatorium, and she has borne him a son, Paul Kayton, who is Smiley's secretary, unaware that his boss is the father. Smiley devises a plan to have Marcia adjudged insane and take her fortune. He almost succeeds but at the last-minute he fails.

The Haunting Symphony

1916

No artwork available
8.0

Frivolous young Mrs. Pensonby Smythe, trapped in a loveless marriage, secretly accompanies the loutish "Billie" Carrington to "The House of the Mask," a notorious gambling palace where the rich play in secret with masked faces. While there Carrington attacks her and she is rescued by gambler Belmont Blair who recognizes her. In the ensuing scuffle Carrington is accidentally killed. Blair gets Mrs. Smythe out of the house before the body is discovered. In time Blair, who loves Mrs. Pensonby Smythe’s sister Grace, sacrifices himself to protect them both.

For Her Good Name

1916

No artwork available
6.5

Short directed by Joseph A. Golden.

For Massa's Sake

1911

The Painted Lie poster
NR

A socialite accepts a portrait sitting with a renowned artist, despite her fiancé's objections. After the sitting, the artist tries to embrace her, but she repulses him. In retaliation, the artist conceives a plan to paint her nude, and upon exhibiting the portrait, aims to destroy her reputation.

The Painted Lie

1917

The Finger of Justice poster
NR

To further his political ends and enrich himself, a political boss lets corruption run rampant in his city. A young couple sets out to expose him. This film is partially lost; only 34 minutes of 70 survive.

The Finger of Justice

1918

No artwork available
NR

Katherine Mortimer, a wealthy and eccentric young woman, spending the summer at the seaside with Mrs. Cochran, her aunt and companion, learns that she has been abandoned by her fiancé, Horace Castlebury, who has run off with Ethel Van Eltinge, a brewer's daughter. The headstrong Katherine vows to marry the first man she meets. She almost immediately enters into a marriage of convenience with Bill, but finds herself falling for the guy. After making a fool of herself when Horace unexpectedly shows up all ends happily when Bill knocks out Horace and tells Katherine he loves her too.

The Spite Husband

1916

No artwork available
5.3

Paul Panzer returns home from a night out with the boys at his bachelor's club. He wanders into the wrong apartment, where, of course, a young woman resides and panic ensues.

Revolution in a Bachelors' Club

1911

No artwork available
5.5

David McCare, a musical idol, discards his mistress, Margie, for the heiress Diana. McCare has Margie removed by his valet, Ludwig, who is also in love with Margie and eventually marries her. After McCare marries Diana, his infidelity with Diana's friend, Edna, leads to Diana divorcing him, and McCare ultimately marries Edna.

The Love Liar

1916

No artwork available
10.0

Lord Edward Litchfield is in love with Beth, a beautiful American girl of modest descent. Lord Edward's father goes to Beth and tells her that if Edward marries her, it will ruin his entire career and, at the same time, be a great shock to her parents. Beth bows to his will and on her next visit tells Lord Edward that her love for him has died. In time Edward marries elsewhere and Beth enters a nunnery.

All Love Excelling

1914

No artwork available
9.0

Broken-down tramp Weatherby finds inspiration to change his life after seeing the play "Youth". The plot follows Weatherby as he is given money by a kind passerby, which he uses to buy a theater ticket and see the drama that becomes the catalyst for his transformation.

The Wasted Years

1916

Behind the camera

House of Wax poster
6.9

A sculptor opens a wax museum to showcase the likenesses of famous historical figures, but quickly runs into trouble when his business partner demands the exhibits become more extreme in order to increase profits.

House of Wax

1953

Mysterious Island poster
6.6

During the US Civil War, Union POWs escape in a balloon and end up stranded on a South Pacific island, inhabited by giant plants and animals. They must use their ingenuity to survive the dangers, and to devise a way to return home. Sequel to '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' .

Mysterious Island

1961

Crime Wave poster
7.1

Reformed parolee Steve Lacey is caught in the middle when a wounded former cellmate seeks him out for shelter. The other two former cellmates then attempt to force him into doing a bank job.

Crime Wave

1953

Solomon and Sheba poster
6.5

Near death, King David has a vision that his poet son, Solomon, should succeed him, rather than hot-headed Adonijah. Furious, Adonijah departs the court, swearing he will become king. Other rulers are concerned that Solomon's benevolent rule and interest in monotheism will threaten their tyrannical, polytheistic kingdoms. The Queen of Sheba makes an agreement with the Egyptian pharaoh to corrupt Solomon for their mutual benefit.

Solomon and Sheba

1959

The Mad Magician poster
6.9

Don Gallico is an inventor of stage magic effects who aspires to become a star in his own right. Just before his first performance his act is shut down by capricious manager Ross Ormond who wants Gallico's brilliant buzz saw effect for the act of The Great Rinaldi, an established star. With this defeat, and the humiliation of having already lost his wife Claire to Ormond, Gallico decides it is time to take matters into his own hands.

The Mad Magician

1954

He Walked by Night poster
6.7

Roy Martin aka Roy Morgan is a burglar and former war-time Radio & Electronics Engineer who listens in to radio police calls, allowing him to stay one step ahead of the cops.

He Walked by Night

1949

The Bat poster
5.9

Mystery writer Cornelia Van Gorder has rented a country house called "The Oaks", which not long ago was the scene of some murders committed by a strange and violent criminal known as "The Bat". Meanwhile, the house's owner, bank president John Fleming, has recently embezzled one million dollars in securities and has hidden the proceeds in the house, but is killed before he can retrieve it.

The Bat

1959

The Bat poster
5.9

Mystery writer Cornelia Van Gorder has rented a country house called "The Oaks", which not long ago was the scene of some murders committed by a strange and violent criminal known as "The Bat". Meanwhile, the house's owner, bank president John Fleming, has recently embezzled one million dollars in securities and has hidden the proceeds in the house, but is killed before he can retrieve it.

The Bat

1959

The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima poster
5.9

In 1917, three shepherd children living just outside Fatima, Portugal have visions of a lovely lady in a cloud. The anticlerical government wishes to squelch the Church; reports of religious experiences are cause for serious concern. Yet the children stand by their story, and the message of peace and hope the Lady brings. In the last vision, attended by thousands of people, the Lady proves her reality with a spectacular miracle that is seen by everyone present. Based on actual events at Fatima in the summer of 1917.

The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima

1952

The George Raft Story poster
5.6

The 1961 film biography of the nightclub dancer-turned-movie star George Raft.

The George Raft Story

1961

Outside the Wall poster
6.1

Larry Nelson, paroled from prison after serving nearly half of his thirty-year sentence, is determined to not fall into the clutches of the law again, and takes a quiet job at a country sanitarium. Thete, he meets and falls for a nurse, Charlotte Maynard, and he knows the only way to enter her web is to have a lot of money, for Miss Maynard is somewhat of a gold-digger.

Outside the Wall

1950

Outside the Wall poster
6.1

Larry Nelson, paroled from prison after serving nearly half of his thirty-year sentence, is determined to not fall into the clutches of the law again, and takes a quiet job at a country sanitarium. Thete, he meets and falls for a nurse, Charlotte Maynard, and he knows the only way to enter her web is to have a lot of money, for Miss Maynard is somewhat of a gold-digger.

Outside the Wall

1950

King of the Lumberjacks poster
3.7

Outdoor drama about a newly-hired lumberjack discovering that his former girlfriend is now his new boss's wife.

King of the Lumberjacks

1940

The Trial of Vivienne Ware poster
9.0

Vivienne Ware is defended by her ex-beau when she's accused of killing her faithless fiance.

The Trial of Vivienne Ware

1932

The Phenix City Story poster
6.5

A crime-busting lawyer and his initially reluctant attorney father take on the forces that run gambling and prostitution in their small Southern town.

The Phenix City Story

1955

Women's Prison poster
5.8

A crusading psychiatrist battles a sadistic female warden to improve conditions at a women's prison.

Women's Prison

1955

Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison poster
6.6

A warden and his assistant clash over prison reform, triggering a violent riot.

Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison

1951

Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison poster
6.6

A warden and his assistant clash over prison reform, triggering a violent riot.

Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison

1951

Crime School poster
6.4

In the slums, teenager Frankie Warren hangs out with a rowdy gang who one day knock him out in a fight. In court, the boys refuse to reveal who struck the knockout blow, and all are subsequently sentenced to a reformatory, cruelly run by two corrupt guards. New deputy commissioner Mark Braden arrives determined to change things, but despite the help of Frankie's sister, Mark's reform plans -- and Frankie's future -- may be sabotaged from within.

Crime School

1938

The Story of Molly X poster
4.8

Molly's husband Rick was a gang leader somewhere in the middle west. When he's shot, the tough woman moves to S.F. with a couple of the gang to start anew. Disguised as a noble woman, she and her gang rob security transports. But when one day Rob confesses to her that he killed Rick out of jealousy, she shoots him down immediately. In lack of proof she can't be convicted for the murder, but she goes to jail for the robberies. It's a new and very open female prison, where she learns a profession for the first time in her life.

The Story of Molly X

1949

The Story of Molly X poster
4.8

Molly's husband Rick was a gang leader somewhere in the middle west. When he's shot, the tough woman moves to S.F. with a couple of the gang to start anew. Disguised as a noble woman, she and her gang rob security transports. But when one day Rob confesses to her that he killed Rick out of jealousy, she shoots him down immediately. In lack of proof she can't be convicted for the murder, but she goes to jail for the robberies. It's a new and very open female prison, where she learns a profession for the first time in her life.

The Story of Molly X

1949

The Patient in Room 18 poster
5.1

Choreographer Bob Connolly and prolific screenwriter Crane Wilbur teamed up on the direction of Warner Bros.' The Patient in Room 18. Patric Knowles delivers a delightfully comic performance as Lance, an outwardly normal young man obsessed with detective stories. When his obsession threatens to lapse over into lunacy, Lance is sent to the hospital for a nice long rest. It isn't long before he gets mixed up in a genuine murder mystery, using his second-hand knowhow to solve the case. Up-and-coming Ann Sheridan is quite amusing as Lance's nurse and confidante, while the murderer is played by a fellow who is usually cast as the murder victim.

The Patient in Room 18

1938

Hell's Kitchen poster
6.8

A paroled convict's efforts to improve conditions at a boys' reform school alarm the school's corrupt warden, who has been embezzling funds from the institution. He hatches a plan to derail the reformed convict's efforts and have him sent back to prison, and part of that scheme involves cracking down hard on the reform school's inmates.

Hell's Kitchen

1939

The Devil on Horseback poster
4.0

This musical tells the story of Campo wooing Damita from Keating with songs "So Divine," "Out of the Hills," "The Love Fiesta," "Oh Bella Mia."

The Devil on Horseback

1936

The Devil on Horseback poster
4.0

This musical tells the story of Campo wooing Damita from Keating with songs "So Divine," "Out of the Hills," "The Love Fiesta," "Oh Bella Mia."

The Devil on Horseback

1936

The Devil on Horseback poster
4.0

This musical tells the story of Campo wooing Damita from Keating with songs "So Divine," "Out of the Hills," "The Love Fiesta," "Oh Bella Mia."

The Devil on Horseback

1936

Unwelcome Stranger poster
9.0

Horse-breeder Howard Chamberlain has many superstitious quirks but his primary one is that he believes orphans are bad luck and a jinx to be around. This is bad news when 'Gimpy", an orphan, shows up at Chamberlain's horse-ranch in search of a place to stay. But Howard's soft-hearted wife, Madeline, allows the young boy to stay on and work in the barn with the horses. And "Gimpy" breaks Chamberlain's "orphan-jinx" in a big way.

Unwelcome Stranger

1935

West of Shanghai poster
5.8

American businessmen and missionaries working in China are captured and held prisoner by a local warlord.

West of Shanghai

1937

Battle Stations poster
6.1

The crew of a U.S. Navy ship in World War II goes into battle against the Japanese fleet.

Battle Stations

1956

House of Women poster
5.4

An innocent, pregnant prison inmate (Shirley Knight) becomes the bad warden's (Andrew Duggan) personal favorite.

House of Women

1962

House of Women poster
5.4

An innocent, pregnant prison inmate (Shirley Knight) becomes the bad warden's (Andrew Duggan) personal favorite.

House of Women

1962

I Was a Communist for the FBI poster
5.6

A fact-based story about a man who posed as an American Communist for years as part of a secret plan to infiltrate their organization.

I Was a Communist for the FBI

1951

The Man Without a Country poster
6.1

This short film tells the story of a disgraced U.S. army officer who is charged with treason. At his court martial he is sentenced to lifetime exile aboard American ships at sea, no crew member can mention anything about the United States within his hearing, and in the books he is allowed to read all references to the United States are removed.

The Man Without a Country

1937

Monkey on My Back poster
6.8

The painfully true story of welterweight boxing champion Barney Ross is detailed in Monkey on My Back. Cameron Mitchell stars as Ross, whose meteoric ring career is interrupted when he joins the Marines at the outset of WWII. A highly decorated hero, Ross contracts malaria oversees and is given morphine to assuage the pain. By the time he returns to the states, Ross is a confirmed drug addict. Before he can rise to the top again, he must hit rock bottom and his descent into the hell of narcotics dependency is graphically illustrated (so much so that the film was almost denied a Production Code seal). Though a cured Barney Ross served as technical advisor for Monkey on My Back, he ended up suing the producers for defamation of character -- and lost.

Monkey on My Back

1957

The Declaration of Independence poster
6.7

This historical featurette focuses on Caesar Rodney of Delaware who in the summer of 1776 cast the deciding vote, at the meeting of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, so that the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

The Declaration of Independence

1938

The People's Enemy poster
7.0

Money was what gangster Vince M. Falcone wanted most and he did lay hands on millions of dollars by fair means or (mostly) foul. But once he became rich what he craved for was respectability. So why not marry a lovely society lady? And with a young daughter as a bonus Mister Falcone could show off among the creme de la creme. Of course when times got rough he felt free to desert his wife and little girl. Fortunately Taps, a lawyer working for the underworld, will console them both.

The People's Enemy

1935

Blackwell's Island poster
5.5

A reporter gets himself sent to prison to expose a mobster.

Blackwell's Island

1939

A Night of Adventure poster
5.0

A lawyer tries to clear his wife's lover of murder charges.

A Night of Adventure

1944

Lord Byron of Broadway poster
4.7

A talented songwriter gets his inspiration for songs from others and not from within himself. He is oblivious that he may harm other people when he uses their stories or their love for himself.

Lord Byron of Broadway

1930

Roger Touhy, Gangster poster
7.0

Set during Prohibition, the movie centers on Touhy's rise from small time thug to the city's most powerful bootlegger whose empire is rivaled only by that of Al Capone (who is referred to, but never named in the story). It is his rival who frames Touhy for kidnapping and arranges for him to serve a life-long term in Stateville prison. Determined to be free again, the desperate Touhy and his cellmate Basil "the Owl" Banghart, begin plotting a violent break out.

Roger Touhy, Gangster

1944