Robert Z. Leonard

Directing

Robert Z. Leonard

Born — Died

1889-10-07 — 1968-08-27

Place of birth

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Known for

Directing

Credits

61 titles

Robert Zigler Leonard (October 7, 1889 - August 27, 1968) was an American film director, actor, producer and screenwriter. At one time he was married to silent superstar Mae Murray, with the two forming Tiffany Pictures to film eight motion pictures that were released by MGM. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director for The Divorcee and The Great Ziegfeld. Both were also nominated for Best Picture, and the latter won. One of the most odd credits in his filmography is the film noir thriller The Bribe (1949) with its sleazy settings, slippery characters and steamy atmosphere. For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Robert Z. Leonard has a star on the Hollywood W…

Known for

Ziegfeld Girl poster
6.6

Discovery by Flo Ziegfeld changes a girl's life but not necessarily for the better, as three beautiful women find out when they join the spectacle on Broadway: Susan, the singer who must leave behind her ageing vaudevillian father; vulnerable Sheila, the working girl pursued both by a millionaire and by her loyal boyfriend from Flatbush; and the mysterious European beauty Sandra, whose concert violinist husband cannot endure the thought of their escaping from poverty by promenading her glamor in skimpy costumes.

Ziegfeld Girl

1941

Pride and Prejudice poster
6.9

In early 19th century England, Mr and Mrs Bennet's five unmarried daughters vie for the affections of rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, who have moved into their neighbourhood. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to eldest daughter Jane, Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and repeatedly clashes with second-eldest Elizabeth.

Pride and Prejudice

1940

The Great Ziegfeld poster
6.3

At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, sideshow barker Florenz Ziegfeld turns the tables on his more-successful neighbor Billings, and also steals his girlfriend. This pattern repeats throughout their lives, as Ziegfeld makes and loses many fortunes putting on ever-bigger, more spectacular shows

The Great Ziegfeld

1936

Susan Lenox poster
6.1

A young woman runs away from an abusive home and pre-arranged marriage only to be frustrated in her attempts to find happiness with a handsome engineer.

Susan Lenox

1931

In the Good Old Summertime poster
6.7

Two co-workers in a music shop dislike one another during business hours but unwittingly carry on an anonymous romance through the mail.

In the Good Old Summertime

1949

The Great Diamond Robbery poster
10.0

Ambrose C. Park, left on a park bench as an infant with an impulsive need to find his parents, is an assistant to a diamond cutter. Shyster lawyer Remlick, in a strategy to get a fabulous uncut diamond through Ambrose, arranges for Emily Drummon, Duke Fargoh and Maggie Drummon to pose as Ambrose's long-lost parents and sister. The diamond, through many comic situations, is acquired and the gang is going to have Ambrose cut the diamond, and relieve him of the two stones and his parental illusions at the same time. But Maggie, who has no taste for the deception, tips Ambrose off and a wild chase ensues. At the end, Ambrose is very happy as he can now marry his "sister."

The Great Diamond Robbery

1954

Film credits

1910s · 17 titles

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz poster
5.3

An early version of the classic, based more on the 1902 stage musical than on the original novel.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

1910

No artwork available
NR

A short silent film based on the poem "The Courtship of Miles Standish" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Courtship of Miles Standish

1910

Robinson Crusoe poster
9.0

Crusoe, defying his parents, goes to sea, gets shipwrecked, becomes the sole survivor on a deserted island, and builds a new life by salvaging supplies from the wreck, including a dog and cat, creating a fortified home, and learning to survive through hard work and faith, all while battling fear and isolation before eventually encountering 'Friday' and dealing with the intrusion of civilization.

Robinson Crusoe

1913

No artwork available
3.5

A secret message is dispatched by the young daughter of a Southern family to Col. Morgan's camp.

The Common Enemy

1910

No artwork available
NR

A young woman who disguises herself as a man to go gold prospecting after her father and brother forbid her from joining them.

Over the Hills

1911

Heritage poster
NR

Kate, whose father, a university graduate, died when she was very young, is adopted by her tenement neighbor, Mrs. McMahon, after her mother, a woman of refinement, dies. At ten, the ill-nourished girl, who has grown up watching her drunken foster father fight with her overworked foster mother, goes to work in a factory after Mr. McMahon loses his job. During the next eight years, Kate's stepbrother, Big Bill McMahon, becomes her friend, sweetheart and protector.

Heritage

1915

The Scarlet Letter poster
1.0

Hester Prynne has left Holland in advance of her husband, Roger, to join the colonists in Salem, Maxx. Roger follows her to the new world but upon landing in New England is captured by Indians and Hester waits for him in vain.

The Scarlet Letter

1911

No artwork available
9.0

An author searches for inspiration for her novel by impersonating a housemaid.

Sally Scrags, Housemaid

1913

The Master Key poster
NR

A movie serial from 1914

The Master Key

1914

No artwork available
7.0

No synopsis available yet.

Life's Pendulum

1917

The Little Sister poster
8.0

The brother, a ne'er-do-well, is strongly influenced by the crook, who in turn has designs on Little Sister who works in a factory.

The Little Sister

1914

No artwork available
8.0

During a fashionable country house party, a guest suggests that everyone visit a nearby gypsy camp to have their fortunes told. Jack Harlow, the hostess's son, meets Draga, the gypsy chief's daughter, and immediately falls in love with her. Draga is also attracted to Jack, who persuades her to meet him secretly. Their secret meetings continue, and eventually, Jack convinces Draga to run away with him, despite the significant social divide and the disapproval their relationship would surely face from his family and her community. The plot centers on this forbidden romance and the ensuing dramatic conflict between their two vastly different worlds.

Draga, the Gypsy

1913

No artwork available
9.0

Bhadon, an aged chemist, actuated by the decree of Buddha that in America the secret of making artificial diamonds would be discovered, gives his life to the cause and succeeds. Elated at his titanic success. Bhadon sends his trusted Hindoo servant to the high priest in India, pleading that Shedah might be spared to assist in disposing of the product. Shedah, the powerful emissary for the cause, is dispatched with her two bodyguards to American soil, where, through her wiles and marvelous beauty, she is enabled to effect sale after sale to the wealthy. This monstrous flooding of the American market with gems of astonishing brilliancy and value alarms, to a marked degree, the Kimberly interests, who controlled this outlet.

The Diamond Makers

1913

No artwork available
10.0

John Bird and Franklyn Fordham were once business partners, but because of Bird’s shady dealings they part. After years of success for one and failure for the other, Bird takes drastic measures, resorting to arson before his scheme is thwarted.

The Still Alarm

1911

The Silent Command poster
NR

Unable to pay for the operation that cured his daughter, a man promises to surrender her to the doctor on her eighteenth birthday. Knowing that the physician wishes to make her the subject of his experiments with hypnotism, the distressed father ultimately reneges on his promise, whereupon the doctor attempts to hypnotize the girl from afar.

The Silent Command

1915

The Crippled Hand poster
NR

Diminutive heroine Ella Hall dreams that she's Cinderella, and that a wealthy gentleman of her acquaintance (played by Leonard) is her Prince Charming. All of this takes place during a musical stage production of Cinderella, a sequence distinguished by its authentic backstage atmosphere.

The Crippled Hand

1916

The Wall Between poster
7.0

No synopsis available yet.

The Wall Between

1914

Behind the camera

Ziegfeld Girl poster
6.6

Discovery by Flo Ziegfeld changes a girl's life but not necessarily for the better, as three beautiful women find out when they join the spectacle on Broadway: Susan, the singer who must leave behind her ageing vaudevillian father; vulnerable Sheila, the working girl pursued both by a millionaire and by her loyal boyfriend from Flatbush; and the mysterious European beauty Sandra, whose concert violinist husband cannot endure the thought of their escaping from poverty by promenading her glamor in skimpy costumes.

Ziegfeld Girl

1941

Pride and Prejudice poster
6.9

In early 19th century England, Mr and Mrs Bennet's five unmarried daughters vie for the affections of rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, who have moved into their neighbourhood. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to eldest daughter Jane, Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and repeatedly clashes with second-eldest Elizabeth.

Pride and Prejudice

1940

The Great Ziegfeld poster
6.3

At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, sideshow barker Florenz Ziegfeld turns the tables on his more-successful neighbor Billings, and also steals his girlfriend. This pattern repeats throughout their lives, as Ziegfeld makes and loses many fortunes putting on ever-bigger, more spectacular shows

The Great Ziegfeld

1936

Susan Lenox poster
6.1

A young woman runs away from an abusive home and pre-arranged marriage only to be frustrated in her attempts to find happiness with a handsome engineer.

Susan Lenox

1931

Susan Lenox poster
6.1

A young woman runs away from an abusive home and pre-arranged marriage only to be frustrated in her attempts to find happiness with a handsome engineer.

Susan Lenox

1931

In the Good Old Summertime poster
6.7

Two co-workers in a music shop dislike one another during business hours but unwittingly carry on an anonymous romance through the mail.

In the Good Old Summertime

1949

The Great Diamond Robbery poster
10.0

Ambrose C. Park, left on a park bench as an infant with an impulsive need to find his parents, is an assistant to a diamond cutter. Shyster lawyer Remlick, in a strategy to get a fabulous uncut diamond through Ambrose, arranges for Emily Drummon, Duke Fargoh and Maggie Drummon to pose as Ambrose's long-lost parents and sister. The diamond, through many comic situations, is acquired and the gang is going to have Ambrose cut the diamond, and relieve him of the two stones and his parental illusions at the same time. But Maggie, who has no taste for the deception, tips Ambrose off and a wild chase ensues. At the end, Ambrose is very happy as he can now marry his "sister."

The Great Diamond Robbery

1954

The Secret Heart poster
6.5

Penny Addams lives in a constant state of depression stemming from the trauma of her father's death when she was just a young girl. Her brother, Chase, and stepmother, Lee, work to help Penny process her grief through psychotherapy and revisiting their past, but only the revelation of long-buried family secrets -- including her Lee's secret lover and the true nature of her father's death -- can bring Penny out of her intense despair.

The Secret Heart

1946

The King's Thief poster
6.2

An ex-soldier turned highwayman uncovers a plot to take control of England from King Charles II.

The King's Thief

1955

Duchess of Idaho poster
4.9

Ellen Hallit is in love with her playboy boss, Douglas Morrison, but is too timid to do anything about it. To help her, her roommate Chris decides to step in, and devises a plan. Chris follows Morrison on his trip to Sun Valley, Idaho and plays the overattentive female, hoping that he will send for Ellen (who often played his "fiancée" when he had a female he couldn't discourage otherwise.) Complications arise when Chris catches the eye of band leader Dick Layne, and finds herself caught in a triangle between the two men.

Duchess of Idaho

1950

Maytime poster
6.8

An aging former opera singer looks back on long life, specially on her relationships with her vocal teacher and a music student.

Maytime

1937

Maytime poster
6.8

An aging former opera singer looks back on long life, specially on her relationships with her vocal teacher and a music student.

Maytime

1937

After Office Hours poster
6.5

A managing editor sends a socialite reporter to spy on her boyfriend, mixed up in murder.

After Office Hours

1935

After Office Hours poster
6.5

A managing editor sends a socialite reporter to spy on her boyfriend, mixed up in murder.

After Office Hours

1935

Stand by for Action poster
7.0

U. S. Navy Lieutenant Gregg Masterman, of The Harvard and Boston Back Bay Mastermans, learned about the sea while winning silver cups sailing his yacht. He climbs swiftly in rank, and is now Junior Aide to Rear Admiral Stephen Thomas.

Stand by for Action

1942

The Bribe poster
6.3

United States Federal agent Rigby travels to the Central American island Carlotta to investigate a stolen aircraft engines smuggling racket.

The Bribe

1949

Dancing Lady poster
6.9

Janie lives to dance and will dance anywhere, even stripping in a burlesque house. Tod Newton, the rich playboy, discovers her there and helps her get a job in a real Broadway musical being directed by Patch. Tod thinks he can get what he wants from Janie, Patch thinks Janie is using her charms rather than talent to get to the top, and Janie thinks Patch is the greatest. Steve, the stage manager, has the Three Stooges helping him manage all the show girls. Fred Astaire and Nelson Eddy make appearances as famous Broadway personalities.

Dancing Lady

1933

Marriage Is a Private Affair poster
7.1

Theo has had many boyfriends who wanted to marry her. Since her mother, Mrs. Selworth, has been married many times, Theo is unsure of commitment. Without much thought, she finally accepts the proposal of Air Corps Lieutenant Tom West. After the honeymoon, Tom's father dies and Tom goes into the defense industry. When Theo has a baby, she hates the idea of being matronly and wants to be the old party girl. The problem is that her husband is working constantly. She looks to her friends, who are having their own problems, and to her old flame Captain Lancing. To decide on what she wants to do with her baby and her life, Theo must grow up.

Marriage Is a Private Affair

1944

Everything I Have Is Yours poster
5.8

A husband and wife act are hoping to find success on Broadway.

Everything I Have Is Yours

1952

Beautiful But Dangerous poster
5.9

Lina, a music hall singer, has fallen in love with Sergei, a Russian prince. Maestro Doria, who gives her voice lessons and who hopes to make her his mistress, takes her to Paris where she becomes the star of the "Folies-Plastiques".

Beautiful But Dangerous

1955

When Ladies Meet poster
6.9

Mary, a writer working on a novel about a love triangle, is attracted to her publisher. Her suitor Jimmy is determined to break them up; he introduces Mary to the publisher's wife without telling Mary who she is.

When Ladies Meet

1941

When Ladies Meet poster
6.9

Mary, a writer working on a novel about a love triangle, is attracted to her publisher. Her suitor Jimmy is determined to break them up; he introduces Mary to the publisher's wife without telling Mary who she is.

When Ladies Meet

1941

Week-End at the Waldorf poster
6.5

Anything can happen during a weekend at New York's Waldorf-Astoria: a glamorous movie star meets a world-weary war correspondent and mistakes him for a jewel thief; a soldier learns that without an operation he'll die and so looks for one last romance with a beautiful but ambitious stenographer; a cub reporter tries to get the goods on a shady man's dealing with a foreign potentate.

Week-End at the Waldorf

1945

Week-End at the Waldorf poster
6.5

Anything can happen during a weekend at New York's Waldorf-Astoria: a glamorous movie star meets a world-weary war correspondent and mistakes him for a jewel thief; a soldier learns that without an operation he'll die and so looks for one last romance with a beautiful but ambitious stenographer; a cub reporter tries to get the goods on a shady man's dealing with a foreign potentate.

Week-End at the Waldorf

1945

New Moon poster
6.9

A revolutionary leader romances a French aristocrat in Louisiana.

New Moon

1940

New Moon poster
6.9

A revolutionary leader romances a French aristocrat in Louisiana.

New Moon

1940

Nancy Goes to Rio poster
6.0

Mother and daughter compete over same singing role and, unbeknownst to each other, the same man.

Nancy Goes to Rio

1950

Fascination poster
8.0

A young woman with a Spanish father and an American mother living in Spain under the supervision of a strict aunt slips out to attend a bullfight. There she becomes fascinated by the toreador Carrita. A lost film.

Fascination

1922

Fascination poster
8.0

A young woman with a Spanish father and an American mother living in Spain under the supervision of a strict aunt slips out to attend a bullfight. There she becomes fascinated by the toreador Carrita. A lost film.

Fascination

1922

B.F.'s Daughter poster
6.3

Wealthy Polly Fulton marries a progressive scholar whose attitudes toward capitalism and acquired wealth puts their marriage in jeopardy.

B.F.'s Daughter

1948

Marianne poster
6.5

At the conclusion of World War I, a French girl is romanced by an American doughboy even though she is promised to a French soldier who was sent to the front.

Marianne

1929

Third Finger, Left Hand poster
7.0

Magazine editor Margot Merrick pretends to be married in order to avoid advances from male colleagues. Unfortunately, things don't go to plan when Jeff Thompson, a potential suitor, uncovers the deception and decides to show up at Margot's family home posing as her husband!

Third Finger, Left Hand

1940

Third Finger, Left Hand poster
7.0

Magazine editor Margot Merrick pretends to be married in order to avoid advances from male colleagues. Unfortunately, things don't go to plan when Jeff Thompson, a potential suitor, uncovers the deception and decides to show up at Margot's family home posing as her husband!

Third Finger, Left Hand

1940

We Were Dancing poster
4.3

A penniless former princess weds an equally cash-strapped baron, so they support themselves by becoming houseguests at the homes of wealthy American socialites.

We Were Dancing

1942

Too Young to Kiss poster
5.1

Eric Wainwright, a busy impresario, is besieged by hordes of wannabe concert stars, eager for their big break. One of them is Cynthia Potter, a talented pianist... but she can't get in to see him. When she learns that Wainwright is auditioning young musicians for a children's concert tour, Cynthia dons braces and bobby sox and passes herself off as a child prodigy.

Too Young to Kiss

1951

Let Us Be Gay poster
4.3

A housewife divorces her self-centered husband. Years later, she attends a party where her ex is pursuing another woman. Unbeknownst to him, she is the same ex-wife he'd neglected, now transformed into a fashionable socialite.

Let Us Be Gay

1930

Her Twelve Men poster
5.9

An inexperienced female teacher is hired at a private elite school for boys where she raises a few eyebrows among the all-male faculty.

Her Twelve Men

1954

It's a Wise Child poster
6.2

In this comedy, a conservative family becomes alarmed when they begin believing their daughter is pregnant.

It's a Wise Child

1931

It's a Wise Child poster
6.2

In this comedy, a conservative family becomes alarmed when they begin believing their daughter is pregnant.

It's a Wise Child

1931

Piccadilly Jim poster
6.8

Jim's father wants to marry Eugenia, but her sister Netta refuses to allow it. When Jim sees Ann at a club, he falls for her even though she is with Lord Priory. He meets her the next day at the riding path, but she quickly loses him. He searches all over for her, not knowing that his father's hopeful fiancée is her Aunt. As his caricature work suffers as he searches, he is fired from his paper. But he makes a comeback with the comics 'Rags to Riches' which is based upon the Pett's. But this upsets the Pett's so much that they go back to New York, and he follows, being careful not to let them know that he is the one who draws the strip that parodies them.

Piccadilly Jim

1936