Irving Cummings

Irving Cummings's amazing vision and attention to detail were the driving forces behind his success as a director. In 1952, he produced and hosted "Lux Radio Theater" for CBS radio. In 1926, he began his lengthy association with Fox Pictures (later to become 20th Century Fox), which lasted 20 years. Cummings kickstarted his acting career in various films such as "Everywoman" (1919), the Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle adaptation "The Round-Up" (1920) and "The Man From Hell's River" (1922). He also appeared in "Rupert of Hentzau" (1923). Cummings was nominated for a Directing Academy Award for "In Old Arizona" in 1929. He continued to work in film in the thirties, directing motion pictures like the Warner Baxter western "The Cisco Kid" (1931), "Man Against Woman" (1932) and the action flick "The Woman I Stole" (1933) with Jack Holt. He also appeared in "The White Parade" (1934). Nearing the end of his career, Cummings directed the biopic "Lillian Russell" (1940) with Alice Faye, the Don Ameche musical "Down Argentine Way" (1940) and the Bob Hope comedy adaptation "Louisiana Purchase" (1941). He also appeared in the western "Belle Starr" (1941) with Randolph Scott and the Alice Faye musical "That Night in Rio" (1941). Cummings was most recently credited in "Tap" (1989) with Gregory Hines. Cummings passed away in April 1959 at the age of 71.