Bernard Benny Ray (born Benjamin Shamrayevsky, November 18, 1895 - December 10, 1964) was a Russian-born American film producer and director.[2] He is closely associated with the production of low-budget B films of Poverty Row, involved with companies such as Reliable Pictures during the 1930s.
Bernard B. Ray | |
---|---|
Born | Benjamin Shamrayevsky[1] November 18, 1895 |
Died | December 10, 1964 (aged 69) |
Other names | Franklin Shamray (pseudonym) |
Occupation(s) | Producer, Director |
Years active | 1926-1960 (film) |
In some film credits, like Rio Rattler (1935), he has used the pseudonym "Franklin Shamray".
Death
editOn December 10, 1964, after what appears to have been a long illness,[3] Ray died of undisclosed causes at the Motion Picture Country Home Hospital.[4] He was preceded in death by his wife Georgia Mae Tallant, to whom he was married between 1927 and 1958.[5]
Selected filmography
edit- Bitter Sweets (1928)
- Women Men Marry (1931)
- At Twelve Midnight (1933)
- Rawhide Mail (1934)
- Mystery Ranch (1934)
- Ridin' Thru (1934)
- Fighting Hero (1934)
- Terror of the Plains (1934)
- Unconquered Bandit (1935)
- The Cactus Kid (1935)
- Tracy Rides (1935)
- The Fighting Pilot (1935)
- Silent Valley (1935)
- Now or Never (1935)
- Trigger Tom (1935)
- Texas Jack (1935)
- North of Arizona (1935)
- Wolf Riders (1935)
- Kentucky Blue Streak (1935)
- Midnight Phantom (1935)
- Never Too Late (1935)
- Skull and Crown (1935)
- Loser's End (1935)
- The Test (1935)
- Born to Battle (1935)
- Coyote Trails (1935)
- The Live Wire (1935)
- Rio Rattler (1935)
- Santa Fe Bound (1936)
- Fast Bullets (1936)
- Ambush Valley (1936)
- Step on It (1936)
- I'll Name the Murderer (1936)
- Roamin' Wild (1936)
- Ridin' On (1936)
- The Speed Reporter (1936)
- The Reckless Way (1936)
- Pinto Rustlers (1936)
- The Millionaire Kid (1936)
- Caryl of the Mountains (1936)
- Vengeance of Rannah (1936)
- The Silver Trail (1937)
- Santa Fe Rides (1937)
- It's All in Your Mind (1938)
- Smoky Trails (1939)
- Fangs of the Wild (1939)
- Port of Hate (1939)
- The Pal from Texas (1939)
- Broken Strings (1940)
- Dangerous Lady (1941)
- Law of the Timber (1941)
- Too Many Women (1942)
- House of Errors (1942)
- Buffalo Bill Rides Again (1947)
- Timber Fury (1950)
- Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory (1952)
- Hollywood Thrill Makers (1954)[6][7]
- Spring Affair (1960)
References
edit- ^ "California, Southern District Court (Central) Naturalization Index, 1915-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KX3R-93M : 11 March 2018), Bernard Benny Or Benjamin Ray Or Shamrayevsky, 1928; citing Naturalization, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1525 (United States: National Archives and Records Service, Los Angeles Branch, 2016).
- ^ Pitts p.319
- ^ "B.B. Ray in Hospital". The Hollywood Reporter. January 10, 1962. p. 2. ProQuest 2339659540.
Veteran producer-director Bernard B. Ray checked into Mt. Sinai Hospital yesterday for exploratory surgery this morning.
- ^ "Obituaries: Bernard B. Ray". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. December 14, 1964. p. 7. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8NF-1J7 : 9 March 2021), Bernard Benny Ray and Georgia Mae Tallant, 29 Jan 1927; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,074,640.
- ^ "Gleason to Star". The Hollywood Reporter. December 13, 1953. pp. L13. ProQuest 152610046.
James Gleason will star in 'Hollywood Stunt Man,' feature film being produced by Bernard B. Ray, which goes before the cameras next week with a cast of real live stunt men and women. The picture will incorporate footage of some of the most dangerous stunts done by film dare-devils since 'The Perils of Pauline.'
- ^ "Ray changes Title". The Hollywood Reporter. January 13, 1954. p. 4. ProQuest 2338252748.
Producer Bernard B. Ray has changed the title of his 'Hollywood Stunt Man' to 'Hollywood Thrill Makers' due to a conflict with a Columbia Screen Gems telefilm release.
Further reading
edit- "Now or Never". Cumberland Evening Times. June 21, 1935. p. 12
Bibliography
edit- Michael R. Pitts. Poverty Row Studios, 1929–1940: An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies, with a Filmography for Each. McFarland & Company, 2005.
External links
edit