James Parrott
Directing
From Wikipedia James Parrott (August 2, 1897 – May 10, 1939) was an American actor and film director; and the younger brother of film comedian Charley Chase. James Gibbons Parrott was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Charles and Blanche Thompson Parrott. In 1903, his father died from a heart attack, leaving the family in bad financial shape, which forced them to move in with a relative. Charley Jr. quit school, so he could go to work, in order to support his mother and brother. Eventually the call of the stage beckoned him, and Charley Jr. left home at age 16 to travel the vaudeville circuit as a singer and comedic performer. By the time James had reached his teens, he too, had quit school, and became involved with the street gangs of Baltimore. Later, Charley's connections in the film industry helped get his younger brother established in movies, and he would appear during the 1920s in a series of relatively successful comedies for producer Hal Roach. He was billed first as "Paul Parrott," then "Jimmie Parrott." Approximately 75 comedies were produced from 1921 to 1923, with titles continuing to be released through Pathé until 1926. Frequent co-stars included Marie Mosquini, Jobyna Ralston, Eddie Baker, and Sunshine Sammy. Parrott is probably best known as a comedy director. As "James Parrott," he specialized in the two-reel misadventures of Laurel and Hardy, including the Oscar-winning classic The Music Box, and Helpmates. During the 1930s Parrott had acquired serious drinking and drug problems (his diet medications were really addictive amphetamines) and although still able to direct quality shorts, he had developed a reputation as unreliable. By the mid-1930s his work was spotty: Stan Laurel used him sporadically to contribute gags to the Laurel and Hardy features, and he would direct an Our Gang short in 1934, plus several acceptable entries in Thelma Todd-Patsy Kelly series. By 1937, Parrott was accepting any jobs that came his way. He could no longer be counted on to direct or write, and relied on his brother to support him financially. There was a brief marriage to Ruby Ellen McCoy in 1937, but as his various addictions worsened, so did his state of mind. Parrott died at the age of 41 of heart failure. His brother Charley was devastated, and died 13 months later.
Known for
Directing80
movieThe Misses Stooge
1935
Director
movieThe Tin Man
1935
Director
movieSing Sister Sing
1935
Director
movieTreasure Blues
1935
Director
movieWashee Ironee
1934
Director
movieMixed Nuts
1934
Director
movieTwice Two
1933
Director
movieMr. Bride
1932
Director
movieNow We'll Tell One
1932
Director
movieGirl Grief
1932
Director
movieYoung Ironsides
1932
Director
movieCounty Hospital
1932
Director
movieThe Chimp
1932
Director
movieThe Music Box
1932
Director
movieHelpmates
1932
Director
movieWhat a Bozo!
1931
Director
movieSkip the Maloo!
1931
Director
moviePardon Us
1931
Director
movieThe Panic Is On
1931
Director
movieOne of the Smiths
1931
Director
movieHaunted at Midnight
1931
Director
movieRough Seas
1931
Director
movieThe lady from Chicago
1931
Director
movieThe Pip from Pittsburg
1931
Director
movieAnother Fine Mess
1930
Director
movieNight of Goblins
1930
Director
movieRadiomanía
1930
Director
movieHog Wild
1930
Director
movieShivering and Shaking
1930
Director
movieBelow Zero
1930
Director
movieThe Night Life
1930
Director
movieBrats
1930
Director
movieBlotto
1930
Director
movieThieves
1930
Director
movieNight Owls
1930
Director
movieThe Hoose-Gow
1929
Director
movieThey Go Boom!
1929
Director
moviePerfect Day
1929
Director
movieRuby Lips
1929
Director
movieChasing Husbands
1928
Director
movieHabeas Corpus
1928
Director
movieTwo Tars
1928
Director
movieTheir Purple Moment
1928
Director
movieGalloping Ghosts
1928
Director
movieAll for Nothing
1928
Director
movieAssistant Wives
1927
Director
movieNow I'll Tell One
1927
Director
movieThe Lighter That Failed
1927
Director
movieThe Sting of Stings
1927
Director
movieWhat Women Did for Me
1927
Director
movieUs
1927
Director
movieFluttering Hearts
1927
Director
movieForgotten Sweeties
1927
Director
movieA One Mama Man
1927
Director
movieAre Brunettes Safe?
1927
Director
movieMany Scrappy Returns
1927
Director
movieOn the Front Page
1926
Director
movieShould Sailors Marry?
1925
Director
movieThe 'Fraidy Cat
1924
Director
movieJust a Minute
1924
Director
moviePowder and Smoke
1924
Director
movieHard Knocks
1924
Director
movieDon't Forget
1924
Director
movieThe Pickaninny
1921
Director
Acting60
The Parrott Chase
2009
(archive footage) (uncredited)
movieThe King
1930
Minor Role (uncredited)
movieSoft Pedal
1926
Willing
Don't Butt In
1926
The Roustabout
Between Meals
1926
In Trouble
movieAre Parents Pickles?
1925
Fire Salesman
movieThe Caretaker's Daughter
1925
The Caretaker (as Jimmie Parrott)
movieSittin' Pretty
1924
Bearded Lunatic
Get Busy
1924
Taller pal
movieJoin the Circus
1923
Trainer
movieDear Ol' Pal
1923
Lucian Dillgiggle
Take the Air
1923
Iron-worker
moviePost No Bills
1923
The Bill Poster
Tight Shoes
1923
The New Clerk
Jailed and Bailed
1923
Paul (as Paul Parrott)
movieShine 'Em Up
1922
Paul, the Hustler
Shiver and Shake
1922
The Newlywed Husband
Touch all the Bases
1922
Paul Parrott
Take Next Car
1922
Chief Engineer
The Sleuth
1922
Bellboy / the Sleuth
Big Town Ideas
1921
Spick Spague
movieDon't Shove
1919
Party Guest
movieDon't Park Here
1919
A Car Owner
movieYoung Mr. Jazz
1919
(uncredited)
movieA Sammy in Siberia
1919
(uncredited)
movieHustling for Health
1919
Man missing his train
An Auto Nut
1919
The Auto Nut's Lawyer (as Paul Parrott)
movieJust Rambling Along
1918
Waiter / Chef Assistant
movieIt's a Wild Life
1918
Cab driver
Let's Go
1918
Sophisticated gentleman
movieLook Pleasant, Please
1918
Drunken Swell (uncredited)
Writing27
movieBlock-Heads
1938
Writer
movieSwiss Miss
1938
Screenplay
movieWay Out West
1937
Screenplay
movieTwice Two
1933
Writer
movieThe Chimp
1932
Writer
movieThe Music Box
1932
Writer
movieHelpmates
1932
Writer
movieOne Good Turn
1931
Writer
movieCome Clean
1931
Writer
movieHog Wild
1930
Story
movieBrats
1930
Writer
movieGet 'Em Young
1926
Writer
movieWandering Papas
1926
Writer
movieLaughing Ladies
1925
Scenario Writer
movieJust a Minute
1924
Writer
movieHard Knocks
1924
Writer
movieDon't Forget
1924
Writer
Art1
movieJoe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten
2007
Set Decoration