Harold D. Schuster

Directing·Aug 1, 1902·Cherokee, Iowa, USA

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A highly regarded editor (he cut the classic Sunrise (1927) ), Harold D. Schuster started out in films as an actor. It didn't take him long to abandon that career, and he turned to the production side of the business, working his way up to editor and eventually taking the reins as a director. While much of his directorial output is routine, there are some real gems scattered throughout. My Friend Flicka (1943) is a beautiful, serene tale of a boy and a spectacular horse and was a major success in its day. Although typed as an "outdoors" director, Schuster could turn out tough, gritty little thrillers when he wanted to, such as Loophole (1954), about a bank teller who gets framed for an embezzlement; it ranks right up there with the edgy crime dramas of Don Siegel and Phil Karlson. Schuster's western Dragoon Wells Massacre (1957), despite its potboiler title, is a sharp, well-paced effort about two disparate groups of travelers who must band together to fight off rampaging Indians. Good writing, a rousing score and Schuster's tight direction raise this several notches above the product normally churned out by its studio, the usually low-grade Allied Artists. Schuster eventually turned to series television, and finished out his career there.

Film	Credit
The Power of the Resurrection1958 · Director	Director
Dragoon Wells Massacre1957 · Director	Director
Portland Exposé1957 · Director	Director
Courage of Black Beauty1957 · Director	Director
Down Liberty Road1957 · Director	Director
The Return of Jack Slade1955 · Director	Director
Finger Man1955 · Director	Director
Tarzan's Hidden Jungle1955 · Director	Director
Port of Hell1954 · Director	Director
Security Risk1954 · Director	Director
Loophole1954 · Director	Director
Jack Slade1953 · Director	Director
Kid Monk Baroni1952 · Director	Director
So Dear to My Heart1948 · Director	Director
The Tender Years1948 · Director	Director
Breakfast in Hollywood1946 · Director	Director
Marine Raiders1944 · Director	Director
Bomber's Moon1943 · Director	Director
My Friend Flicka1943 · Director	Director
Girl Trouble1942 · Director	Director
The Postman Didn't Ring1942 · Director	Director
On the Sunny Side1942 · Director	Director
Small Town Deb1941 · Director	Director
A Very Young Lady1941 · Director	Director
Diamond Frontier1940 · Director	Director
South to Karanga1940 · Director	Director
Ma, He's Making Eyes at Me!1940 · Director	Director
Zanzibar1940 · Director	Director
Framed1940 · Director	Director
One Hour to Live1939 · Director	Director
Exposed1938 · Director	Director
Swing That Cheer1938 · Director	Director
Queer Cargo1938 · Director	Director
Dinner at the Ritz1937 · Director	Director
Wings of the Morning1937 · Director	Director
The Iron Horse1925 · Worker (uncredited)	Worker (uncredited)