Joseph Kane Movies and Career Information

Jasper Joseph Inman Kane (19 March 1894, San Diego – 25 August 1975, Santa Monica, California) was a prolific American film director, film producer, film editor and screenwriter. He is best known for his extensive directorship and focus on western films. Kane originally began as a professional cellist, but took up an interest in film directing in 1934 and began co-directing serials for Mascot and Republic from 1935. He soon became their top western director. He made his first directorial credit with The Fighting Marines (1935). When Mascot and several other small film companies amalgamated into Republic Pictures in 1935, Kane became staff director, remaining at the studio until it ceased production in 1958. He piloted many Gene Autry and Roy Rogers movies and directed John Wayne on films such as The Lawless Nineties in 1936 and Flame of Barbary Coast (1944), and Joseph Schildkraut on The Cheaters in 1945. Between 1935 and his death in 1975 he directed over 125 films. Unlike most Republic house directors, Kane was also credited as associate producer on many films. Between 1939 and 1957 he was a major film producer, producing over 60 films. Kane was also a film editor and