8.0
8.0
Treasures from Trash
1946
Producer
Pete Smith
Acting
Born:September 4, 1892
Died:January 12, 1979(aged 86)
Birthplace:New York City, New York, USA
N/A
CommunityBiography
Born Peter Schmidt in New York City, Pete Smith got a job after graduating business college with The Player magazine and later with Billboard magazine. That led to his being hired as a publicist for Famous Players-Lasky and Artcraft Pictures, and he was later appointed publicity director at Paramount Pictures. Director Marshall Neilan hired Smith to be the publicist for his own production company, and Smith left New York for Hollywood. After Neilan's company closed, Smith freelanced for a short period before being hired by MGM in 1925 as the head of its publicity department, a position he held until 1930. The job that really brought him recognition, however, was his producing, writing and narrating a series of shorts known as "Pete Smith Specialties" for MGM. The one-reelers covered just about every subject imaginable, from the animal world to the latest technology to how to handle annoying patrons in movie theaters, all delivered with Smith's trademark wry, bemused narration. Many of the later shorts were written and directed by actor Dave O'Brien, using the name David Barclay. Sixteen entries in the series were nominated for Oscars, and two of them won. The series came to an end in 1954, though there were enough made to continue releasing into 1955. Smith's later years were plagued by bad health, and he spent more and more time being hospitalized. In 1979, with his health deteriorating rapidly, he committed suicide by jumping out of the window of his ninth-floor hospital room. He was 86 years old.
Filmography (166 movies)
8.0
8.0
Penny's Party
1938
Producer
8.0
8.0
Penny's Picnic
1938
8.0
8.0
Wedding Bills
1940
as Narrator (voice)
8.0
8.0
Diamond Demon
1947
as Narrator (voice)
7.5
7.5
I Love My Wife BUT!
1947
Producer
7.3
7.3
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
1948
Producer
7.0
7.0
Bargain Madness
1951
Producer
7.0
7.0
Football Thrills of 1938
1939
Director
7.0
7.0
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
1941
Producer
6.9
6.9
Quicker'n a Wink
1940
Producer
6.8
6.8
Swing High
1932
as Narrator (voice)
6.5
6.5
The New Audioscopiks
1938
as Narrator
6.5
6.5
The Grand Bounce
1937
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
6.4
6.4
Wanted - A Master
1936
Producer
6.3
6.3
Goofy Movies Number Two
1934
Producer
6.2
6.2
Penny Wisdom
1937
Producer
6.1
6.1
Strikes and Spares
1934
Producer
6.0
6.0
Groovie Movie
1944
as Narrator
6.0
6.0
The Domineering Male
1940
as Narrator (voice)
6.0
6.0
Goofy Movies Number Eight
1934
Producer
6.0
6.0
A Wife's Life
1950
Producer
6.0
6.0
Color Scales
1932
Producer
6.0
6.0
Ain't It Aggravatin'
1954
Producer
6.0
6.0
Guest Pests
1945
as Narrator
6.0
6.0
Radio Hams
1939
as Narrator (voice)
6.0
6.0
Fisticuffs
1938
as Narrator (voice)
6.0
6.0
Snow Birds
1932
as Narrator (voice)
6.0
6.0
Do Someone a Favor!
1954
Producer
6.0
6.0
Things We Can Do Without
1953
Producer
6.0
6.0
Weather Wizards
1939
as Narrator (voice)
6.0
6.0
Calling All Pa's
1942
Producer
6.0
6.0
The Fall Guy
1955
Producer
6.0
6.0
Victory Quiz
1942
6.0
6.0
Cash Stashers
1953
Producer
6.0
6.0
Seeing Hands
1943
Producer
6.0
6.0
Bar-Rac's Night Out
1937
Producer
6.0
6.0
Trader Hound
1931
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
6.0
6.0
Just Suppose
1948
Producer
6.0
6.0
Romance of Radium
1937
Producer
6.0
6.0
Fala: The President's Dog
1943
as Narrator - Host
6.0
6.0
Let's Dance
1936
as Narrator (voice)
6.0
6.0
Goofy Movies Number Nine
1934
Producer
6.0
6.0
Microscopic Mysteries
1932
Producer
5.9
5.9
Marines in the Making
1942
Producer
5.9
5.9
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
1935
Producer
5.8
5.8
Wrong Way Butch
1950
Producer
5.8
5.8
Now You See It
1947
Producer
5.7
5.7
Goofy Movies Number One
1933
Producer
5.7
5.7
Army Champions
1941
Producer
5.6
5.6
Movie Pests
1944
Producer
5.6
5.6
Water Trix
1949
Producer
5.5
5.5
Handlebars
1933
Producer
5.4
5.4
Killer Dog
1936
Producer
5.3
5.3
Audioscopiks
1935
as Commentator (voice)
5.2
5.2
Sure Cures
1946
Producer
5.1
5.1
Menu
1933
Producer
5.0
5.0
Donkey Baseball
1935
Producer
5.0
5.0
Goofy Movies Number Three
1934
Producer
5.0
5.0
Ice Aces
1948
Producer
5.0
5.0
Film Antics
1954
Producer
5.0
5.0
Fish Tales
1954
Producer
5.0
5.0
Football Thrills of 1944
1945
Director
5.0
5.0
Flicker Memories
1941
as Narrator (voice)
5.0
5.0
Roping Wild Bears
1934
as Narrator (voice)
5.0
5.0
Goofy Movies Number Six
1934
Producer
5.0
5.0
Let's Cogitate
1948
Producer
5.0
5.0
Goofy Movies Number Seven
1934
Producer
5.0
5.0
Aqua Antics
1942
Producer
5.0
5.0
Marine Circus
1939
as Narrator
5.0
5.0
Let's Talk Turkey
1939
as Narrator
5.0
5.0
Camera Sleuth
1951
Producer
5.0
5.0
Fine Feathers
1933
Producer
4.9
4.9
The Tree in a Test Tube
1942
as as Interlocutor (voice)
4.5
4.5
Desert Regatta
1932
Producer
4.3
4.3
Did'ja Know?
1950
Producer
4.3
4.3
You Can't Win
1948
Producer
4.0
4.0
Fancy Answers
1941
Producer
4.0
4.0
Harnessed Rhythm
1936
Producer
3.8
3.8
The Jonker Diamond
1936
Producer
3.5
3.5
Studio Visit
1946
Producer
3.5
3.5
Goofy Movies Number Four
1934
Producer
2.0
2.0
Reducing
1952
Producer
1.0
1.0
Musiquiz
1952
Producer
Surfboard Rhythm
1947
as Narrator
Poetry of Nature
1939
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Third Dimensional Murder
1941
Producer
Bowling Tricks
1948
as Narrator(voice)
Sports Oddities
1949
as Narrator
The Man Around the House
1955
Producer
Hurling
1936
as Narrator
Inflation
1933
Producer
Friend Indeed
1937
as Narrator
Pigskin Champions
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Three on a Rope
1938
as Narrator
Set 'em Up
1939
as Narrator
Take a Cue
1939
as Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Five
1934
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Ten
1934
Producer
Candid Cameramaniacs
1937
as Narrator
Out for Fun
1954
as Narrator
I Love My Husband, But!
1946
Producer
Fishing Feats
1951
Producer
'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two
1940
Producer
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
1946
Producer
Aeronutics
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Just What I Needed
1955
Producer
Hollywood Scout
1945
Producer
Acro-Batty
1942
Writer
Dogs 'n Ducks
1953
Producer
Equestrian Acrobats
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Gettin' Glamour
1946
Producer
Rough Riding
1954
as Narrator
The Camera Caught It
1954
as Narrator
Water Sports
1935
Producer
Animals in Action
1955
Producer
Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12
1947
as Narrator
Have You Ever Wondered?
1947
Producer
Crashing the Movies
1950
Producer
Lions on the Loose
1941
Producer
Heroes at Leisure
1939
Producer
Safety Sleuth
1944
as Pete Smith - Narrator
Seventh Column
1943
Producer
Trained Hoofs
1935
Writer
This Is a Living?
1953
Producer
Football Thrills of 1940
1941
as Narrator
Pro Football
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Badminton
1945
Producer
Water Bugs
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Sportsman's Memories
1944
as Narrator (voice)
Olympic Events
1932
Producer
Cuban Rhythm
1941
Producer
Curious Contests
1950
Producer
Anaesthesia
1938
Producer
Dexterity
1937
Producer
Football Thrills of 1937
1938
Director
Grid Rules
1938
Producer
Hot on Ice
1938
Producer
Man's Greatest Friend
1938
Producer
Hollywood Daredevils
1943
as Narrator
Those Good Old Days
1949
as Narrator
Water Wisdom
1943
as Narrator(voice)
Throttle Pushers
1933
as Narrator(voice)
Neighbor Pests
1947
Producer
Double Diving
1939
as Narrator
Super Cue Men
1949
as Narrator
Stuffie
1940
We Can Dream, Can't We?
1949
as Narrator
Memory Tricks
1941
Culinary Carving
1939
as Narrator
Home Maid
1944
as Narrator
The Mosconi Story
1953
as Narrator
What About Daddy?
1942
Producer
Spots Before Your Eyes
1940
Producer
Maintain the Right
1940
as Narrator
Social Sea Lions
1940
as Narrator
Please Answer (I.Q. #3)
1940
as Narrator
Football Thrills of 1939
TBA
Director
Penny To the Rescue
1941
as Narrator
Football Thrills of 1941
1942
Director
Football Thrills of 1942
1943
Director
Football Thrills of 1943
1944
Director
Fala at Hyde Park
1946
as Narrator
Football Thrills No. 9
1946
Director
Football Thrills No. 10
1947
Writer
Wild and Woolly
1931
Producer
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