Thomas H. Ince (1880–1924) turned movie-making into a business enterprise. Progressing from actor to director and screenwriter, he revolutionized the motion picture industry through developing the role of the producer. In addition to building the first major Hollywood studio facility, dubbed “Inceville,” he was responsible for more than 800 films. This book chronicles Ince's life from the stage to his sudden death as he was about to join forces with media tycoon William Randolph Hearst. It explores Ince's impact on Hollywood's production system, the Western, his creation of the first American ... More

Thomas H. Ince (1880–1924) turned movie-making into a business enterprise. Progressing from actor to director and screenwriter, he revolutionized the motion picture industry through developing the role of the producer. In addition to building the first major Hollywood studio facility, dubbed “Inceville,” he was responsible for more than 800 films. This book chronicles Ince's life from the stage to his sudden death as he was about to join forces with media tycoon William Randolph Hearst. It explores Ince's impact on Hollywood's production system, the Western, his creation of the first American movies starring Asian performers, and his cinematic exploration of the status of women in society. Until now, Ince has not been the subject of a biography. This book offers insight into the world of silent cinema through the story of one of its earliest and most influential moguls.