William Haines

William Haines

Born: January 2, 1900
Died: December 26, 1973
in Staunton, Virginia, USA
William Haines (born Charles William Haines; January 2, 1900 - December 26, 1973) was a star American comedy actor of the late Silent and early "talkie" eras.

Movies for William Haines...

Out of the Closet, Off the Screen: The Life of William Haines
Title: Out of the Closet, Off the Screen: The Life of William Haines
Character: Himself (Archival footage)
Released: June 13, 2001
Type: Movie
Chronicles the life of William Haines, Hollywood's first openly gay movie star, who sacrificed his career to live openly with his lover.
bee
Zelig
Title: Zelig
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: July 15, 1983
Type: Movie
Fictional documentary about the life of human chameleon Leonard Zelig, a man who becomes a celebrity in the 1920s due to his ability to look and act like whoever is around him. Clever editing places Zelig in real newsreel footage of Woodrow Wilson, Babe Ruth, and others.
bee
The Big Parade of Comedy
Title: The Big Parade of Comedy
Character: Actor in Theater Lobby (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: September 2, 1964
Type: Movie
Film clips highlight the funniest scenes and brightest comic stars in MGM's history.
bee
The Marines Are Coming
Title: The Marines Are Coming
Character: Lt. William 'Wild Bill' Traylor
Released: November 19, 1934
Type: Movie
Expelled from his lieutenancy in the Marine Corps, Bill Traylor reenlists as a private. His unit is sent to a Latin American country where a rebel leader called The Torch promotes insurrection. There Traylor encounters again Captain Benton, the man responsible for his disgrace and his rival for the love of a girl.
bee
Young and Beautiful
Title: Young and Beautiful
Character: Robert Preston
Released: September 16, 1934
Type: Movie
Bob Preston, publicity man for Superba Pictures, uses his publicity skills in an attempt to make this fiancée June Dale the most famous movie star in the world. But in doing so, he forgets that women want to be attended to for themselves, not as objects of fame.
bee
Fast Life
Title: Fast Life
Character: Sandy
Released: December 16, 1932
Type: Movie
Two sailors (William Haines and Cliff Edwards) are leaving the US Navy after 10 years. In their spare time, one of them (Haines) invents a carburetor that should increase the speed that powered boats will run, but all they succeed in doing is sinking the Admiral's barge. After discharge, broke and out of work, they find work with a boat builder who wants the fastest race boat in the world. They design the boat, carburetor and the engine but lack of money and the foreclosure of the business hinders their efforts to prove the new design.
bee
Are You Listening?
Title: Are You Listening?
Character: Bill Grimes
Released: March 21, 1932
Type: Movie
WBLA is on the air, presenting the live music, the sudsy dramas and the sell-sell-sell of commercial interludes that keep consumers buying and sponsors smiling. But one sponsor, a producer of plumbing supplies, isn’t happy. So WBLA scriptwriter Bill Grimes is bounced from his job, setting in motion this movie’s turn from comedic to darkly tragic. William Haines, two years removed from being Tinseltown’s top male star, plays Grimes in a melodrama noted for its glimpses of live radio production and for a Depression-era ethos that includes peroxide cuties eager to land a job, a sugar daddy or both.
bee
New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford
Title: New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford
Character: Wallingford
Released: October 3, 1931
Type: Movie
Wallingford is a con-man whose specialty is taking money from suckers. His partners are Schnozzle, a pickpocket and car thief; and Blackie, who has played the game for years.
bee
Just a Gigolo
Title: Just a Gigolo
Character: Robert Brummel
Released: June 6, 1931
Type: Movie
A playboy pretends to be a paid escort in order to court--and test the moral character of--a young British socialite. Comedy.
bee
The Stolen Jools
Title: The Stolen Jools
Character: Bill Haines
Released: April 4, 1931
Type: Movie
Famous actress Norma Shearer's jewels are stolen… (Star-packed promotional short film intended to raise funds for the National Variety Artists Tuberculosis Sanatorium.)
bee
A Tailor-Made Man
Title: A Tailor-Made Man
Character: John Paul Bart
Released: March 28, 1931
Type: Movie
John Paul Bart is just a pants-presser in a tailor's shop, but he has big ambitions. One night, he borrows the clothes of a wealthy client and bluffs his way into a high society party. After meeting wealthy businessman Abraham Nathan, John Paul quickly rises to the top of Nathan's company. Suffering during The Depression, John Paul helps Nathan save his company with a radical program of cooperative ownership between workers and management. Meanwhile, John Paul makes an enemy of Gustav, who is engaged to Tanya - the daughter of Mr. Huber, owner of the tailor shop. John Paul maintains a friendship with Tanya, provoking jealousy in Gustav. Gustav threatens to reveal John Paul's plain origins to Nathan, and John Paul briefly resigns from Nathan's company. However, John Paul's plan is a success, and Nathan hires him back immediately. Tanya leaves Gustav and ends up with John Paul.
bee
Remote Control
Title: Remote Control
Character: William J. Brennan
Released: November 15, 1930
Type: Movie
A radio announcer gets caught up with a fake clairvoyant and his gang of thieves.
bee
Way Out West
Title: Way Out West
Character: Windy
Released: August 2, 1930
Type: Movie
Wise-guy carnival barker Windy bilks a group of cowboys out of their money, gets caught and is forced into working off the debt on their ranch. He falls in love with Molly, the pretty owner of the ranch, but runs afoul of foreman Steve, who also loves Molly.
bee
Estrellados
Title: Estrellados
Character: Self (Guest Appearance)
Released: July 7, 1930
Type: Movie
A matinée idol and a bumbling manager fight for the love of a would-be starlet. Estrellados is the Spanish version of Free and Easy (1930) with Hispanic/Spanish-speaking actors.
bee
Free and Easy
Title: Free and Easy
Character: A Guest
Released: March 22, 1930
Type: Movie
Gopher City Kansas hosts a beauty contest. The winner, Elvira Plunkett, and her mother go to Hollywood. The Chamber of Commerce also provides Elvira with an agent, Gopher City's own Elmer J. Butz. Elmer likes Elvira and the shy Elvira likes him, but Mrs. Plunkett, a formidable woman, has little use for hapless Elmer. On the train west, they meet movie star Larry Mitchell, who takes a shine to Elvira and helps her meet MGM directors once they get to Tinsel Town. Elmer, meanwhile, wants to help Elvira with her career and he also wants to be her man. Movie stardom does come to the Gopher City entourage, but to whom is a surprise. And who will win the lovely Elvira's hand?
bee
The Girl Said No
Title: The Girl Said No
Character: Tom Ward
Released: March 15, 1930
Type: Movie
A comedy romance in which breezy Haines, as a young lady killer, tries to capture the heart of Hyams who has turned him down for Bushman. Haines plots dozens of extreme measures to win her over, and finally goes so far as to drag her from the altar, bound and gagged.
bee
Navy Blues
Title: Navy Blues
Character: Jack Kelly
Released: December 20, 1929
Type: Movie
On shore leave, a young sailor meets and falls in love with a pretty young blonde. He goes home with her to meet her parents, but they don't approve of him at all. Their daughter takes offense at this, and in the ensuing argument she storms out of the house determined to live on her own.
bee
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
Title: The Hollywood Revue of 1929
Character: Self
Released: November 23, 1929
Type: Movie
An all-star revue featuring MGM contract players.
bee
Speedway
Title: Speedway
Character: Bill Whipple
Released: October 7, 1929
Type: Movie
Bill Whipple is a happy-go-lucky mechanic for MacDonald who thinks that he is the worlds greatest driver and lover. Mac has treated Bill like a son since he took him in. One day at the track, Bill sees Pat Bannon, and tries his best to impress her, but to no avail. On his way to catch a flight, he tricks Pat into taking him to the airport and she gets even by taking him up in a plane. He hates to fly, but will not show her that he is afraid and when the plane breaks up, he is a hero for rescuing her. This gets him publicity and Renny offers him his car to drive in the Indianapolis 500. Bill breaks with Mac to drive the car and puts it on the pole for the race. Then Renny double crosses Bill and plans to drive the car himself since Bill has tuned it so well.
bee
A Man's Man
Title: A Man's Man
Character: Mel
Released: May 25, 1929
Type: Movie
An aspiring actress goes to Hollywood to make movies and marries a soda jerk.
bee
The Duke Steps Out
Title: The Duke Steps Out
Character: Duke
Released: March 19, 1929
Type: Movie
Millionaire's son Duke wants to be a champion boxer but takes time out to enroll in college when he sees co-ed Susie. The students wonder about his having a chauffeur and house full of servants. Susie likes him but, to get rid of her, his manager tells her Duke already has a New York chorus girl. As the students listen to a radio broadcast of his victorious fight from San Francisco, she learns that the student Duke is the boxer Duke and that there is no chorus girl.
bee
Show People
Title: Show People
Character: Billy Boone
Released: November 20, 1928
Type: Movie
Hollywood hopeful Peggy Pepper arrives at a major studio, from Georgia, to become a great dramatic star. Things don't go entirely according to plan.
bee
Alias Jimmy Valentine
Title: Alias Jimmy Valentine
Character: Jimmy Valentine
Released: November 15, 1928
Type: Movie
An Incompetent insurance salesman sells a policy to Jesse James and has to protect his client until he can get it back.
bee
Excess Baggage
Title: Excess Baggage
Character: Eddie Kane
Released: September 28, 1928
Type: Movie
Excess Baggage is a lost 1928 American silent comedy film directed by James Cruze and distributed by MGM. The film was based on the play of the same name by John McGowan. The film starred William Haines, Josephine Dunn and Kathleen Clifford.
bee
Telling the World
Title: Telling the World
Character: Don Davis
Released: June 30, 1928
Type: Movie
The journalist Don Davis becomes involved in a murder case, where Chrystal Malone is part of it. Davis follows Chrystal to China. When Chrystal arrives in China, Davis has to save her from an execution.
bee
The Smart Set
Title: The Smart Set
Character: Tommy Van Buren
Released: March 24, 1928
Type: Movie
A cocky, arrogant young playboy is expelled from his American polo team shortly before the big match with England.
bee
West Point
Title: West Point
Character: Brice Wayne
Released: January 7, 1928
Type: Movie
Arrogant and wise-cracking Brice Wayne enrolls at the United States Military Academy at West Point and adjusts to life as a plebe. He tries out for the plebe football team, where he excels and shows up the varsity team. However, his ego is unrivaled, especially in competition with upperclassman Bob Sperry. At the same time, Brice meets a local girl named Betty Channing who cheers for him at football practices.
bee
Spring Fever
Title: Spring Fever
Character: Jack Kelly
Released: October 22, 1927
Type: Movie
Kelly's employer, Waters, is such a keen golfer that he asks Kelly to help him improve his game at an exclusive country club.
bee
Slide, Kelly, Slide
Title: Slide, Kelly, Slide
Character: Jim Kelly
Released: March 12, 1927
Type: Movie
A minor league pitcher lets pride get the better of him after he joins the New York Yankees.
bee
A Little Journey
Title: A Little Journey
Character: George Manning
Released: January 1, 1927
Type: Movie
A girl travelling by train to meet her boyfriend meets another young man and falls in love with him.
bee
Tell It to the Marines
Title: Tell It to the Marines
Character: Private Skeet Burns
Released: December 23, 1926
Type: Movie
U.S. Marine Sergeant O'Hara has his hands full training raw recruits, one of whom, 'Skeets' Burns, is a particular thorn in his side. If Burns's lackadaisical approach to the military were not bad enough, he also makes advances on nurse Nora Dale, whom Sergeant O'Hara secretly loves. Nora is oblivious to O'Hara's feelings and is attracted to the handsome 'Skeet.' But an indiscretion turns her against him, and it takes an expedition to China and a battle with a warlord's bandit brigade to sort things out among the nurse and her two Marines.
bee
Lovey Mary
Title: Lovey Mary
Character: Billy Wiggs
Released: June 20, 1926
Type: Movie
Lovely Mary, an orphan girl, reluctantly takes charge of her sister's child when her sister Kate is jailed.
bee
Mike
Title: Mike
Character: Harlan
Released: May 10, 1926
Type: Movie
A Modest Comedy Drama
bee
Brown of Harvard
Title: Brown of Harvard
Character: Tom Brown
Released: May 2, 1926
Type: Movie
Tom Brown shows up at Harvard, confident and a bit arrogant. He becomes a rival of Bob McAndrew, not only in football and rowing crew, but also for the affections of Mary Abbott, a professor's daughter.
bee
Memory Lane
Title: Memory Lane
Character: Joe Field
Released: February 1, 1926
Type: Movie
Mary is marrying Jimmie, from whom she has kept a secret; Mary remains in love with another man. Problems ensue, jeopardizing the tranquility of their relationship.
bee
Sally, Irene and Mary
Title: Sally, Irene and Mary
Character: Jimmy Dungan
Released: December 27, 1925
Type: Movie
The three are showgirls, each with a different approach to life and love.
bee
Little Annie Rooney
Title: Little Annie Rooney
Character: Joe Kelly
Released: October 18, 1925
Type: Movie
A feisty little girl, the daughter of a beat cop, faces the challenges of growing up in a tough city neighborhood.
bee
The Tower of Lies
Title: The Tower of Lies
Character: August
Released: October 10, 1925
Type: Movie
After his beloved daughter leaves for the city to pay off his debt, an old farmer goes mad when her letters become less frequent and it is suspected she may be using her body to get the money.
bee
A Slave of Fashion
Title: A Slave of Fashion
Character: Dick Wayne
Released: August 23, 1925
Type: Movie
Katherine Emerson, an Iowa girl hungry for the good things in life, leaves her small hometown and sets out for New York. En route, she is involved in a train wreck in which another woman is killed. Katherine finds the woman's purse and, among its contents, discovers an invitation for the woman to spend 6 months in an unoccupied luxury apartment in Manhattan. Katherine seizes this opportunity and sets up housekeeping in the elegant suite, living well and dressing in the newest fashions.
bee
1925 Studio Tour
Title: 1925 Studio Tour
Character: Self (uncredited)
Released: April 9, 1925
Type: Movie
A tour of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio in 1925 shows the people who make the movies there, and gives viewers a glimpse at how movies are made.
bee
The Denial
Title: The Denial
Character: Lyman - Lover in Flashback
Released: March 22, 1925
Type: Movie
When Dorothy wants to marry Bob (Robert Agnew), her mother, Mildred, forbids the match. Dorothy angrily asserts that Mildred might reconsider if her own mother had forbid her marriage. The rest of the film is a flashback, as Mildred recalls her own youth, when her dictatorial mother did forbid her to marry Lyman. Lyman enlisted with Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders to fight in the Spanish-American War, but was killed in battle.
bee
The Wife of the Centaur
Title: The Wife of the Centaur
Character: Edward Converse
Released: December 1, 1924
Type: Movie
Jeffrey Dwyer is a writer and a poet who wrestles with the conflicts between his idealism and his passion. The two sides of his nature are personified in the women he loves: the sweetly innocent Joan Converse, and the sexy, charismatic Inez Martin.
bee
So This Is Marriage?
Title: So This Is Marriage?
Released: November 26, 1924
Type: Movie
The only known copy of this film copy was reported to have been destroyed in the 1967 MGM Vault fire.
bee
Circe the Enchantress
Title: Circe the Enchantress
Character: William Craig
Released: October 6, 1924
Type: Movie
Mae Murray as a Jazz Age baby who treats men like swine until she falls for the upright doctor living next door.
bee
Wine of Youth
Title: Wine of Youth
Character: Hal Martin
Released: September 15, 1924
Type: Movie
Based on a play be Rachel Crothers, WINE OF YOUTH is a solid drama about "the modern young generation" and how they think they know it all. It's also a play about love and marriage.
bee
The Midnight Express
Title: The Midnight Express
Character: Jack Oakes
Released: June 1, 1924
Type: Movie
Wastrel son of a railroad magnate, Jack's father becomes frustrated with his son's wild ways. To prove himself, Jack goes to work in the railroad yard as a laborer. An escaped convict, Silent Bill Brachley, steals Jack's car, and the chase leads to a meeting between Jack, the engineer of the Midnight Express, and the engineer's pretty daughter, Mary. As he is led back to jail, Brachley swears revenge.
bee
True As Steel
Title: True As Steel
Character: Gilbert Morse
Released: April 20, 1924
Type: Movie
Successful middle-aged manufacturer Frank Parry takes a business trip to New York, where he becomes infatuated with Eva Boutelle, manager of the Swansea Cotton Mills. For a time, their affair develops, but Eva remains true to her husband ...
bee
Three Weeks
Title: Three Weeks
Character: Curate
Released: February 10, 1924
Type: Movie
A young aristocrat strikes up an affair with a mysterious woman for three weeks.
bee
Three Wise Fools
Title: Three Wise Fools
Character: Gordon Schuyler
Released: August 19, 1923
Type: Movie
Sydney Fairchild, the daughter of a woman who was once loved by three bachelors, surprises the men with a visit. Findley, Trumbull, and Gaunt honor their former sweetheart's last request by becoming Sydney's guardians.
bee
Souls for Sale
Title: Souls for Sale
Character: Pinkey - Assistant Director
Released: April 22, 1923
Type: Movie
A young woman hits Hollywood, determined to become a star.