Edwin Carewe (March 3, 1883, in Chickasaw Nation – January 22, 1940) was a Native American motion picture director, actor, producer, and screenwriter.

Early life and education Jay John Fox was born on March 3, 1883, in Gainesville, Texas. His parents were Franklin Marion Fox and Sallie J. Priddy Fox.

Carewe and his two brothers, Wallace Ware Fox (a director/producer) and Franklin Finis Fox (a scenario writer), were all citizens of the Chickasaw Nation and original enrollees on the 1907 Chickasaw Dawes Rolls.

Career

After brief studies at the Universities of Texas and Missouri and a period of work with regional theatrical groups, Carewe moved to New York City in 1910, where he became a member of the Dearborn Stock Company. Although Jay Fox was his given name, Carewe chose Edwin (from stage actor Edwin Booth) and Carewe from a character he was playing.The New York Times, January 23, 1940, p. 21; Variety January 24, 1940.

Carewe was on stage as an actor before he worked for Lubin studios. Later, he directed films for MGM, First National, Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and United Artists. During his career, he provided early screen exposure to many actors such as Dolores del Río, Warner Baxter, Francis X. Bushman and Gary Cooper. He directed 58 films including the acclaimed 1928 version of Ramona starring Dolores del Río and Warner Baxter, which was rediscovered and restored by the Library of Congress and had its world premiere at the University of California, Los Angeles in 2014.

Another of Carewe's notable films was Evangeline in 1929, also with Del Río, and written by his brother Finis Fox. Evangeline was based upon the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and earned praise for its exceptional lighting and camera work.The New York Times, August 20, 1929.

Although Carewe directed and produced several critically and financially successful pictures during the silent era, he was not fully able to make the transition to sound. After resorting to sound remakes of his earlier successes, and later to low-budget and religious films, he made his last feature Are We Civilized? in 1934.

Carewe was married three times, twice to actress Mary Akin. By his first wife, Mary Jane Croft (married January 9, 1909 in Toronto, Ontario), he had two daughters, Violette (who became an actress, known as "Rita Carewe") and Mary Jane. By his first marriage to his second wife, Mary Akin, he had two children, Sally Ann and William (born Edwin Gilbert). By his second marriage to Akin, they had one more child, Carol Lee.

Death Carewe died from a heart ailment in his Hollywood apartment, and is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.See Edwin Carewe, State of California Standard Certificate of Death, 22 Jan 1940 (filed 24 Jan 1940), Local Registered No. 1904. Although a few writers have said that Carewe had committed suicide, his death certificate actually states arteriosclerosis general and coronary sclerosis as the cause of death. He had a previous condition of coronary thrombosis. Even if suicide had been suspected, the LA County Coroner's Office would have been required by law to perform an autopsy and none was ever performed.

Filmography

Director Year Films Notes 1914 Across the Pacific Extant at The Museum of Modern ArtThe Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Across The Pacific 1915 Cora Lost film 1915 The Cowboy and the Lady Lost film 1915 Destiny: Or, The Soul of a Woman 3 of 5 reels held at Library of Congress 1915 The Final Judgment 1915 The House of Tears Lost film 1915 Marse Covington Lost film The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Marse Covington 1916 The Dawn of Love Lost film 1916 God's Half Acre Extant at Library of CongressThe Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: God's Half Acre 1916 Her Great Price Lost film The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Her Great Price 1916 The Snowbird 1916 The Sunbeam Lost film The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Sunbeam 1916 The Upstart Lost film The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Upstart 1917 The Barricade Lost film 1917 The Greatest Power Lost film 1917 Her Fighting Chance Lost film 1917 The Trail of the Shadow Lost film 1917 Their Compact Lost film 1917 The Voice of Conscience 1918 The House of Gold Lost film 1918 Liberty Bond Jimmy Short film 1918 Pals First Lost film The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Pals First Remade in 1926 1918 The Splendid Sinner Lost film 1918 The Trail to Yesterday 1919 Easy to Make Money Lost film 1919 False Evidence 1919 The Right to Lie Extant at EYE FilmmuseumThe Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Right to Lie 1919 Shadows of Suspicion Lost film 1919 The Way of the Strong Lost film 1920 Isobel; Or, The Trail's End Lost film The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Isobel; Or, The Trail's End 1920 Rio Grande Lost film 1920 The Web of Deceit 1921 Habit Lost film 1921 Her Mad Bargain Lost film 1921 The Invisible Fear Lost film 1921 My Lady's Latchkey Lost film 1921 Playthings of Destiny Lost film 1922 I Am the Law Lost film 1922 A Question of Honor Lost film 1922 Silver Wings Lost film 1923 The Bad Man Lost film 1923 The Girl of the Golden West Lost film 1923 Mighty Lak' a Rose Lost film 1924 Madonna of the Streets Lost film 1924 A Son of the Sahara Lost film 1925 Joanna Lost film 1925 The Lady Who Lied Lost film 1925 My Son Lost film 1925 Why Women Love Lost film 1926 High Steppers Lost film 1926 Pals First Lost film 1927 Resurrection Lost film 1928 Ramona 1928 Revenge 1929 Evangeline 1930 The Spoilers 1931 Resurrection 1934 Are We Civilized?

Actor

The Water Rats (1912) Gentleman Joe (1912) The Moonshiner's Daughter (1912) A Girl's Bravery (1912) The Call of the Heart (1913) His Conscience (1913) Into the Light (1913) On Her Wedding Day (1913) Her Husband's Picture (1913) From Ignorance to Light (1913) The Wine of Madness (1913) The Great Pearl (1913) Kidnapping Father (1913) Retribution (1913) A Mock Marriage (1913) In the Harem of Haschem (1913) A Florida Romance (1913) Women of the Desert (1913) The Moonshiner's Wife (1913) Dolores' Decision (1913) The Soul of a Rose (1913) The First Prize (1913) The Supreme Sacrifice (1913) The Regeneration of Nancy (1913) Down on the Rio Grande (1913) It Might Have Been (1913) Love's Justice (1913) The Mexican Spy (1913) The Miser (1913) On the Threshold (1913) Private Smith (1913) The Three of Us (1914) Cora (1915) Snowbird (1916)

Producer

Isobel or The Trail's End (1920) The Web of Deceit (1920) I Am the Law (1922) The Bad Man (1923) The Girl of the Golden West (1923) Mighty Lak' a Rose (1923) Madonna of the Streets (1924) A Son of the Sahara (1924) Joanna (1925) Why Women Love (1925) The Lady Who Lied (1925) My Son (1925) Pals First (1926) High Steppers (1926) Resurrection (1927) Revenge (1928) Evangeline (1929) The Spoilers (1930) Resurrection (1931) Are We Civilized? (1934)

Writer Across the Pacific (1914) The Dancer and the King (1914) Rio Grande (1920) Resurrection (1927)

References

External links

Edwin Carewe at Virtual History Official website of Edwin Carewe