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Sidney Rankin Drew

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sidney Rankin Drew
Born
Sidney Rankin Drew

(1891-09-19)September 19, 1891
New York City, United States
DiedMay 19, 1918(1918-05-19) (aged 26)
Arvillers, France
Cause of death
Killed in action
Other nameS. Rankin Drew
OccupationsActor, film director
Years active1913–1917
FatherSidney Drew
Relatives
FamilyDrew family

Sidney Rankin Drew (September 19, 1891 – May 19, 1918) was an American actor and film director. He was a member of the multi-generational Drew acting family.

He appeared in 36 films between 1913 and 1917, and directed 14 films between 1915 and 1917.

Early life

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Sidney Rankin Drew was born on September 19, 1891, in New York City to Sidney Drew and Gladys Rankin, both actors and comedians of Mr and Mrs. Sidney Drew. Drew was born into two entertainment family dynasties, the Drews and the Rankins. Through his father, his grandmother was actress Louisa Lane Drew and through his mother, his grandparents were McKee Rankin and Kitty Blanchard, all actors. He was the first cousin of the actors John, Lionel, and Ethel Barrymore, all of the Barrymore acting family. Drew was also cousin to actors Louise Drew, Georgie Drew Mendum, and Arthur Rankin.[1][2]

Drew graduation from the Cutler School in New York.[3]

Career

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Drew began his career acting in his parents' vaudeville acts. He first appeared on stage in Minneapolis at just four months old.[4] He would later make his official theatre debut in the play Billy written by his mother and followed this up with his father's Silent Voice. It was through the encouragement of his cousin, Lionel Barrymore, that Drew began to work in the newly developing film industry.[3]

In 1916, Drew directed Thou Art the Man, the last script written by his mother on her deathbed. He regarded the film as a masterpiece and a tribute to his mother who had died in 1914.[3] He also directed the silent picture The Vital Question the same year. It starred Virginia Pearson, Charles Kent, George Cooper, and Denton Vane. Following its release the Grand Forks Herald named Drew "one of the greatest directors in the business".[5]

After a successful career with Vitagraph, Drew moved to Metro Pictures in 1916, becoming the fifth of the Barrymore/Drew to work at the studio. His first, and last, film at Metro was The Belle of the Season, which was shot in 1916, but released posthumously in 1918.[6][7]

Drew was drafted in the Army during World War I and eventually became a volunteer pilot in the Franco-American Air Corps.[8][9] Following his death, his final film, The Belle of the Season, was released in 1919.

In 1921, the book Life and Letters of Sidney Rankin Drew was edited and published by his step-mother, Lucille McVey. The book is made up prodominently of letters he sent home to his father during the war.[10]

Personal life

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Rankin's mother, Gladys, died in January 1914 from undisclosed causes. His father remarried to Lucille McVey, a Vitagraph scriptwriter who briefly went under the name Jane Morrow, in July that year.[11][12]

Drew was killed-in-action on May 19, 1918, when his plane was shot down over France during World War I.[13] He has a monument in Central Park.[14] A cross made from the struts of his airplane was presented to his step-mother, Lucille McVey, in December 1919. She dedicated the cross to his monument.[15][16]

Filmography

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  • The Still Voice (1913)*short
  • His Tired Uncle (1913)*short
  • An Infernal Tangle (1913)*short
  • The Snare of Fate (1913)*short
  • An Unwritten Chapter (1913)*short
  • The Glove (1913)*short
  • My Lady of Idleness (1913)*short
  • The Penalties of Reputation (1913)*short
  • A Game of Cards (1913)*short
  • Timing Cupid (1914)*short
  • Hearts of Women (1914)*short
  • Marrying Sue (1914)*short
  • In the Old Attic (1914)*short
  • The Drudge (1914)*short
  • The Idler (1914)*short
  • Never Again (1914)*short
  • Mr. Barnes of New York (1914, actor)
  • The Tattoo Mark (1914)*short[17]
  • Maria's Sacrifice (1914)*short
  • The Royal Wild West (1914)*short
  • In the Latin Quarter (1915, actor)*short
  • O'Garry of the Royal Mounted (1915)*short
  • The Island of Regeneration (1915)*feature
  • The Quality of Mercy (1915)*short
  • A Madcap Adventure (1915)*short
  • Janet of the Chorus (1915)*short
  • Elsa's Brother (1915)*short
  • The Lesson of the Narrow Street (1915)*short
  • The Reward (1915)*short
  • The Third Party (1915)*short
  • Who Killed Joe Merrion? (1915)*feature
  • Thou Art the Man (1915)*feature
  • The Hunted Woman (1916)*feature
  • The Suspect (1916, director and actor)*feature
  • The Musical Barber (1916)*short
  • A Vampire Out of Work (1916)
  • The Girl Philippa (1917, director and actor)*feature
  • Who's Your Neighbor? (1917, director)*feature
  • The Belle of the Season (released 1919 although shot in 1917, director, scenario, and actor)*feature

Director

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See also

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References

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Bibliography

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  • BRankin Drew, Sidney (1921). McVey, Lucille (ed.). Life and Letters of Sidney Rankin Drew. Cheltenham Press.

References

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  1. ↑ Kelly, Rivka (2014). The Duchess: An Analysis of the Life and Legacy of Louisa Lane Drew (PDF). Scholarworks: University of Vermont.
  2. ↑ "Mrs. John Drew. A Picayune Reporter Chats With America's Greatest Comedienne". Newspapers.com. The Times-Picayune. March 27, 1894. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Vitagraph Feature Staged As a Memorial". Newspapers.com. Courier-Post. January 15, 1916. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Behind the Scenes". Newspapers.com. The Eugene Guard. May 3, 1892. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Some Great Pictures to be Seen This Week, says Higgins". Newspapers.com. Grand Forks Herald. October 22, 1916. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  6. ↑ "S. Rankin Drew Goes to Metro After the 28th". Motion Picture News. October 28, 1917. p. 2659. Retrieved December 6, 2019.Open access icon
  7. ↑ "The Belle of the Season". American Film Institute. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Sidney R. Drew". Newspapers.com. Stamford Advocate. June 15, 1918. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  9. ↑ Rankin Drew 1921, pp. 11–12.
  10. ↑ Rankin Drew 1921, p. 2.
  11. ↑ Ionita, Casina (2019). "Mrs. Sidney Drew". Columbia Academic Commons. doi:10.7916/d8-v5hc-2j62 – via Columbia University Libraries.
  12. ↑ "Sidney Drew Will Wed Younger Singer. Vitagraph Star Whose Former Wife Died Six Months Ago Plans Second Trip to Alter on Sunday". Newspapers.com. The Seattle Daily Times. July 22, 1914. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  13. ↑ "S. Rankin Drew Biography". Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  14. ↑ "S. Rankin Drew Marker". nycgovparks.org. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Cross from Grave of Sidney Rankin Drew". Newspapers.com. Wichita Fall Times. December 21, 1919. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Drew's Grave Cross Presented to Post". Newspapers.com. New York Herald. December 8, 1919. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Jul 04, 1914, page 13 - The St. John Standard at Newspapers.com™". Newspapers.com. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
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