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Paul Gerard Smith

Writer · Died April 4, 1968, aged 73 · Omaha, Nebraska, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Paul Gerard Smith (September 14, 1894 – April 4, 1968) was an American screenwriter. He wrote for 90 films between 1926 and 1955. Smith started writing musical revues at the age of ten. He joined the Marines for World War I and while still in Germany wrote and directed the Sixth Marine Revue in the Rhine Occupation Area. He arrived back in the States in 1919 and started writing vaudeville acts. He became so successful that he was one of the few writers to be credited on the playbill. He scripted the Ziegfeld Follies of 1924, 1925, and 1926 and was also one of the writers of Funny Face. Smith was brought to Hollywood by Buster Keaton to work on The General and Battling Butler. Early film credits include In Old Arizona, Mother Knows Best, and Dressed to Kill, as well as the first talkies of Harold Lloyd, Welcome Danger and Feet First. He wrote dozens of B movies for Universal Studios, Fox Film Corporation, Paramount Pictures, RKO Radio Pictures, Warner Bros., and Hal Roach Studios. He also scripted USO shows and personal appearances for many film and radio stars entertaining overseas. After World War II he returned to film and radio scripting and also wrote and directed some early television programs on ABC, including The Gay Nineties Revue. He returned to stage writing with Hullabaloo for the Pasadena Playhouse.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 14, 1894
Died
April 4, 1968 (aged 73)
From
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Works as
Writer
Titles
20 on MovieCove · 68 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 16% in 30 days

What are Paul Gerard Smith's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Society.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
40%
Society
20%
Self
16%
Morality
15%
Power
4%
Ideas
4%
Romantic love11 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTradition vs change3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass3 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 18 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 13 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 12 · Charged 8 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 15 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 12

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 3

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 18 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
14
Absurd
8
Warm
6
Tense
5
Thrilling
4
Other
10

How their films linger

Feel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy19
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Paul Gerard Smith's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 20 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Paul Gerard Smith's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

68 credits, 20 with a MovieCove page.

  • Harpoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Screenplay

  • Untamed Fury(1947)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • It's a Joke, Son!(1947)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Sunbonnet Sue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Story

  • Moonlight and Cactus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Screenplay

  • Oh, What a Night! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Screenplay

  • Lady, Let's Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Screenplay

  • Hi, Good Lookin'! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Writer

  • Show Business(1944)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • My Tomato (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Original Story · Screenplay

  • Heavenly Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Screenplay

  • Here We Go Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Screenplay

  • Give Out, Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Screenplay

  • Jail House Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Screenplay · Story

  • Wild Bill Hickok Rides(1942)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Private Buckaroo(1942)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • You're in the Army Now(1941)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Steel Against the Sky(1941)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Niagara Falls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Screenplay

  • Sing Another Chorus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Screenplay

  • Tanks a Million(1941)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • San Antonio Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Writer

  • Hurry, Charlie, Hurry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Screenplay

  • Hello, Sucker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Screenplay

  • Topper Returns(1941)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Sandy Gets Her Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Director

  • Margie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Director

  • La Conga Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Screenplay

  • I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Adaptation

  • She Couldn't Say No (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Theatre Play

  • Just Around the Corner(1938)

    Story

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Higgins Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Writer

  • Mama Runs Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Writer

  • Thrill of a Lifetime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Screenplay

  • Turn Off the Moon(1937)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Love Nest on Wheels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Adaptation

  • Ditto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Writer

  • Jail Bait (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Story

  • Earthworm Tractors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Writer

  • She Knew What She Wanted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Screenplay

  • F-Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Screenplay

  • It's a Great Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Screenplay

  • Welcome Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Screenplay

  • Hold 'Em Yale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Writer

  • Rumba(1935)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • One Hour Late (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Screenplay

  • Harold Teen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Screenplay

  • It's a Gift(1934)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Son of a Sailor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Screenplay

  • Bone Crushers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Narrator

  • Duck Hunters' Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Chili and Chills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Sidewalks of New York(1931)

    Story

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • A Broadway Romeo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Story

  • Girls Will Be Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Screenplay

  • Compliments of the Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Story

  • Feet First (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Dialogue

  • Red, Green and Yellow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Writer

  • Heads Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Theatre Play

  • Dangerous Nan McGrew (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Writer

  • Welcome Danger(1929)

    Dialogue

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Waltzing Around (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Writer

  • In Holland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Writer

  • In Old Arizona(1928)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Speedy(1928)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Battling Butler(1926)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The General(1926)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Son of the Sheik(1926)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 58 titles from 1929 to 1948.

Biggest box office

The Son of the Sheik (1926)

$4.4M worldwide

Highest rated

The General (1926)

Midcredits 98th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 58: 3 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting2 of 58: 2 only directing, 0 with another roleWriting53 of 58: 53 only writing, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score38th

By decade

1920s3 · crew1930s29 · 3 acting · 26 crew1940s26 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Paul Gerard Smith's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 42nd percentile, the median of all 20; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 20 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 20 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · writer

Turn Off the Moon (1937)

68th percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

The General (1926)

Midcredits 98th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 48/100 and the plot and story 40/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Paul Gerard Smith work with?

People who share at least 2 of Paul Gerard Smith's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Buster Keaton shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles