George Sherman

American second feature director who arrived in California aboard the SS Mongolia bound from New York on which he served as a bellboy Sherman began his career in the movie business in the mail room at Warner Brothers before working his way up to assistant director By 1937 he had graduated to directing in his own right under contract with Republic Sherman specialised almost exclusively in Bwesterns including the Three Mesqueteers series which featured a young John Wayne with occasional forays into action and horror themes He often achieved a sense of style over substance Indeed as to his handling of the Mesqueteers Variety commented on his imparting a poetry in motion to his unified timing of cowboys mounting riding wheeling galloping and dismounting of steeds July 2 1939 From 1940 Sherman also served as associate producer on many of his films The diminutive five foot Sherman turned out reliable lowbudget fare for Columbia between 1945 and 1948 then moved on to do the same at Universal for another eight years Thereafter he turned to freelancing and working in television The only Agrade films to his credit were two westerns starring John Wayne The Comancheros 1961 as producer and Big Jake 1971 as director Date of Birth 14 July 1908 New York City New York Date of Death 15 March 1991 Los Angeles County California