
Raymond Hackett
Acting
Biography
Raymond Hackett (July 15, 1902 – July 7, 1958) was an American stage and film actor whose career bridged the final years of silent cinema and the rise of early sound films. Born in New York City to a theatrical family, he made his Broadway debut at just five years old, performing as Master Raymond Hackett and quickly establishing himself as a gifted child actor. Hackett transitioned to Hollywood in the late 1920s, becoming a familiar face in early talkies. Between 1929 and 1931 he appeared in a string of major studio productions, including "The Trial of Mary Dugan," "Madame X," "Our Blushing Brides," and "Not So Dumb." His roles often cast him as earnest young men, romantic leads, or sympathetic supporting characters during a period when studios were rapidly adapting to sound technology. By the early 1930s, Hackett stepped away from film and returned to the stage, where he continued to work steadily in touring productions and regional theater. His personal life included marriages to actress Myra Hampton and later to silent‑film star Blanche Sweet, with whom he remained until his death. Raymond Hackett died in Los Angeles in 1958 at age 55.
Known For

Bart is a clerk for a publishing company; he has written a novel. His wife Peggy and he have five children. Bart's former girlfriend Mildred is manager of the company's Paris office. She manages to get the novel published and talks Bart into marrying her after he divorces Peggy. Initially successful, Bart must turn to writing trash to keep Mildred in money. When he sees how well his four sons and daughter Margaret have grown without his help, he asks Peggy to let them all come live with him and Mildred. Peggy agrees, but the arrival of his beloved children puts Mildred's future in jeopardy. Written by Ed Stephan
Seed

A young, unfaithful wife and mother is thrown out by her cold, unforgiving husband, the Attorney General of France. She is barred from ever seeing her three year old son again despite her earnest attempts to make amends. For many years the mother seeks refuge overseas and in Absinthe. In the end, her son, a young and promising lawyer unknowingly defends her in court. Ruth Chatterton gives a marvelous performance in this early talkie in her portrayal of Madame X.
Madame X

A wisecracking narrator mocks footage featuring Frankenstein's monster and Count Dracula.
Boo

Country girl Jolanda has lost her boyfriend, Nathaniel Huggins, to a "flapper" from the city. Jolanda blackmails Nathaniel's father into giving his permission for he and Jolanda to be married--but circumstances arise that may make Jolanda rethink her position.
The Country Flapper

A young woman at life's crossroads is granted mystic visions of how her decisions will affect her future life.
The Love of Sunya

Gerry, Connie, and Franky are small-town girls seeking wealthy husbands in New York City. But, while Connie and Franky are reckless with their affections — one bedding a married man and the other marrying a scoundrel — Gerry is determined to remain practical. As she mothers her wounded, heartbroken friends, she stalwartly but foolishly resists the advances of the good-hearted and affluent Tony Jardine.
Our Blushing Brides

Moore plays the "dual" role of a French singer in America who was originally an American chorus girl in France to acquire a new persona.
Footlights and Fools

Civilian Mary Dane and falsely imprisoned Bud Leonard love each other. Lou Rinaldo, who framed Bud to get Mary, and escape-minded King Callahan want to keep him in stir, but convict Bertie and the others, even including the Warden, set events in motion to prove that love and justice will prevail. NB: Prisoner numbers given in lieu of character names in many cast lists for this film do not match the numbers shown on the characters' uniforms, when these can be seen at all, and are not used in dialogue at all.
Numbered Men

Broadway showgirl Mary Dugan is charged with murder in the knifing death of her wealthy lover and goes on trial for her life. When her defense counsel appears to bungle his job, Mary's brother Jimmy, a newly-licensed attorney, jumps into the case to defend his sister. Jimmy's courtroom style is unconventional, but he seems to be holding his own against the prosecuting attorney—until a surprise testimony changes the course of the trial...
The Trial of Mary Dugan

A housewife divorces her self-centered husband. Years later, she attends a party where her ex is pursuing another woman. Unbeknownst to him, she is the same ex-wife he'd neglected, now transformed into a fashionable socialite.
Let Us Be Gay

Not-so-smart chatterbox Dulcy Parker does and says all the wrong things, but they right themselves to prove she's not so dumb after all.
Not So Dumb

Disappearances and strange goings-on in a spooky old mansion.
The Cat Creeps

John Carter is a good fellow. In fact, his good fellowship is Carter's one great fault, for the highballs and cocktails which go with it too frequently make him forget his more serious obligations and are cause for anxiety on the part of his charming fiancée Marybelle. Marybelle's little brother, Billie asks Carter what is making Marybelle so sad. Carter replies evasively, "It's a Ringtailed Rhinoceros." Billie vows to kill the rhino. When Carter fails to appear on time at a dinner which was planned to announce his engagement to Marybelle, and finally arrives intoxicated, her parents in anger force her to break the engagement and forbid Carter the house. Marybelle's rejection of Carter hits him hard.
The Ringtailed Rhinoceros

On Your Back is a 1930 American drama film directed by Guthrie McClintic and written by Howard J. Green. The film stars Irene Rich, Raymond Hackett, H. B. Warner, Wheeler Oakman, Marion Shilling and Ilka Chase.
On Your Back

In this drama, a traveling troupe of actors find themselves in danger of becoming unemployed when their manager up and leaves. Two of the actors decide to marry and settle down. The lead actor helps set up the rest of the troupe with some performances. He then destroys the new marriage. Later the woman and the head actor fall in love. He then gives her the lead role in his newest show.
The Girl in the Show

Living in the New York slums with her lazy father, Bessie takes imaginary voyages to "Dream Valley" on a "yacht" she has built in the backyard. Gilbert Byfield, posing as a poor man while completing his book, falls in love with Bessie and secretly arranges for her to spend a month at the Byfield country estate.
The Cruise of the Make-Believes

George, Ruth and Humphrey go for a boat ride with Wolf Larsen.
The Sea Wolf
An homage to NYC in the form of a short travelogue.
Manhattan Serenade

A melodrama about a boy who initially wants nothing to do with his stepmother.
A Child's Devotion
A silent film from 1928.