Background
He was born in London, England.
director screenwriter film producer
He was born in London, England.
He directed 56 films between 1912 and 1929. Their marriage meant that Alice had to resign from her position working with Gaumont. Looking for new beginnings, the couple immigrated to New York where Herbert was soon appointed the production manager for Gaumont"s operations in the United States.
The two struck out on their own in 1910, partnering with George A. Magie in the formation of The Solax Company, the largest pre-Hollywood studio in America.
With production facilities for their new company in Flushing, New York, Herbert served as production manager as well as cinematographer and Alice worked as the artistic director, directing many of its releases. Within two years they had become so successful that they were able to invest more than $100,000 into new and technologically advanced production facilities in Fort Lee, New Jersey, when many early film studios in America"s first motion picture industry were based there at the beginning of the 20th century.
Shortly after taking the position Herbert started his own film company. By 1922 they were officially divorced, prompting Alice to auction off her film studio while claiming bankruptcy.
She returned to France the same year.
Herbert directed his last film in 1929. He died in Santa Monica, California.