---
name: "Edward F. Cline"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/edward-f-cline"
fi1m_id: "edward-f-cline"
imdb_id: "nm0166836"
tmdb_id: 13953
wikidata_id: "Q1292174"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "4 November 1891"
died: "22 May 1961"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "director"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-25T03:06:28.217073+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Edward F. Cline

## Identity

Edward F. Cline

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/edward-f-cline
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** edward-f-cline
- **IMDb ID:** nm0166836
- **TMDB ID:** 13953
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1292174
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_F._Cline, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1292174, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0166836/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13953

Director. Born 4 November 1891 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA. Died 22 May 1961.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 4 November 1891, Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
- **Died:** 22 May 1961
- **Also known as:** Edward Francis Cline, Edward Cline, Eddie Cline, Edgar Cline
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_F._Cline, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1292174, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0166836/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13953

## Fi1m on Edward F. Cline

> Edward F. Cline helped Keaton build physical gags and gave Fields room to talk. We value his practical feel for comedians, even if *The Bank Dick* also shows how little protection he offers when a routine falters.

In *The Bank Dick* (1940), W.C. Fields’s speaking voice supplies much of the rhythm. Edward F. Cline gives him room, allowing individual routines to matter more than the story connecting them. We laughed at Fields’s delivery, and were happy to spend much of the film simply listening to him talk. Cline deserves credit for recognising the attraction and leaving it alone, even if that can make his own contribution difficult to pick out.

His early work with Buster Keaton involved a more visibly joint effort: the two were co-directors and gag writers on shorts including *One Week* (1920) and *Cops* (1922). Cline brought experience of physical comedy from Mack Sennett’s Keystone, and helped devise elaborate sight gags and chases. The partnership extended to the feature *Three Ages* (1923). These credits matter when considering a director whose contribution can be obscured by the comedian in front of him. He was helping to work out what would make a scene funny, as well as getting it filmed.

With Fields in the late 1930s, Cline was accommodating ad-libs and shaping scenes around the star’s timing. In *The Bank Dick*, the supporting cast gets its share of the laughs too, so the generosity is not confined to the leading man. Milton Krasner’s cinematography makes less impression than the faces, while Arthur Hilton’s editing serves individual routines better than the links between them. Charles Previn’s music likewise leaves less of a mark than Fields’s voice; there is little need for it to supply much additional rhythm. The drawback is that Cline offers few other attractions when a joke falls flat, and the loose plotting sometimes leaves us waiting for the next routine.

*My Little Chickadee* (1940) paired Fields with Mae West, while *Never Give a Sucker an Even Break* (1941) continued Cline’s collaboration with Fields. Later came comedies with Olsen and Johnson and the Jiggs and Maggie series. That is a career easily filed under the names of its stars, but the Keaton collaborations are a reminder that Cline also helped invent the comic business. Start with *The Bank Dick*, provided the prospect of Fields talking matters more than a tidy plot.

## Biography

Edward F. Cline (4 November 1891 – 22 May 1961) was an American film director, screenwriter and actor. Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, he began his career in 1914 at Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, where he worked as an actor and gag writer before moving into directing.

Cline is best known for his collaborations with Buster Keaton on a series of short films in the early 1920s, including *One Week* (1920), *Cops* (1922) and *The Play House* (1921), and with W. C. Fields on features such as *My Little Chickadee* (1940), *The Bank Dick* (1940) and *Never Give a Sucker an Even Break* (1941). He also directed other comedies and worked with Olsen and Johnson.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *The Bank Dick* (1940), Fi1m 80, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bank-dick.md)

## Complete filmography (150)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Spike Jones Show* (1952), Director
- *Jiggs and Maggie Out West* (1950), Story
- *Jiggs and Maggie in Court* (1948), Screenplay
- *Jiggs and Maggie in Society* (1947), Director, Screenplay
- *Bringing Up Father* (1946), Director
- *Penthouse Rhythm* (1945), Director
- *See My Lawyer* (1945), Director
- *Night Club Girl* (1945), Director
- *Moonlight and Cactus* (1944), Director
- *Ghost Catchers* (1944), Director, Story
- *Slightly Terrific* (1944), Director
- *Hat Check Honey* (1944), Director
- *Swingtime Johnny* (1944), Director
- *Crazy House* (1943), Director
- *He's My Guy* (1943), Director
- *Behind the Eight Ball* (1942), Director
- *Give Out, Sisters* (1942), Director
- *Private Buckaroo* (1942), Director
- *What's Cookin'?* (1942), Director
- *Private Snuffy Smith* (1942), Director
- *Never Give a Sucker an Even Break* (1941), Director
- *Cracked Nuts* (1941), Director
- *Hello, Sucker* (1941), Director
- *Meet the Chump* (1941), Director
- *The Bank Dick* (1940), Director — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bank-dick.md)
- *The Villain Still Pursued Her* (1940), Director
- *My Little Chickadee* (1940), Director
- *You Can't Cheat an Honest Man* (1939), Director
- *Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus* (1938), Director
- *Breaking the Ice* (1938), Director
- *Go Chase Yourself* (1938), Director
- *Hawaii Calls* (1938), Director
- *High Flyers* (1937), Director
- *Forty Naughty Girls* (1937), Director
- *On Again—Off Again* (1937), Director
- *Murder with Pictures* (1936), Associate Producer
- *F-Man* (1936), Director
- *Love in September* (1936), Director
- *The Preview Murder Mystery* (1936), Associate Producer
- *Timothy's Quest* (1936), Associate Producer
- *It's a Great Life* (1935), Director
- *The Cowboy Millionaire* (1935), Director
- *When a Man's a Man* (1935), Director
- *Peck's Bad Boy* (1934), Director
- *The Dude Ranger* (1934), Director
- *Fighting to Live* (1934), Director
- *Business Is a Pleasure* (1934), Director
- *Uncle Jake* (1933), Director
- *So This Is Africa* (1933), Director
- *Parole Girl* (1933), Director
- *Million Dollar Legs* (1932), Director
- *The Door Knocker* (1931), Director
- *The Girl Habit* (1931), Director
- *In Conference* (1931), Director
- *Cracked Nuts* (1931), Director
- *The Naughty Flirt* (1931), Director
- *No, No, Lady* (1931), Director
- *Hook, Line and Sinker* (1930), Director
- *The Widow from Chicago* (1930), Director
- *Don't Bite Your Dentist* (1930), Director
- *Leathernecking* (1930), Director
- *Sweet Mama* (1930), Director
- *In the Next Room* (1930), Director
- *The Forward Pass* (1929), Director
- *His Lucky Day* (1929), Director
- *Broadway Fever* (1929), Director
- *The Crash* (1928), Director
- *The Head Man* (1928), Director
- *Vamping Venus* (1928), Director
- *Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath* (1928), Director
- *Love at First Flight* (1928), Director
- *The Girl from Everywhere* (1927), Director
- *The Bull Fighter* (1927), Director
- *Soft Cushions* (1927), Director
- *Broke in China* (1927), Director
- *A Small Town Princess* (1927), Director
- *The Jolly Jilter* (1927), Director
- *Peaches and Plumbers* (1927), Director
- *Let It Rain* (1927), Director
- *Flirty Four-Flushers* (1926), Director
- *A Blonde's Revenge* (1926), Director
- *Kitty from Killarney* (1926), Director
- *A Harem Knight* (1926), Writer, Director
- *Should Husbands Marry?* (1926), Director
- *Smith's Landlord* (1926), Director
- *Her Actor Friend* (1926), Director
- *When a Man's a Prince* (1926), Director
- *Smith's Baby* (1926), Director
- *Spanking Breezes* (1926), Director
- *The Gosh-Darn Mortgage* (1926), Director
- *Hotsy-Totsy* (1925), Director, Story
- *Old Clothes* (1925), Director
- *Cold Turkey* (1925), Director
- *Bashful Jim* (1925), Director
- *The Rag Man* (1925), Director
- *Off His Trolley* (1924), Director
- *Along Came Ruth* (1924), Director
- *Galloping Bungalows* (1924), Director, Writer
- *Little Robinson Crusoe* (1924), Director
- *Captain January* (1924), Director
- *The Good Bad Boy* (1924), Director
- *The Meanest Man in the World* (1923), Director
- *Three Ages* (1923), Director
- *Circus Days* (1923), Director, Writer
- *The Love Nest* (1923), Director
- *The Balloonatic* (1923), as Car driver · Director, Writer
- *Day Dreams* (1922), The Theater Director, Director, Writer
- *The Electric House* (1922), Director, Writer
- *The Frozen North* (1922), as The Janitor · Director, Writer
- *The Blacksmith* (1922), as Engineer
- *My Wife's Relations* (1922), Writer
- *Cops* (1922), as Hobo (uncredited) · Director, Writer
- *The Paleface* (1922), Director
- *The Boat* (1921), as SOS Receiver (uncredited) · Director, Writer
- *The Play House* (1921), as Orangutan Trainer (uncredited) · Writer, Director
- *The Goat* (1921), as Cop by Telephone Pole (uncredited)
- *The High Sign* (1921), Director, Writer
- *Hard Luck* (1921), Director, Writer
- *The Haunted House* (1921), as Customer in Bank · Director, Writer
- *Neighbors* (1920), as The Cop (uncredited) · Director, Writer
- *The Scarecrow* (1920), as Hit-and-Run Truck Driver (uncredited) · Director, Writer
- *Convict 13* (1920), as Hangman · Director, Writer
- *The Saphead* (1920), as Stock Exchange member (uncredited)
- *One Week* (1920), Director, Writer
- *A Schoolhouse Scandal* (1919), Director
- *Hearts and Flowers* (1919), Director
- *Cupid's Day Off* (1919), Director
- *His Hidden Purpose* (1918), Director
- *The Kitchen Lady* (1918), Director
- *That Night* (1917), Director
- *A Bedroom Blunder* (1917), Director
- *The Pawnbroker's Heart* (1917), Director
- *A Dog Catcher's Love* (1917), Director, Scenario Writer
- *Villa of the Movies* (1917), Director
- *Sunshine* (1916), Director
- *His Bread and Butter* (1916), Director
- *Wife and Auto Trouble* (1916), as The Driver (as Eddie Cline) · Assistant Director
- *Our Dare-Devil Chief* (1915), as Gang Leader
- *Gussle's Day of Rest* (1915), as The Cop
- *Fatty’s Faithful Fido* (1915), as Gymnasium Man (uncredited)
- *That Little Band Of Gold* (1915), as Audience Member (uncredited)
- *Ye Olden Grafter* (1915), as The Knight
- *Hogan the Porter* (1915), as Guest
- *Peanuts and Bullets* (1915), as The Cop
- *Fatty's Magic Pants* (1914), as Doorman (uncredited)
- *The Noise of Bombs* (1914), as 2nd Desperado
- *Mabel's Blunder* (1914), as The Boss's Business Associate (as Eddie Cline)
- *The Rounders* (1914), as Hotel Guest in Lobby (uncredited)
- *The Knockout* (1914), as Cop (uncredited)
- *The Chicken Chaser* (1914), as Cop

## Gallery

- ![Buster Keaton and Edward F. Cline, making two-reel films for Joseph M. Schenck for distibution by Metro Pictures (1920)](https://film.one/media/person/3858855/gallery-4f9523ad794b.jpg) Buster Keaton and Edward F. Cline, making two-reel films for Joseph M. Schenck for distibution by Metro Pictures (1920) — Metro Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Buster-Keaton-Eddie-Cline-1920.jpg/1280px-Buster-Keaton-Eddie-Cline-1920.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![A still from the opening scene of Cops. Keaton's character appears to be in prison, but the next shot shows that he is simply standing behind a gate. (1922)](https://film.one/media/person/3858855/gallery-f7b860bb662f.jpg) A still from the opening scene of Cops. Keaton's character appears to be in prison, but the next shot shows that he is simply standing behind a gate. (1922) — Edward F. Cline / Buster Keaton, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Cops_switch_image_gag.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Edward F. Cline](https://film.one/media/person/3858855/gallery-bd6ccc8cece1.jpg) Edward F. Cline — Evans (L.A.), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Edward_F_Cline_-_May_1920_MPN.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Still from the American silent comedy film The Playhouse (1921) with Edward F. Cline and Buster Keaton, page 62 of the December 1921 Photoplay. (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/3858855/gallery-a010b31e5ab9.jpg) Still from the American silent comedy film The Playhouse (1921) with Edward F. Cline and Buster Keaton, page 62 of the December 1921 Photoplay. (2013) — First National Pictures Inc., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/The_Playhouse_%281921%29_-_Cline_%26_Keaton.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Edward F. Cline](https://film.one/media/person/3858855/gallery-604fb0ce1d15.jpg) Edward F. Cline — Image via TMDB
- ![Edward F. Cline](https://film.one/media/person/3858855/gallery-a13a57343693.jpg) Edward F. Cline — Image via TMDB
- ![Edward F. Cline](https://film.one/media/person/3858855/gallery-266cde263f5a.jpg) Edward F. Cline — Image via TMDB
- ![Photograph of Buster Keaton with his writing staff. Caption reads as follows:Buster Keaton's gag department at work, with (left to right) Joe Mitchell, Clyde Br (1923)](https://film.one/media/person/3858855/gallery-73efd57290cb.jpg) Photograph of Buster Keaton with his writing staff. Caption reads as follows:Buster Keaton's gag department at work, with (left to right) Joe Mitchell, Clyde Br (1923) — Photoplay Publishing Company; no photographer credited, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Keaton-Writers-1923.jpg/1280px-Keaton-Writers-1923.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![From left to right in this photo, They are: Joseph A. Mitchell, Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton, Jean C. Havez, and Edward F. Cline. (1923)](https://film.one/media/person/3858855/gallery-bbce03da6ca7.jpg) From left to right in this photo, They are: Joseph A. Mitchell, Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton, Jean C. Havez, and Edward F. Cline. (1923) — Unknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Buster_Keaton_with_writers_and_director_in_1923.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/edward-f-cline