From Wikipedia Melville Jacob Shyer (September 28, 1895 – September 14, 1968) was an American film director, screenwriter and producer and one of the founders of the Directors Guild of America. His career spanned over 50 years, during which he worked with Mack Sennett and D. W. Griffith. Shyer was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the son of Hattie (Schwarzenberg) and Charles Richard Shyer. His family was of German Jewish background. His son is writer and director Charles Shyer.