Harry McRae on AllMovie

A former stage actor and, he later claimed, a Royal Mounted Police officer, Canadian-born Henry (Harry) MaCrae began his screen career directing early matinee-idol Hobart Bosworth for Colonel Selig in 1913. MacCrae switched to Bison/Universal soon after and assisted "Uncle" Carl Laemmle in his historical power struggle with entrepreneurial producer Pat Powers. Laemmle rewarded him with the (mostly empty) title of director-general of the newly inaugurated Universal City, but MacCrae's lasting contribution to film history is as head of the studio's busy serial unit. Championing fast-paced chapterplays such as The Lure of the Circus (1918) and Eking of the Circus (1920), both starring the diminutive but wiry Eddie Polo, MacCrae broke no new ground, perhaps, but kept the studio's coffers full. As a director, MacCrae was mediocre at best, but he was a fine overseer, and the unit soon became second only to industry leader Pathé. MacCrae introduced sound to the serial genre with The Indians Are Coming (1930; the title was a Carl Laemmle favorite), and although vastly unpopular with the rank and file at the studio continued to defend the serial style which he now geared entirely towards the small fry. There were many flops along the way (including such duds as Danger Island, 1931, which consisted mainly of cardboard sets and stock footage), but MacCrae was still there when Universal broke new ground with the inventive Flash Gordon chapterplays in the late 1930s. By 1944, however, MacCrae was decidedly past his prime, and a new regime at Universal forced him to retire. The old man of serials did not take kindly to retirement and optioned several scripts with the thought of becoming an independent producer. That was never to be; Henry MacCrae died of a heart attack less than six months into his retirement.