Bryan Foy's illustrious career in show business began as a vaudevillian, touring the nation for ten years as one of the renowned 'Seven Little Foys', with him being the oldest member of the group. He left the act in 1918 to pursue a solo career in Hollywood, initially focusing on devising gags for the renowned comedian Buster Keaton, before transitioning to filming two-reelers at Fox.
In 1927, Foy embarked on a long-term association with Warner Brothers, which marked the beginning of his most notable achievements. He famously produced the first all-talking feature film, 'Lights of New York', in 1928, at a mere cost of $18,000. The film, which was shot in just eight days, grossed over a million dollars for Warner Brothers, subsequently contributing to Foy's promotion as the head of the B-unit.
Under his pseudonym 'Keeper of the B's', Foy went on to produce as many as 26 pictures a year for the next two decades. His filmography consisted of a diverse range of genres, including prison films, such as 'Crime School' (1938) starring Humphrey Bogart and the Dead End Kids, which proved to be a significant commercial success, grossing over a million dollars despite costing $210,000. Foy's output also included thrillers like the 'Torchy Blane' series, as well as its juvenile counterpart, 'Nancy Drew'.
By the mid-1930s, Warner Brothers was also competing with RKO and Columbia in the B-western stakes, producing a series of oaters starring Dick Foran. After a brief stint at 20th Century Fox beginning in 1942, which included some of the last films made with the iconic comedy duo Laurel & Hardy, Foy returned to Warner Brothers to produce his most popular film, the gimmicky but enjoyable 'House of Wax' (1953),shot in 3-D and featuring 'WarnerPhonic' sound.
Interestingly, the director of 'House of Wax', André De Toth, was blind in one eye, which prevented him from fully appreciating the fruits of his labor. A year later, Foy produced another 3-D low-budget film, 'The Mad Magician' (1954),which featured the same combination of Vincent Price, Bert Glennon, and Crane Wilbur. Although 'The Mad Magician' did not quite match the success of 'House of Wax', it still provided some decent entertainment for fans of the genre.
Foy's last film as a producer was the much-criticized JFK biopic 'PT 109' (1963),after which he decided to retire. Although he received little praise from critics throughout his career, a source of some bitterness for him, he remained proud of his 'little' pictures and their proven record at the box office.
