Christy Cabanne was, along with Sam Newfield and William Beaudine , one of the most prolific directors in the history of American films. Graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Cabanne spent several years in the Navy, leaving the service in 1908. He decided on a career in the theater, and became a director as well as an actor. Although acting was his main profession, when he finally broke into the film business it was as a director. He joined the Fine Arts Co., then was employed as an assistant to D.W. Griffith . Being a published author, he found himself hired by Metro Pictures to write a serial. After that he formed his own production company, but shut it down a few years later and became a director for hire, mainly of low- to medium-budget films for such studios as FBO, Associated Exhibitors, Tiffany and Pathe. Although he worked in the rarefied atmosphere at MGM on a few occasions, he was usually to be found toiling away at the lower end of lower-level studios. In the 1930s his fortunes picked up a bit and he did quite a bit of work at Universal, but from there his career nosedived and he wound up cranking out cheap westerns, shoddy jungle pictures and limp horror films for the likes of Monogram, PRC and Screen Guild.

Appeared in early D.W. Griffith films.Cited by historian Kevin Brownlow as one of the dullest directors of the silent film era.Is portrayed by Michael McKean in And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (2003) (TV)