Born in 1888, Cabanne (pronounced CAB-a-nay) started his career on stage as an actor and director.

Cabanne directed child actress Shirley Temple in The Red-Haired Alibi (1932), her first credited role in a feature movie.

[1] Cabanne earned a reputation for efficiency, capable of making feature films very quickly, often on rugged locations.

Like fellow silent-era directors William Beaudine, Elmer Clifton, Harry Fraser, and Lambert Hillyer.

After William Cabanne was born to Millicent Fisher, Vivien divorced Christy in March 1921.