Although related to MGM head Louis B. Mayer, Cummings started his career at
the studio as a low-paid office boy. He worked his way up to script
supervisor and assistant director, and was eventually placed in charge
of the studio's short-subjects department, where he personally produced
most (and directed several) of them. In 1934 MGM made Cummings a
producer of features, and as such he was responsible for many of the
studio's most famous musicals.
