John marries for the first time, a young woman named Olivia Burwell; the marriage falls apart almost immediately. He struggles with money and career woes as a freelancer and meets director Maurice Tourneur, whom he idolizes and works for. By 1920 he is getting better roles, and even tries directing, disastrously, in 1920. Failing that career move, he signed with Fox in 1920. He marries rising actress Leatrice Joy in 1921.