Working closely with Warners' production chief, Darryl F. Zanuck, Arliss left the studio when Zanuck resigned in April 1933. (Arliss's trusted director John Adolfi also died suddenly in early May.) Zanuck quickly signed Arliss to make new films at Zanuck's fledgling studio, 20th Century Pictures, prompting Warners' to complain to the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences that Zanuck had "stolen" their star. Arliss is remembered primarily for his witty series of historical biopics, such as "Alexander Hamilton", "Voltaire", "The House of Rothschild", "The Iron Duke", and "Cardinal Richelieu".