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( m. 1938)Children5Relatives(cousin)William Wyler (; born Willi Wyler ( German: ); July 1, 1902 – July 27, 1981) was an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Notable works include (1959), (1946), and (1942), all of which won for, as well as in their respective years, making him the only director of three Best Picture winners as of 2019. Wyler received his first Oscar nomination for directing in 1936, starring, and, 'sparking a 20-year run of almost unbroken greatness.' : 24Film historian calls Wyler a ' perfectionist', whose penchant for retakes and an attempt to hone every last nuance, 'became the stuff of legend.' : 57 His ability to direct a string of classic literary adaptations into huge box-office and critical successes made him one of 's most bankable moviemakers' during the 1930s and 1940s and into the '60s. Through his talent for staging, editing, and camera movement, he turned dynamic theatrical spaces into cinematic ones.He helped propel a number of actors to stardom, finding and directing in her Hollywood debut film, (1953), and directing in her debut film, (1968).
Both of these performances won Academy Awards. He directed to her second Oscar in (1949) and in (1939), for his first Oscar nomination. Olivier credited Wyler with teaching him how to act for the screen. And, who received three Oscar nominations under his direction and won her second Oscar in (1938), said Wyler made her a 'far, far better actress' than she had ever been.Other popular Wyler films include: (1929), (1936), (1940), (1940), (1956), (1958), (1961) and (1966).
I loved how Olivia de Havilland was made up to fit the part, unlike some of the other films I've seen where she's the 'plain one' but looks.
It was all Wyler. I had known all the horrors of no direction and bad direction. I now knew what a great director was and what he could mean to an actress.
I will always be grateful to him for his toughness and his genius.—Bette Davis, discussing Jezebel: 162received three Oscar nominations for her screen work under Wyler, and won her second Oscar for her performance in Wyler's 1938 film. She told in 1972 that Wyler trained her with that film to be a 'far, far better actress' than she had been. She recalled a scene that was only a bare paragraph in the script, but 'without a word of dialog, Willy created a scene of power and tension.
This was moviemaking on the highest plane,' she said. 'A scene of such suspense that I never have not marveled at the direction of it.' : 162 During her acceptance speech when she received the in 1977, she thanked him.
Olivier and Oberon in Wuthering Heights, whom Wyler directed in (1939) for his first Oscar nomination, credited Wyler with teaching him how to act for the screen, despite clashing with Wyler on multiple occasions. Olivier would go on to hold the record for the most nominations in the at nine, tied with. Critic wrote in the New York Times, 'William Wyler has directed it magnificently. It is, unquestionably, one of the most distinguished pictures of the year.' : 88 Variety described Olivier's performance as 'fantastic.
He not only brings conviction to his portrayal but translates intelligently its mystical quality.' : 93Five years later, in 1944, while visiting London, Wyler met with Olivier and his actress wife,. She invited him to see her performance in The Doctor's Dilemma, and Olivier asked him to direct him in his planned film,.
But Wyler said he was 'not a Shakespearian' and turned down the offer. If any film actor is having trouble with his career, can't master the medium and, anyway, wonders whether it's worth it, let him pray to meet a man like William Wyler.—Laurence Olivier: 86In 1950, Wyler and Olivier made a second film together, which was not a commercial success. However, some critics state that it nonetheless contains Olivier's finest film performance, but because of its old-fashioned story, the film was very under-appreciated:: 128 In critic 's opinion:If there were any justice in the world, Laurence Olivier would have got an Oscar for his unforgettable performance in Carrie.: 137Director and screenwriter had been a close friend of Wyler during his career. When he was twenty-eight and penniless, sleeping in parks in London, Huston returned to Hollywood to see if he could find work. Wyler, four years his senior, had met Huston when he was directing his father, in in 1931, and they got along well. Wyler read dialogue suggestions that Huston had given to his father Walter and hired John to work on the dialogue for the script.
He later inspired Huston to become a director and became his 'early mentor.' : xiii When America entered in 1941, Wyler, Huston, and, by then all directors, enlisted at the same time. Later in his career, Huston recalled his friendship with Wyler during an interview:Willy was certainly my best friend in the industry. We seemed instantly to have many things in common. Willy liked the things that I liked. We'd go down to Mexico. We'd go up in the mountains.
And we'd gamble. He was a wonderful companion.He was equally capable of playing Beethoven on his violin, speeding around town on his motorcycle, or schussing down steep virgin snow trails. 1940s In 1941, Wyler directed, based on the 1940 novel; it was the story of a middle-class English family adjusting to the war in Europe and the bombing in London. Pidgeon originally had doubts about taking on the role, until fellow actor told him, 'You will find working with Wyler to be the most delightful experience you ever had, and that's the way it turned out.' Pidgeon recalls: 'One thing that would have been a terrific regret in my life is if I had succeeded in getting out of doing Mrs. Miniver': 335 He received his first Oscar nomination for his role, while his co-star, won her first and only Academy Award for her performance.The idea for the film was controversial, since it was intended to make America less isolationist. By portraying the real-life suffering of British citizens in a fictional story, Americans might be more prone to help Britain during their war effort.
The film succeeded in its propaganda elements, showing England during its darkest days of the war.: 145 Years later, after having been in the war himself, Wyler said that the film 'only scratched the surface of war. It was incomplete.'
: 228However, before America entered the war in December 1941, all films that could be considered anti-Nazi were banned by the.: 277U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, told the studios to stop making pro-British and anti-German films. Kennedy felt that British defeat was imminent. But MGM producer disagreed, saying that 'someone should salute England. And even if we lose $100,000, that'll be okay.' Miniver went on to win six Academy Awards, becoming the top box office hit of 1942.
It was Wyler's first Academy Award for Best Director. Dear Mad Willy. Miniver last night. It is absolutely wonderful. You repeatedly amaze me with the demonstrations of your talent and I ask you to believe that it is with genuine pleasure that I salute this latest and greatest example of your work.—producer: 235and British Prime Minister both loved the film, said historian Emily Yellin, and Roosevelt wanted prints rushed to theaters nationwide. The radio network broadcast the minister's speech from the film, magazines reprinted it, and it was copied onto leaflets and dropped over German-occupied countries.
Churchill sent MGM head a telegram claiming that ' Mrs. Miniver is propaganda worth 100 battleships.' Wrote in his New York Times review that Mrs. Miniver was the finest film yet made about the war, 'and a most exalting tribute to the British.' Between 1942 and 1945 Wyler volunteered to serve as a in the and directed a pair of documentaries: (1944), about a and its U.S.
Army Air Force crew; and (1947), highlighting a - in the. Wyler filmed The Memphis Belle at great personal risk, flying over enemy territory on actual bombing missions in 1943; on one flight, Wyler lost consciousness from lack of oxygen. Wyler's associate, cinematographer Harold J. Tannenbaum, a First Lieutenant, was shot down and perished during the filming. Director describes Wyler's filming of Memphis Belle in the 2017 Netflix series,.Working on Thunderbolt! Wyler was exposed to such loud noise that he passed out.
When he awoke, he found he was deaf in one ear. Partial hearing with the aid of a hearing aid eventually came back years later. Wyler returned from the War a disabled veteran.Returning from the War and unsure whether he could work again, Wyler turned to a subject that he knew well and directed a film which captured the mood of the nation as it turned to peace after the war, (1946).
This story of the homecoming of three veterans from dramatized the problems of returning veterans in their adjustment back to civilian life. Arguably his most personal film, Best Years drew on Wyler's own experience returning home to his family after three years on the front. The Best Years of Our Lives won the (Wyler's second) and, as well as seven other Academy Awards. Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday (1953)In 1949 Wyler directed, which earned her second Oscar and garnered additional Oscars for,. The film is considered by some to be a highlight in her career, 'that could strike envy even in the most versatile and successful actress,' according to one critic.De Havilland had seen the play in New York and felt she could play the lead perfectly.
She then called Wyler to convince him to have Paramount buy the film rights. He flew to New York to see the play, and moved by the story, convinced the studio to buy it. Along with de Havilland, he managed to get and to co-star.: 265 1950s In 1951, Wyler produced and directed and in, portraying a day in the lives of the various people in a detective squad.
And made their screen debuts in the film, which was nominated for four, including one for Grant. Critic lauded the film, describing it as 'a brisk, absorbing film by producer-director William Wyler, with the help of a fine, responsive cast.' Carrie was released in 1952 starring Jennifer Jones in the title role and Laurence Olivier as Hurstwood. Eddie Albert played Charles Drouet. Carrie received two Academy Award nominations: Costume Design (Edith Head), and Best Art Direction (Hal Pereira, Roland Anderson, Emile Kuri). Wyler was reluctant to cast Jennifer Jones, and the filming was subsequently plagued by a variety of troubles.
Jones had not revealed that she was pregnant; Wyler was mourning the death of his year-old son; Olivier had a painful leg ailment, and he developed a dislike for Jones. Hollywood was reeling under the effects of McCarthyism, and the studio was afraid to distribute a film that could be attacked as immoral. Ultimately, the ending was changed and the film was cut to make it more positive in tone.During the immediate postwar period, Wyler directed a handful of critically acclaimed and influential films.
(1953) introduced to American audiences in her first starring role, winning her an Academy Award for Best Actress. Wyler said of Hepburn years later, when describing truly great actresses, 'In that league there's only ever been Garbo, and the other Hepburn, and maybe Bergman. It's a rare quality, but boy, do you know when you've found it.' The film was an instant hit, also winning for Best Costume Design , and Best Writing. Hepburn would eventually do three movies with Wyler, who her son said was one of the most important directors in her career.(1956) was awarded the (Golden Palm) at the. And in 1959, Wyler directed, which won 11 Oscars, a feat unequaled until in 1997.
He had also assisted in the production of the. Charlton Heston as Ben-HurWyler and its star, both knew what the film meant for MGM, which had massive investments in its final outcome, with the film's budget having gone from $7 million to $15 million, and the fact that MGM was already in dire financial straits. They were aware that if it failed at the box office, MGM might go bankrupt.The film, like many epics, was difficult to make. When Heston was asked which scene he enjoyed doing most, he said 'I didn't enjoy any of it.
It was hard work.' Part of the reason for that was the financial stress placed on making the film a success. With a cast of fifteen thousand extras, a leading star, and being shot on 70mm film with stereophonic tracks, it was the most expensive film ever made at that time. The nine-minute chariot race, for example, took six months to film.Ben-Hur became a great box office success. Wyler won his third Academy Award for Best Director and his first and only Academy Award as its star. Heston recalled in his autobiography that at first he had doubts about taking the role. But his agent advised him otherwise: 'Don't you know that actors take parts with Wyler without even reading the damn script?
I'm telling you, you have to do this picture!' Had lobbied Wyler, who directed him in in 1951, for the title role, but only after Wyler had already decided on Heston. He offered him instead the role of Messala, which Douglas rejected. Douglas then went on to star in (1960).Ben-Hur cost $15 million to produce but earned $47 million by the end of 1961 and $90 million worldwide. Audiences mobbed movie theaters in the months after it opened. Bette Davis in Jezebel (1938)Fourteen actors won Oscars under Wyler's direction, including in (1938) and her nomination for (1940).
Davis summed up their work together: 'It was he who helped me to realize my full potential as an actress. I met my match in this exceptionally creative and talented director.' : 79Other Oscar winners were in (1949), in her debut film, (1953), in (1959), and in her debut film, (1968).Wyler's films garnered more awards for participating artists and actors than any other director in the history of Hollywood. He received 12 Oscar nominations for Best Director, while dozens of his collaborators and actors won Oscars or were nominated.
In 1965, Wyler won the for career achievement. Eleven years later, he received the. In addition to his Best Picture and Best Director Oscar wins, 13 of Wyler's films earned Best Picture nominations.
Other late Wyler films include (1961), which was nominated for five Academy Awards. Later films included (1963), (1968), and his final film, (1970).Personal life and death Wyler was briefly married to actress (from November 25, 1934 – March 13, 1936) and married actress on October 23, 1938. The couple remained together until his death; they had five children: Catherine, Judith, William Jr., Melanie and David. Catherine said during an interview that her mother played an important part in his career, often being his 'gatekeeper' and his reader of scripts presented to him.On July 24, 1981, Wyler gave an interview with his daughter, Catherine, for Directed by William Wyler, a documentary about his life and career.
Three days later, he died from a. He is interred at, near his older brother, Robert Wyler, sister-in-law, actress and his son, William 'Billy' Wyler, Jr in. Honors and awards Wyler is the most nominated director in Academy Awards history with twelve nominations. He won the Academy Award for Best Direction on three occasions, for his direction of Ben-Hur, The Best Years of Our Lives, and Mrs. He is tied with and behind, who won four Oscars in this category. He is also the only director in Academy history to direct three Best Picture-winning films (the three for which he won Best Director), and directed more Best Picture nominees than anyone else (thirteen).He has the distinction of having directed more actors to Oscar-nominated performances than any other director in history: thirty-six.
Out of these nominees, fourteen went on to win Oscars, also a record. He received the fourth in 1976. Among those who thanked him for directing her in her debut film, was.For his contributions to the motion picture industry, on February 8, 1960, Wyler has a star on the at 1731.
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