William Wyler
William Wyler (
July 1,
1902â€"
July 27,
1981) was a prolific,
Oscar-winning
motion picture director. He was known to require tens of takes for every shot in his films and for demanding control over the story, location and crew of each production, yet his exacting nature and attention to detail paid off in the form of both popular and critical success.
Wyler was born
Wilhelm Weiller to a
Jewish family in
Mulhouse in the
French region of
Alsace (then part of the
German Empire). He was related to
Carl Laemmle, founder of
Universal Pictures, through his mother (a cousin of Laemmle's). His family connections served him well, as he became the youngest director on the Universal lot in 1925. He soon proved himself an able craftsman, and in the early 1930s became one of Universal's greatest assets, directing such solid films as
The Love Trap,
Hell's Heroes, and
Tom Brown of Culver.
He later signed with
Samuel Goldwyn and directed such quality films as
These Three,
Come and Get It,
Dodsworth,
Dead End,
Jezebel,
Wuthering Heights,
The Letter,
The Westerner, and
The Little Foxes.
Between 1942 and 1945, Wyler served as a major in the U.S.
Army Air Corps and directed the documentary
Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress. He also directed two key films which first captured the mood of the nation as it prepared for battle and, four years later, peace.
Mrs. Miniver (1942), a story of a middle class English family adjusting to the war in Europe, helped condition American audiences to life in wartime (and galvanized support for the British).
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), the story of three veterans arriving home and adjusting to civilian life, dramatized the problems of returning veterans for those who had remained on the homefront. Wyler won
Best Director Oscars for both films (which also won
Best Picture Oscars).
During the 1950s and 1960s, Wyler directed a handful of critically acclaimed and influential films, most notably
Roman Holiday (1953) for introducing
Audrey Hepburn to American audiences and leading to her first Oscar, and
Ben-Hur (1959) for its eleven Oscar wins (matched only once by
Titanic in 1997).
In 1965, Wyler won the
Irving Thalberg Award for career achievement. Eleven years later, he received the
American Film Institute Life Achievement Award. In addition to his Best Picture and Best Director Oscar wins, ten of Wyler's films earned Best Picture nominations. He won nine Best Director nominations, while three dozen of his actors won Oscars or nominations.
On
July 24,
1981, Wyler gave an interview with his daughter, producer
Catherine Wyler for
Directed by William Wyler, a
PBS documentary about his life and career. A mere three days later, Wyler died from a
heart attack. Wyler's last words on film concern a vision of directing his "next picture...
Going Home". Wyler is interred at
Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in
Glendale,
California.
* Wyler has the distinction of having directed more Best Picture Oscar winners than any other director, except for John Ford, three:
Ben Hur,
The Best Years of Our Lives, and
Mrs. Miniver. There are twelve other directors who have directed two.
*1966 Nominated
The Collector*1959 Won
Ben-Hur*1957 Nominated
Friendly Persuasion*1954 Nominated
Roman Holiday*1952 Nominated
Detective Story*1950 Nominated
The Heiress*1947 Won
The Best Years of Our Lives*1943 Won
Mrs. Miniver*1942 Nominated
The Little Foxes*1941 Nominated
The Letter*1940 Nominated
Wuthering Heights*1937 Nominated
DodsworthThe Liberation of L.B. JonesFunny GirlHow to Steal a MillionThe CollectorThe Children's HourBen-HurThe Big CountryFriendly PersuasionThe Desperate HoursRoman HolidayCarrie (based on
Theodore Dreiser's novel
Sister Carrie)
Detective StoryThe HeiressThe Best Years of Our LivesThunderboltThe Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying FortressMrs. MiniverThe Little FoxesThe LetterThe WesternerWuthering HeightsJezebelDead EndCome and Get ItDodsworthThese ThreeBarbary CoastThe Gay DeceptionThe Good FairyGlamourCounsellor at LawHer First MateTom Brown of CulverA House DividedHell's HeroesThe StormThe Love TrapThe ShakedownAnybody Here Seen Kelly?Thunder RidersDaze of the WestDesert DustThe Border CavalierThe Horse TraderThe Square ShooterThe Phantom OutlawGun JusticeThe Home TrailThe Ore RaidersThe Lone StarHard FistsThe Haunted HomesteadGalloping JusticeShooting StraightBlazing DaysThe Silent PartnerTenderfoot CourageKelcy Gets His ManThe Two FisterThe Stolen RanchLazy LightningMartin of the MountedThe Pinnacle RiderDon't ShootThe Fire BarrierRidin' for LoveThe Gunless Bad ManCrook Buster*
Senses of Cinema: Great Directors Critical Database
