William Wyler

Career / Biography

William Wyler was a prolific director and producer from the 1930's through to the 1960's. He directed some classic films including Ben Hur and Roman Holiday. He was married to Margaret Sullavan. In 1921 he moved to America to work for Universal Studios with his relative Carl Laemmle. We worked his way upthrough assistant director to director in verious silent westerns. His first sound film was the westerm Hell's Heroes. It was Counsellor At Law that was his first significant film and is notable for his use of unusual camera angles. The Good Fairy was a Preston Sturgess script and the closest to a screwball comedy that Wyler made. it was during the filming of this that he married his first wife Margaret Sullavan who was the lead in the film. After this he left Universal and started a long collaboration with Samuel Goldwyn. His first film there was These Three. It was also his first film with cinematographer Gregg Toland as they developed scenes with layers of action, with things happening behind the main focus. Dodsworth was his first major commercial success and gained hi his first Best Director Osacr nomination. At this time he divorced Margaret Sullavan. Dead End is notable for its sense of realism in this case of poverty. In 1938 he married the actress Margaret Tallichet. In Jezebal he worked with Bette Davis and the ball sequence is wonderfully filmed. Bette Davis said the Wyler was a nightmare towork with but the best director she worked with. He then adapted Wuthering Heights which was notable for many takes of some scenes. He then returned to the Western genre with The Westerner for the first time since his silent films. He reunited with Bette Davis for the Letter. it is notable for its opening tracking shot through a Malaysian rubber plantation, that sets up the film. Wyler served in the American Air Force during the war and his experience had a lasting effect on him, some of which is reflected in The Best Years Of Our Lives. For The Heiress he returned to adapting a stage play that Oliva De Haviland had the rights to and wanted him to direct. Detective Story was a change in genre being a Film Noir detective story. Carrie was another difficult production with Laurence Olivier. This was followed by the romantic comedy Roman Holiday which was a big success in which he cast Audry Hepburn in her first major role. The Desperate Hours was another Film Noir. Friendly Persuasion was his first colour film. It is almost a pacificst film written by some who black listed during the Cold War. The Big Country was his final return to the Western genre of films. This was followed by the biggest and most spectacular production of his career - Ben Hur. This was the most expensive film made at that time and MGM were on the verge of backruptcy, but fortunately for them it was a financial success. His next films were smaller productions including The CHildren's Hour which was a remake of his earlier These Three. How to Steal a Million was his final collaboration with Audery Hepburn. With Funny Girl he made another adaptation of a stage play and cast then little know Barbara Streisand

Career / Biography

Director

Producer

Oscars