On February 1, 1894, John Ford (born John Martin Feeney) was born in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. He went on to become a renowned filmmaker known for such films as Stagecoach (1939), The Searchers (1956), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), and The Grapes of Wrath (1940), just to name a few. In a career of more than fifty years, Ford directed more than one hundred and forty films (although most of his silent films are now lost) and he is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. His four Academy Awards for Best Director (in 1935, 1940, 1941, and 1952) remain a record. He passed away on August 31, 1973 in Palm Desert, California. Ford's work was held in high regard by his colleagues, with Orson Welles and Ingmar Bergman among those who named him one of the greatest directors of all time.
On May 18, 1897, Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra) was born in Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy. Since his immigration to Los Angeles at the age of Five, the Italian-American went on to become the creative force behind some of the major award-winning films of the 1930s and 1940s. Capra won three Academy Awards for Best Director from six nominations, along with three other Oscar wins from nine nominations in other categories. Among his leading films were It Happened One Night (1934), You Can't Take It with You (1938), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). However, Capra's career declined as his later films, such as It's a Wonderful Life (1946), performed poorly when they were first released. In ensuing decades, however, It's a Wonderful Life and other Capra films were revisited favorably by critics. Outside of directing, Capra was active in the film industry, engaging in various political and social activities. He served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, worked alongside the Writers Guild of America, and was head of the Directors Guild of America. He passed away on September 3, 1991 in La Quinta, California. His rags-to-riches story has led film historians such as Ian Freer to consider him the "American Dream personified."
On July 1, 1902, William Wyler (born Willi Wyler) was born in Mülhausen, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire (now present-day France). Since his immigration to Hollywood, the German-Swiss went on to become a renowned filmmaker known for such films as Hell's Heroes (1929), The Westerner (1940), The Letter (1940), Friendly Persuasion (1956), The Big Country (1958), The Children's Hour (1961), How to Steal a Million (1966), Ben-Hur (1959), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Mrs. Miniver (1942), and Dodsworth (1936) the last four of which won Academy Awards for Best Director, as well as Best Picture in their respective years, making him the only director of three Best Picture winners as of 2020. He passed away on July 27, 1981 in Beverly Hills, California. Film historian Ian Freer calls Wyler a "bona fide perfectionist", whose penchant for retakes and an attempt to hone every last nuance, "became the stuff of legend." His ability to direct a string of classic literary adaptations into huge box-office and critical successes made him one of "Hollywood'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.
On December 18, 1904, George Cooper Stevens was born in Oakland, California. He went to become a prolific filmmaker known for such films as A Place in the Sun (1951; winner of six Academy Awards including Best Director), Shane (1953; Oscar nominated), Giant (1956; Oscar for Best Director), and The Diary of Anne Frank (1959; nominated for Best Director). Stevens passed away on March 8, 1975, in Lancaster, California.
On August 5, 1906, John Marcellus Huston was born in Nevada, Missouri. He went on to become a prolific filmmaker and artist renowned for such films as The Maltese Falcon (1941), The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), The Asphalt Jungle (1950), The African Queen (1951), The Misfits (1961), Fat City (1972), The Man Who Would Be King (1975) and Prizzi's Honor (1985). During his forty-six-year career, Huston received fifteen Oscar nominations, winning twice. He directed both his father, Walter Huston, and daughter, Anjelica Huston, to Oscar wins. He passed away on August 28, 1987. Huston has been referred to as "a titan", "a rebel", and a "renaissance man" in the Hollywood film industry. Author Ian Freer describes him as "cinema's Ernest Hemingway"—a filmmaker who was "never afraid to tackle tough issues head on."
Based on Harris 2014 book, the filmmakers studied more than a hundred hours of newsreel and archival footage, and more than forty documentaries and training films created by the five directors during the war. They also reviewed fifty studio films by the directors and more than thirty hours of raw footage from their war films. Bouzereau, who has extensive experience documenting films and directors, introduced the idea of interviewing five current directors for the project. In mid January 2017, Meryl Streep recorded the narration, the same day she received her twentieth Oscar nomination for Florence Foster Jenkins (2016).
A magnificent tribute to five cinematic legends that is equally fascinating and heart-wrenching. As someone whois more than familiar with their work, I'm glad this series revealed the five as SO much more than just a famous directors who went off to document the war.
On May 18, 1897, Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra) was born in Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy. Since his immigration to Los Angeles at the age of Five, the Italian-American went on to become the creative force behind some of the major award-winning films of the 1930s and 1940s. Capra won three Academy Awards for Best Director from six nominations, along with three other Oscar wins from nine nominations in other categories. Among his leading films were It Happened One Night (1934), You Can't Take It with You (1938), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). However, Capra's career declined as his later films, such as It's a Wonderful Life (1946), performed poorly when they were first released. In ensuing decades, however, It's a Wonderful Life and other Capra films were revisited favorably by critics. Outside of directing, Capra was active in the film industry, engaging in various political and social activities. He served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, worked alongside the Writers Guild of America, and was head of the Directors Guild of America. He passed away on September 3, 1991 in La Quinta, California. His rags-to-riches story has led film historians such as Ian Freer to consider him the "American Dream personified."
On July 1, 1902, William Wyler (born Willi Wyler) was born in Mülhausen, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire (now present-day France). Since his immigration to Hollywood, the German-Swiss went on to become a renowned filmmaker known for such films as Hell's Heroes (1929), The Westerner (1940), The Letter (1940), Friendly Persuasion (1956), The Big Country (1958), The Children's Hour (1961), How to Steal a Million (1966), Ben-Hur (1959), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Mrs. Miniver (1942), and Dodsworth (1936) the last four of which won Academy Awards for Best Director, as well as Best Picture in their respective years, making him the only director of three Best Picture winners as of 2020. He passed away on July 27, 1981 in Beverly Hills, California. Film historian Ian Freer calls Wyler a "bona fide perfectionist", whose penchant for retakes and an attempt to hone every last nuance, "became the stuff of legend." His ability to direct a string of classic literary adaptations into huge box-office and critical successes made him one of "Hollywood'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.
On December 18, 1904, George Cooper Stevens was born in Oakland, California. He went to become a prolific filmmaker known for such films as A Place in the Sun (1951; winner of six Academy Awards including Best Director), Shane (1953; Oscar nominated), Giant (1956; Oscar for Best Director), and The Diary of Anne Frank (1959; nominated for Best Director). Stevens passed away on March 8, 1975, in Lancaster, California.
On August 5, 1906, John Marcellus Huston was born in Nevada, Missouri. He went on to become a prolific filmmaker and artist renowned for such films as The Maltese Falcon (1941), The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), The Asphalt Jungle (1950), The African Queen (1951), The Misfits (1961), Fat City (1972), The Man Who Would Be King (1975) and Prizzi's Honor (1985). During his forty-six-year career, Huston received fifteen Oscar nominations, winning twice. He directed both his father, Walter Huston, and daughter, Anjelica Huston, to Oscar wins. He passed away on August 28, 1987. Huston has been referred to as "a titan", "a rebel", and a "renaissance man" in the Hollywood film industry. Author Ian Freer describes him as "cinema's Ernest Hemingway"—a filmmaker who was "never afraid to tackle tough issues head on."
Based on Harris 2014 book, the filmmakers studied more than a hundred hours of newsreel and archival footage, and more than forty documentaries and training films created by the five directors during the war. They also reviewed fifty studio films by the directors and more than thirty hours of raw footage from their war films. Bouzereau, who has extensive experience documenting films and directors, introduced the idea of interviewing five current directors for the project. In mid January 2017, Meryl Streep recorded the narration, the same day she received her twentieth Oscar nomination for Florence Foster Jenkins (2016).
A magnificent tribute to five cinematic legends that is equally fascinating and heart-wrenching. As someone whois more than familiar with their work, I'm glad this series revealed the five as SO much more than just a famous directors who went off to document the war.
Simon says Five Came Back receives:
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