American director, screenwriter and producer William Wyler is the winner of three Oscars and nine nominations for a golden statuette, one Golden Globe and four nominations for it.
The real name of the outstanding filmmaker is Wilhelm Wyler. He is called the most successful director of all time in Hollywood. Each of his works is a masterpiece.
The path to the vocation
Wilhelm (William) Wyler (Wyler) was born on July 1, 1902 in the French town of Mulhouse. A son was already growing up in the family.
The brothers' father, a traveling salesman, was from Switzerland. Melanie, mother, native of Germany, cousin of Universal Pictures creator Karl Lammle.
Mom often took her sons to the theater and cinema. The Wyler house hosted performances with the entire family. In Lausanne, Wilhelm studied at the Higher Commercial School.
He studied music, attended the Paris Conservatory. After the end of the First World War, the father's business fell into complete decline.
The youngest son was sent to New York to stay with Uncle Karl. In 1921, the future master came to the States.
At first he worked as a courier for his uncle. The nephew gave part of the funds received for food and shelter.
From 1923, William moved to Los Angeles. He mounted the sets and cleaned the Universal pavilions. By 1925, Wyler was the youngest director to direct and directing a short western.
His colleagues were desperate for William's perfectionism. To get the perfect shot, the director re-shot the same take a hundred times.
Creative career and family
Five years later, the master was already considered one of the richest directors in the United States. The first choice of the director in 1936 was Margaret Sullivan.
He recalled her loud voice and participation in episodic roles in her works. In 1938, William decided to become a family man again.
He married actress Margaret Tollichen. The union turned out to be successful. The couple had five children: David, Melanie Ann, Catherine, Judy.
Margaret has not achieved a great film fame in her life. Her husband was twelve years older than her, and together they lived until William's death.
With the outbreak of World War II, Wilhelm joined the Air Force. The master who received the rank of major filmed the documentary "Memphis Belle: The Story of a Flying Fortress."
A real bombing trip was necessary for the shooting. The major took action that ended in the death of his operator. They managed to finish the tape, but the director did not hear anything with one ear until the end of his life.
Recognition and awards
He received his first Oscar for Best Director of Mrs Miniver in 1943.
In the same nomination, William was awarded a second statuette four years later for "The Best Years of Our Lives." He received the third prize in 1960 for the film "Ben Hur".
1966 was the time of recognition of the outstanding master. He won the prestigious Irving Thalberg Prize for his outstanding contribution to the development of the art of cinema.
The award is named in honor of the most talented manager of the production department of Metro Goldwyn Meyer.
Many of the director's films are verified to the smallest detail. In total, he created about thirty works. Active filming took place from 1929 to 1970.
In the beginning, several paintings were created per year. Each one is recognized as very professional.
The works are still relevant to this day. They study Wyler's filmmaking, learn his manner of shooting, his attitude to creation.
The legendary film "Ben Hur" is directed by the master of works by Lew Wallace. The premiere took place in New York on November 18, 1959.
The work received prestigious awards in eleven nominations. The professional director did not lose a sense of reality from success and continued his painstaking work.
Ben Hur
According to the plot, the action develops in the province of the Roman Empire, Judea. The eminent city dweller Ben Hur met his old friend Mesalla.
He became a Roman tribune, therefore, due to ideological differences with him, Gur is exiled to the galleys, and his relatives are thrown into prison.
In battle, the condemned man saved the Roman consul. In gratitude to the savior, citizenship was returned.
Ben received a huge fortune under the will of the one he saved. The former convict, after returning home, learns about the illness of his relatives and dreams of revenge.
In races, he defeats Mesalla in a chariot. Before he dies, he tells how to find Ben's loved ones.
He decides to show the sick to Christ, who is being prepared for execution. A good man tries to give water to the suffering Christ, but is trampled by the crowd. During the downpour, Ben Hur is reunited with the Savior.
How to steal a million
The director did not expect success from this picture at all. A light comedy film with elements of a detective story, it has collected record profits at the box office.
The main characters were performed by Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. The action takes place in France in the sixties.
The artist and collector Bonnet counterfeits masterpieces and sells them profitably. The film tells about the interweaving of the destinies of his beautiful daughter Nicole and an expert who arrived to find out the authenticity of one of the masterpieces.
Beautiful characters, luxurious costumes and great acting made the film in demand in Hollywood and the USSR.
The combination "Papa Bonnet" has become a household word.
Roman holiday
Starring in the 1953 film Gregory Peck with Audrey Hepburn.
It was this character that brought Audrey the first Oscar and worldwide fame.
Her heroine, Princess Anne, is bored on her European tour. The doctor calms the hysterical girl with sleeping pills and strongly advises her to rest.
Anna ignores the doctor's advice to go to bed and goes for a walk through the night in Rome.
Here she was carried away by exciting adventures.
The talented director managed to become a real professional in his field and win fame and audience love with the recognition of critics around the world.
