Post by Teleadm on Oct 13, 2023 20:42:08 GMT
His long way to become a successful director mainly at Paramount went trough many odd jobs as pilot, sculptor, home decorator and architecture. So he went to Hollywood, and failed as an actor, but was noted for the sets he created for the Hollywood Community Theatre. Brought to the attention of Cecil B. DeMille, who signed him on as a costume designer, despite his lack of previous experience in this area. Worked for DeMille until 1922, then moved on to design costumes for Douglas Fairbanks at United Artists including Robin Hood and The Thief of Baghdad.
His only Oscar nomination wasn't as director but as art director for Dynamite 1929.
This year we celebrate his birthdate in Menominee, Michigan, USA 125 years ago.
Mitchell Leisen (1898-1972)
Worked in the dual capacity of costume designer and art director at MGM (1929-31) and at Paramount (1932-33). Became Paramount's most reliable contract director (1933-51), noted for visual elegance and for his ability to direct actresses. His forte were comedies and romances.
Sole first credit as director, Cradle Song 1933.
Death Takes a Holiday 1934 starring Fredric March.
Hands Across the Table 1935 starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray.
The Big Broadcast of 1937 1936, with Jack Benny
Swing High, Swing Low 1937 starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray.
Easy Living 1937 starring Jean Arthur and a young Ray Milland.
Midnight 1939 starring Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche and John Barrymore.
In 2013, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
His only movie that got such accolades.
Remember the Night 1940 starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray, in an unusual Christmas tale.
Arise, My Love 1940 starring Claudette Colbert and Ray Milland.
Hold Back the Dawn 1941 starring Olivia de Havilland, Charles Boyer and Paulette Goddard. Nominated for a Best Movie Oscar.
Lady in the Dark 1944, based on a Broadway musical starring Ginger Rogers.
Frenchman's Creek 1944 starring Joan Fontaine, getting romantic with pirates.
Kitty 1945 starring Paulette Goddard.
To Each His Own 1946, starring Olivia de Havilland who won an Oscar here.
Golden Earrings 1947 starring Marlene Dietrich and Ray Milland.
Captain Carey, U.S.A. 1950 starring Alan Ladd. Gave the world the Oscar winning song "Mona Lisa".
No Man of Her Own 1950 starring Barbara Stanwyck.
The Mating Season 1951 starring Gene Tierney.
Some have said that the reason Mitchell Leisen was such a successful director was because he was given great screenplays to work with and top Paramount stars, but on the other hand someone have to make it work too, one plus one.
In 1951 he left Paramount to freelance, believing that the studio was giving him inferior scripts to force him to relinquish his remunerative contract.
As a freelance director he only made 4 other movies before moving over to television.
MGM Young Man with Ideas 1952 starring Glenn Ford. a so called sleeper at the box-office.
20th Century Fox Tonight We Sing !953 a biopic starring David Wayne as impresario Sol Hurok.
The Girl Most Likely 1957 starring Jane Powell.
This was the last film produced by RKO Radio Pictures and was distributed by Universal Pictures. It was also the final film directed by Leisen.
He continued directing episodes on television, Shirley Temple's Storybook 1958, The Twilight Zone 1959 - 1960, Markham 1960, Thriller 1960, General Electric Theater 1955 - 1960, Wagon Train 1961, Follow the Sun 1961, Adventures in Paradise 1961 - 1962 and The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. 1966 -1967. Plus the documentary Spree that was released in 1967, about Las Vegas acts.
The above is not complete, just samples.
He has a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame since 1960
First published in 1994.
Thanks for Watching!
Opinions of all kinds are welcome!!!
His only Oscar nomination wasn't as director but as art director for Dynamite 1929.
This year we celebrate his birthdate in Menominee, Michigan, USA 125 years ago.
Mitchell Leisen (1898-1972)
Worked in the dual capacity of costume designer and art director at MGM (1929-31) and at Paramount (1932-33). Became Paramount's most reliable contract director (1933-51), noted for visual elegance and for his ability to direct actresses. His forte were comedies and romances.
Sole first credit as director, Cradle Song 1933.
Death Takes a Holiday 1934 starring Fredric March.
Hands Across the Table 1935 starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray.
The Big Broadcast of 1937 1936, with Jack Benny
Swing High, Swing Low 1937 starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray.
Easy Living 1937 starring Jean Arthur and a young Ray Milland.
Midnight 1939 starring Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche and John Barrymore.
In 2013, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
His only movie that got such accolades.
Remember the Night 1940 starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray, in an unusual Christmas tale.
Arise, My Love 1940 starring Claudette Colbert and Ray Milland.
Hold Back the Dawn 1941 starring Olivia de Havilland, Charles Boyer and Paulette Goddard. Nominated for a Best Movie Oscar.
Lady in the Dark 1944, based on a Broadway musical starring Ginger Rogers.
Frenchman's Creek 1944 starring Joan Fontaine, getting romantic with pirates.
Kitty 1945 starring Paulette Goddard.
To Each His Own 1946, starring Olivia de Havilland who won an Oscar here.
Golden Earrings 1947 starring Marlene Dietrich and Ray Milland.
Captain Carey, U.S.A. 1950 starring Alan Ladd. Gave the world the Oscar winning song "Mona Lisa".
No Man of Her Own 1950 starring Barbara Stanwyck.
The Mating Season 1951 starring Gene Tierney.
Some have said that the reason Mitchell Leisen was such a successful director was because he was given great screenplays to work with and top Paramount stars, but on the other hand someone have to make it work too, one plus one.
In 1951 he left Paramount to freelance, believing that the studio was giving him inferior scripts to force him to relinquish his remunerative contract.
As a freelance director he only made 4 other movies before moving over to television.
MGM Young Man with Ideas 1952 starring Glenn Ford. a so called sleeper at the box-office.
20th Century Fox Tonight We Sing !953 a biopic starring David Wayne as impresario Sol Hurok.
The Girl Most Likely 1957 starring Jane Powell.
This was the last film produced by RKO Radio Pictures and was distributed by Universal Pictures. It was also the final film directed by Leisen.
He continued directing episodes on television, Shirley Temple's Storybook 1958, The Twilight Zone 1959 - 1960, Markham 1960, Thriller 1960, General Electric Theater 1955 - 1960, Wagon Train 1961, Follow the Sun 1961, Adventures in Paradise 1961 - 1962 and The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. 1966 -1967. Plus the documentary Spree that was released in 1967, about Las Vegas acts.
The above is not complete, just samples.
He has a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame since 1960
First published in 1994.
Thanks for Watching!
Opinions of all kinds are welcome!!!