William Wyler

After the failure of his film ‘The Liberation of L.B. Jones’, released in 1970, he retired from film direction. He died from a heart attack in Beverly Hills, California.

Born as Willy Wyler in a Jewish family of Mulhouse, Alsace, William Wyler was the son of Leopold and Melanie, a German descendant. His father was a dry goods merchant by profession.

He attended several schools and was expelled more than once for indiscipline. It was his mother who introduced him to opera, concerts, theatre and films. He attended the Paris Conservatoire where he studied music for several months.

After receiving a job offer from his mother’s cousin Carl Laemmle, the head of Universal Studios, he shifted to New York, in 1920. There he used to work as a shipping clerk.

While working there, he decided to pursue a career in film making. Thereafter, he moved to Los Angeles and did several jobs. For a brief period, he also served as an assistant director.

As a director, his debut film was ‘The Crook Buster’. It was released in 1925 and the duration of this film was twenty four minutes. In the following year, he directed his first full length film ‘Lazy Lightning’.

After that, he directed several low budget silent westerns. His first non-western film ‘Anybody Here Seek Kelly’ - a silent film - was released in 1928. In the next year, he directed his first talkie film ‘Hell’s Heroes’.

In 1935, his romantic comedy ‘The Good Fairy’ was released. This film tells the story of a young orphan girl. Based on Lillian Hellman’s play ‘the Children’s Hour’, his film ‘These Three’ appeared under the production of MGM producer Samuel Goldwyn in 1936.

His first talkie film ‘Hell’s Heroes’ was released in 1929. Shot outside of a studio, this film depicts the story of three criminals and their effort of saving a newborn child.

Based on the satirical novel of Sinclair Lewis, his film ‘Dodsworth’ skilfully portrays the difference between the US and the European culture and manners. Released in 1936, this film earned him an Oscar nomination for the Best Director.

Released in 1942, ‘Mrs. Miniver’ narrates the story of a British housewife and a German pilot during the World War II. The representation of this classic story earned him his first Oscar Award.

Released in 1946, one of his successful films ‘The Best Years of Our Lives’ is the story of three persons who served in the World War II. The film depicts their life after the war.