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3 items from 2012

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William Wyler/Oscar Actors: Walter Huston, Bette Davis

22 February 2012 2:55 PM, PST | Alt Film Guide | See recent Alt Film Guide news »

Walter Huston, Ruth Chatterton, Dodsworth William Wyler: Record-Setting Oscar Director for Actors Pt.1 Ah, William Wyler also happens to be the director with the most Academy Award nominations: twelve in all. For the record, those are: Dodsworth, 1936; Wuthering Heights, 1939; The Letter, 1940; The Little Foxes, 1941; Mrs. Miniver, 1942; The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946; The Heiress, 1949; Detective Story, 1951; Roman Holiday, 1953; Friendly Persuasion, 1956; Ben-Hur, 1959; and The Collector, 1965. He won the Best Director Oscar for three films — none of which is among his best: Mrs. Miniver, The Best Years of Our Lives, and Ben-Hur. Considering the changes that have taken place in the American film industry following the demise of the studio system, barring a miracle Wyler will remain the Oscars' top director for actors for as long as there are Oscars. (See full list below.) William Wyler died of a heart attack in July 1981 in Los Angeles. William Wyler-directed movies: thirty-six acting nominations; fourteen wins. »

- Andre Soares

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William Wyler: Oscar Actors Director

21 February 2012 4:48 PM, PST | Alt Film Guide | See recent Alt Film Guide news »

William Wyler was one of the greatest film directors Hollywood — or any other film industry — has ever produced. Today, Wyler lacks the following of Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, Frank Capra, or even Howard Hawks most likely because, unlike Hitchcock, Ford, or Capra (and to a lesser extent Hawks), Wyler never focused on a particular genre, while his films were hardly as male-centered as those of the aforementioned four directors. Dumb but true: Films about women and their issues tend to be perceived as inferior to those about men — especially tough men — and their issues. The German-born Wyler (1902, in Alsace, now part of France) immigrated to the United States in his late teens. Following a stint at Universal's New York office, he moved to Hollywood and by the mid-'20s was directing Western shorts. His ascent was quick; by 1929 Wyler was directing Universal's top female star, Laura La Plante in the »

- Andre Soares

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Greer Garson, Joan Crawford: Deceased Honorary Oscar-less

17 February 2012 4:01 PM, PST | Alt Film Guide | See recent Alt Film Guide news »

Walter Pidgeon, Greer Garson in William Wyler's Mrs. Miniver Honorary Oscars and Women Pt.2: Doris Day, Danielle Darrieux, Joan Fontaine, Maureen O'Hara On the list of film industry women who have yet to receive an Honorary Award, I did not include Olivia de Havilland, Elizabeth Taylor, Maggie Smith, Glenda Jackson, Luise Rainer, Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, Sally Field, Jodie Foster, and Jessica Lange because each of them has already won two acting awards. Barbara Kopple, Thelma Schoonmaker, and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, for their part, have each already won two Oscars for, respectively, documentary feature, film editing, and screenwriting. Barbra Streisand, I should note, has also won two Oscars; the second one, however, was as co-composer (with Paul Williams) of the song "Evergreen" from A Star Is Born. Only someone like Elia Kazan — i.e., with friends in high Academy places — can have two Academy Award wins in a »

- Andre Soares

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2012 | 2011 | 2009

3 items from 2012

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