William Wyler was a Swiss-German-American director and producer.
He is regarded as one of the most distinguished and versatile filmmakers for Classical Hollywood cinema, directing films during the silent era as well as the sound era, and in both black-and-white and technicolor film.
His most notable works include the war films Mrs. Miniver (1942), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), and the biblical epic Ben-Hur (1959), all three went on to receive the Academy Award for Best Picture. He's also known for directing the drama Dodsworth (1936) with Walter Huston, the drama Jezebel (1938) with Bette Davis, the romance Wuthering Heights (1939) starring Laurence Olivier, the period drama The Little Foxes (1941) starring Bette Davis, romance drama The Heiress (1949) starring Olivia de Havilland, the romantic comedy Roman Holiday (1953) starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, the western epic The Big Country (1958) starring Peck and Charlton Heston, the heist comedy How to Steal a Million (1966) starring Hepburn and Peter O'Toole, and the musical epic Funny Girl (1968) starring Barbra Streisand.
Filmography Silent films Year Title Studio Genre Notes1925The Crook BusterUniversalWesternUMS*1926The Gunless Bad ManUniversalWesternUMSRidin' for LoveUniversalWesternUMSThe Fire BarrierUniversalWesternUMSDon't ShootUniversalWesternUMSThe Pinnacle RiderUniversalWesternUMSMartin of the MountedUniversalWesternUMSLazy LightningUniversalWesternUBSS**The Stolen RanchUniversalWesternUBSS1927The Two FisterUniversalWesternUMSKelcy Gets His ManUniversalWesternUMSTenderfoot CourageUniversalWesternUMSThe Silent PartnerUniversalWesternUMSBlazing DaysUniversalWesternUBSSStraight Shootin'UniversalWesternUBSSGalloping JusticeUniversalWesternUMSThe Haunted HomesteadUniversalWesternUMSHard FistsUniversalWesternUBSSThe Lone StarUniversalWesternUMSThe Ore RaidersUniversalWesternUMSThe Home TrailUniversalWesternUMSGun JusticeUniversalWesternUMSThe Phantom OutlawUniversalWesternUMSThe Square ShooterUniversalWesternUMSThe Horse TraderUniversalWesternUMSDaze of the WestUniversalWesternUMSThe Border CavalierUniversalWesternUBSSDesert DustUniversalWestern1928Thunder RidersUniversalWesternAnybody Here Seen Kelly?UniversalComedy1929The ShakedownUniversalDramaPart-Talking filmThe Love TrapUniversalComedyPart-Talking film
* Universal's Mustang Series. Wyler made 21 two-reeler films for this series, all with a duration of 24 minutes. ** Universal's Blue Streak Series. Wyler made 6 five-reeler films for this series, all with a duration of an hour.
Sound films Year Title Studio Genre Notes1929Hell's HeroesUniversalWestern1930The StormUniversalWestern1931A House DividedUniversal1932Tom Brown of CulverUniversal1933Her First MateUniversalCounsellor at LawUniversal1934GlamourUniversal1935The Good FairyUniversalThe Gay Deception20th Century-Fox1936These ThreeSamuel Goldwyn / United ArtistsDodsworthSamuel Goldwyn / United ArtistsNominated for Best PictureCome and Get ItSamuel Goldwyn / United ArtistsWesternReplaced Howard Hawks after 42 days1937Dead EndSamuel Goldwyn / United ArtistsNominated for Best Picture1938JezebelWarner Bros.Nominated for Best Picture1939Wuthering HeightsSamuel Goldwyn / United ArtistsNominated for Best Picture1940The WesternerSamuel Goldwyn / United ArtistsWesternThe LetterWarner Bros.First NationalNominated for Best Picture1941The Little FoxesSamuel Goldwyn / RKONominated for Best Picture1942Mrs. MiniverMGMWon Best Picture1946The Best Years of Our LivesSamuel Goldwyn Co. / RKOWon Best Picture1949The HeiressParamount1951Detective Story Paramount1952CarrieParamount1953Roman HolidayParamountNominated for Best Picture1955The Desperate HoursParamount1956Friendly PersuasionAllied ArtistsNominated for Best Picture DeLuxe Color film1958The Big CountryAnthony Productions / United ArtistsWesternTechnicolor film1959Ben-HurMGMWon Best Picture Technicolor film1961The Children's HourMirisch / United Artists1965The CollectorColumbiaTechnicolor film1966How to Steal a Million20th Century-FoxTechnicolor film1968Funny GirlColumbia / RastarNominated for Best Picture Technicolor film1970The Liberation of L.B. JonesColumbiaTechnicolor film
References: Turner Classic Movies and Internet Movie Database
Documentaries Year Title Studio Notes1944The Memphis BelleFirst Motion Picture UnitdocumentaryFirst Technicolor film1947ThunderboltUnited States Air Forceco-directed with John Sturgesdocumentary / short film
See also List of awards and nominations received by William Wyler
References
External links