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Frank Borzage

Directing 68 (deceased) years old Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ★ 0.6
Born: April 23, 1894
Died: June 19, 1962

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Frank Borzage (April 23, 1894 – June 19, 1962) was an Academy Award-winning American film director and actor, known for directing 7th Heaven (1927), Street Angel (1928), Bad Girl (1931), A Farewell to Arms (1932), Man's Castle (1933), History Is Made at Night (1937), The Mortal Storm (1940) and Moonrise (1948).

In 1912 Borzage found employment as an actor in Hollywood; he continued to work as an actor until 1917. His directorial debut came in 1915 with the film The Pitch o' Chance.

He was a successful director throughout the 1920s, but reached his peak in the late silent and early sound era. Absorbing visual influences from the German director F.W. Murnau, who was also resident at Fox at this time, Borzage developed his own style of lushly visual romanticism in a hugely successful series of films starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, including 7th Heaven (1927), for which he won the first Academy Award for Best Director, Street Angel (1928) and Lucky Star (1929). He won a second Oscar for 1931's Bad Girl.

He directed 14 films between 1917 and 1919 alone. His greatest success in the silent era was with Humoresque, a box office winner starring Vera Gordon.

Borzage's trademark was intense identification with the feelings of young lovers in the face of adversity, with love in his films triumphing over such trials as World War I (7th Heaven and A Farewell to Arms), disability (Lucky Star), the Depression (Man's Castle), a thinly disguised version of the Titanic disaster in History Is Made at Night, and the rise of Nazism, a theme which Borzage had virtually to himself among Hollywood filmmakers from Little Man, What Now? (1933) to Three Comrades (1938) and The Mortal Storm (1940).

His work took a spiritual turn in such films as Green Light (1937), Strange Cargo (1940) and The Big Fisherman (1959). Of his later work only the film noir Moonrise (1948) has enjoyed much critical acclaim. After 1948, Borzage's output was sporadic.

In 1955 and 1957, he was awarded The George Eastman Award, given by George Eastman House for distinguished contribution to the art of film.

Frank Borzage died of cancer in 1962, aged 68.

External Links

🎬 IMDb

Known For

A Farewell to Arms
A Farewell to Arms Director 1932
7th Heaven
7th Heaven Director 1927
Three Comrades
Three Comrades Director 1938
Magnificent Doll
Magnificent Doll Director 1946
The Spanish Main
The Spanish Main Director 1945

Filmography

Acting Credits (67)

Murnau, Borzage and Fox
Murnau, Borzage and Fox Self (archive footage) (uncredited) 2008
Jeanne Eagels
Jeanne Eagels Self (uncredited) 1957
Hollywood Preview
Hollywood Preview Self 1955
The Oscars
The Oscars 1953
This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life Self 1952
The Atom
The Atom 1918
The Curse of Iku
The Curse of Iku Allan Carroll / Allan Carroll III 1918
Fear Not
Fear Not Franklin Shirley 1917
Wee Lady Betty
Wee Lady Betty Roger O'Reilly 1917
A Mormon Maid
A Mormon Maid Tom Rigdon 1917
A School for Husbands
A School for Husbands Hugh Aslam 1917
Immediate Lee
Immediate Lee Immediate Lee 1916
Land O' Lizards
Land O' Lizards The Stranger 1916
Matchin' Jim
Matchin' Jim Matchin' Jim 1916
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages Extra (uncredited) 1916
The Forgotten Prayer
The Forgotten Prayer Dan Page 1916
Nell Dale's Men Folks
Nell Dale's Men Folks Zeb Dale 1916
The Courtin' of Calliope Clew
The Courtin' of Calliope Clew Calliope Clew 1916
That Gal of Burke's
That Gal of Burke's Charles Percival 1916
Nugget Jim's Pardner
Nugget Jim's Pardner Hal 1916
The Demon of Fear
The Demon of Fear Thomas Marsh 1916
The Pilgrim
The Pilgrim The Pilgrim 1916
Jack
Jack Jack 1916
Unlucky Luke
Unlucky Luke Luke Drummond 1916
Realization
Realization 1916
A Flickering Light
A Flickering Light Jim 1916
Two Bits
Two Bits James Hardeman 1916
The Code of Honor
The Code of Honor Lt. Bob Chase 1916
The Cactus Blossom
The Cactus Blossom Dave Foster 1915
The Pitch o' Chance
The Pitch o' Chance Rocky Scott 1915
The Clean-Up
The Clean-Up George Prescott 1915
Aloha Oe
Aloha Oe Dr. John Hawley 1915
Knight of the Trail
Knight of the Trail Bill Carey 1915
The Hammer
The Hammer Donald Barstow 1915
The Secret of Lost River
The Secret of Lost River Tom Hornby - Prospector 1915
The Tavern Keeper's Son
The Tavern Keeper's Son Juan Capella 1915
The Cup of Life
The Cup of Life Dick Ralston 1915
Molly of the Mountains
Molly of the Mountains John Harlow 1915
In the Switch Tower
In the Switch Tower Joel Wharton 1915
The Mill by the Zuyder Zee
The Mill by the Zuyder Zee Dirk Brandt 1915
The Girl Who Might Have Been
The Girl Who Might Have Been George Fowler 1915
In the Land of the Otter
In the Land of the Otter Joe Eagle 1915
The Panther
The Panther David Brandt 1914
A Crook's Sweetheart
A Crook's Sweetheart The 'Dip' 1914
The Desperado
The Desperado 1914
The Typhoon
The Typhoon Renard Bernisky 1914
Parson Larkin's Wife
Parson Larkin's Wife Parson James Larkin 1914
The Wrath of the Gods
The Wrath of the Gods Tom Wilson 1914
Love's Western Flight
Love's Western Flight 1914
Samson
Samson Bearded Philistine Extra (uncredited) 1914
A Flash in the Dark
A Flash in the Dark 1914
The Wheel of Life
The Wheel of Life 1914
In the Sage Brush Country
In the Sage Brush Country 1914
A Hopi Legend
A Hopi Legend 1913
A Cracksman Santa Claus
A Cracksman Santa Claus 1913
Retribution
Retribution 1913
The Days of '49
The Days of '49 Ben 1913
Loaded Dice
Loaded Dice 1913
Silent Heroes
Silent Heroes 1913
In the Toils
In the Toils 1913
The Gratitude of Wanda
The Gratitude of Wanda 1913
The Mystery of Yellow Aster Mine
The Mystery of Yellow Aster Mine 1913
Granddad
Granddad Mildred's Father 1913
The Crimson Stain
The Crimson Stain 1913
The Drummer of the 8th
The Drummer of the 8th Jack Durand 1913
When Lee Surrenders
When Lee Surrenders 1912
On Secret Service
On Secret Service 1912

Directing Credits (108)

Journey Beneath the Desert
Journey Beneath the Desert Co-Director 1961
The Big Fisherman
The Big Fisherman Director 1959
China Doll
China Doll Director 1958
The Day I Met Caruso
The Day I Met Caruso Director 1956
A Ticket for Thaddeus
A Ticket for Thaddeus Director 1956
Day is Done
Day is Done Director 1955
Moonrise
Moonrise Director 1948
That's My Man
That's My Man Director 1947
Magnificent Doll
Magnificent Doll Director 1946
I've Always Loved You
I've Always Loved You Director 1946
The Spanish Main
The Spanish Main Director 1945
Till We Meet Again
Till We Meet Again Director 1944
His Butler's Sister
His Butler's Sister Director 1943
Stage Door Canteen
Stage Door Canteen Director 1943
Seven Sweethearts
Seven Sweethearts Director 1942
The Vanishing Virginian
The Vanishing Virginian Director 1942
Smilin' Through
Smilin' Through Director 1941
Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid Co-Director 1941
Flight Command
Flight Command Director 1940
The Mortal Storm
The Mortal Storm Director 1940
Strange Cargo
Strange Cargo Director 1940
I Take This Woman
I Take This Woman Co-Director 1940
Disputed Passage
Disputed Passage Director 1939
The Shining Hour
The Shining Hour Director 1938
Three Comrades
Three Comrades Director 1938
Mannequin
Mannequin Director 1938
Big City
Big City Director 1937
History Is Made at Night
History Is Made at Night Director 1937
Green Light
Green Light Director 1937
Hearts Divided
Hearts Divided Director 1936
Desire
Desire Director 1936
Shipmates Forever
Shipmates Forever Director 1935
Stranded
Stranded Director 1935
Living on Velvet
Living on Velvet Director 1935
Flirtation Walk
Flirtation Walk Director 1934
Little Man, What Now?
Little Man, What Now? Director 1934
No Greater Glory
No Greater Glory Director 1934
Man's Castle
Man's Castle Director 1933
Secrets
Secrets Director 1933
A Farewell to Arms
A Farewell to Arms Director 1932
Young America
Young America Director 1932
After Tomorrow
After Tomorrow Director 1932
Bad Girl
Bad Girl Director 1931
Young as You Feel
Young as You Feel Director 1931
Doctors' Wives
Doctors' Wives Director 1931
Liliom
Liliom Director 1930
Song o' My Heart
Song o' My Heart Director 1930
The River
The River Director 1929
They Had to See Paris
They Had to See Paris Director 1929
Lucky Star
Lucky Star Director 1929
Street Angel
Street Angel Director 1928
7th Heaven
7th Heaven Director 1927
Marriage License?
Marriage License? Director 1926
Early to Wed
Early to Wed Director 1926
The Dixie Merchant
The Dixie Merchant Director 1926
The First Year
The First Year Director 1926
Wages for Wives
Wages for Wives Director 1925
Lazybones
Lazybones Director 1925
The Circle
The Circle Director 1925
Daddy's Gone A-Hunting
Daddy's Gone A-Hunting Director 1925
The Lady
The Lady Director 1925
Secrets
Secrets Director 1924
The Age of Desire
The Age of Desire Director 1923
Children of Dust
Children of Dust Director 1923
The Nth Commandment
The Nth Commandment Director 1923
The Pride of Palomar
The Pride of Palomar Director 1922
The Valley of Silent Men
The Valley of Silent Men Director 1922
The Good Provider
The Good Provider Director 1922
Billy Jim
Billy Jim Director 1922
Back Pay
Back Pay Director 1922
Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford
Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford Director 1921
The Duke of Chimney Butte
The Duke of Chimney Butte Director 1921
Humoresque
Humoresque Director 1920
Prudence on Broadway
Prudence on Broadway Director 1919
Whom the Gods Would Destroy
Whom the Gods Would Destroy Director 1919
Toton
Toton Director 1919
The Atom
The Atom Director 1918
The Ghost Flower
The Ghost Flower Director 1918
Who Is to Blame?
Who Is to Blame? Director 1918
An Honest Man
An Honest Man Director 1918
Society for Sale
Society for Sale Director 1918
Innocent's Progress
Innocent's Progress Director 1918
The Shoes That Danced
The Shoes That Danced Director 1918
The Curse of Iku
The Curse of Iku Director 1918
The Gun Woman
The Gun Woman Director 1918
Until They Get Me
Until They Get Me Director 1917
Flying Colors
Flying Colors Director 1917
Immediate Lee
Immediate Lee Director 1916
Land O' Lizards
Land O' Lizards Director 1916
Matchin' Jim
Matchin' Jim Director 1916
The Forgotten Prayer
The Forgotten Prayer Director 1916
Nell Dale's Men Folks
Nell Dale's Men Folks Director 1916
The Courtin' of Calliope Clew
The Courtin' of Calliope Clew Director 1916
That Gal of Burke's
That Gal of Burke's Director 1916
Nugget Jim's Pardner
Nugget Jim's Pardner Director 1916
The Quicksands of Deceit
The Quicksands of Deceit Director 1916
The Demon of Fear
The Demon of Fear Director 1916
The Pilgrim
The Pilgrim Director 1916
Jack
Jack Director 1916
Unlucky Luke
Unlucky Luke Director 1916
A Flickering Light
A Flickering Light Director 1916
Two Bits
Two Bits Director 1916
The Code of Honor
The Code of Honor Director 1916
The Silken Spider
The Silken Spider Director 1916
Life's Harmony
Life's Harmony Director 1916
The Pitch o' Chance
The Pitch o' Chance Director 1915
The Pride and the Man
The Pride and the Man Director
Dollars of Dross
Dollars of Dross Director

Writing Credits (9)

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