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Mervyn LeRoy

Directing 86 (deceased) years old San Francisco, California, USA ★ 0.6
Born: October 15, 1900
Died: September 13, 1987

Biography

Mervyn LeRoy was an American film director, producer, and sometime actor.

LeRoy worked in costumes, processing labs and as a camera assistant until he became a gag writer and actor in silent films, including The Ten Commandments in 1923. LeRoy credits Ten Commandments director, Cecil B. DeMille, for inspiring him to become a director: "As the top director of the era, DeMille had been the magnet that had drawn me to his set as often as I could go." LeRoy also credits DeMille for teaching him the directing techniques required to make his own films.

His first directing job was with First National Pictures on 1927's No Place to Go. LeRoy ended up working at Warner Bros. after they took control of First National. When his movies made lots of money without costing too much, he became well received in the movie business. He directed two key films which launched Edward G. Robinson into major stardom, the Oscar-nominated critique of tabloid journalism Five Star Final, and the classic gangster film Little Caesar, which made his mark. From that point forward, LeRoy would be responsible for a diverse variety of films as a director and producer. The following year's I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang was also nominated for the Academy Award for Outstanding Production as was his Anthony Adverse.

In 1938 he was chosen as head of production at MGM, where he was responsible for the decision to make The Wizard of Oz. He was responsible for discovering Clark Gable, Loretta Young, Robert Mitchum, and Lana Turner. His 1941 film Blossoms in the Dust was nominated for the Academy Award for Outstanding Motion Picture. His first big hit as a director with MGM was 1942's Random Harvest which was their biggest of the season earning worldwide rentals of $8 million and for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Directing. The film was also nominated for the Academy Award for Outstanding Motion Picture. He hit big again two years later with Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo with rentals of $6 million.

In 1951, he scored his biggest hit with Quo Vadis earning worldwide rentals of $21 million as well as a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. In the early 1950s, LeRoy directed such musicals as Lovely to Look At, Million Dollar Mermaid, Latin Lovers and Rose Marie.

He returned to Warner Brothers in 1955, where he took over from John Ford as director on Mister Roberts, another big hit, which was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. He also directed films for Warners such as The Bad Seed, No Time for Sergeants, The FBI Story, and Gypsy.

He received an honorary Oscar in 1946 for The House I Live In, "for tolerance short subject", and the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1976. A total of eight movies Mervyn LeRoy directed or co-directed were nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, one of the highest numbers among all directors.

Filmography

Directing Credits (77)

Moment to Moment
Moment to Moment Director 1966
Mary, Mary
Mary, Mary Director 1963
Gypsy
Gypsy Director 1962
A Majority of One
A Majority of One Director 1961
The Devil at 4 O'Clock
The Devil at 4 O'Clock Director 1961
Wake Me When It's Over
Wake Me When It's Over Director 1960
The FBI Story
The FBI Story Director 1959
Home Before Dark
Home Before Dark Director 1958
No Time for Sergeants
No Time for Sergeants Director 1958
Toward the Unknown
Toward the Unknown Director 1956
The Bad Seed
The Bad Seed Director 1956
Mister Roberts
Mister Roberts Director 1955
Strange Lady in Town
Strange Lady in Town Director 1955
Rose Marie
Rose Marie Director 1954
Latin Lovers
Latin Lovers Director 1953
Million Dollar Mermaid
Million Dollar Mermaid Director 1952
Lovely to Look At
Lovely to Look At Director 1952
Quo Vadis
Quo Vadis Director 1951
East Side, West Side
East Side, West Side Director 1949
Any Number Can Play
Any Number Can Play Director 1949
The Great Sinner
The Great Sinner Co-Director 1949
Little Women
Little Women Director 1949
Homecoming
Homecoming Director 1948
Desire Me
Desire Me Director 1947
Without Reservations
Without Reservations Director 1946
The House I Live In
The House I Live In Director 1945
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo Director 1944
Madame Curie
Madame Curie Director 1943
You, John Jones!
You, John Jones! Director 1943
Random Harvest
Random Harvest Director 1942
Johnny Eager
Johnny Eager Director 1941
Unholy Partners
Unholy Partners Director 1941
Blossoms in the Dust
Blossoms in the Dust Director 1941
Escape
Escape Director 1940
Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge Director 1940
Fools for Scandal
Fools for Scandal Director 1938
They Won't Forget
They Won't Forget Director 1937
The King and the Chorus Girl
The King and the Chorus Girl Director 1937
Three Men on a Horse
Three Men on a Horse Director 1936
Anthony Adverse
Anthony Adverse Director 1936
I Found Stella Parish
I Found Stella Parish Director 1935
Page Miss Glory
Page Miss Glory Director 1935
Oil for the Lamps of China
Oil for the Lamps of China Director 1935
Sweet Adeline
Sweet Adeline Director 1934
Happiness Ahead
Happiness Ahead Director 1934
Heat Lightning
Heat Lightning Director 1934
Hi, Nellie!
Hi, Nellie! Director 1934
The World Changes
The World Changes Director 1933
Tugboat Annie
Tugboat Annie Director 1933
Gold Diggers of 1933
Gold Diggers of 1933 Director 1933
Elmer, the Great
Elmer, the Great Director 1933
Hard to Handle
Hard to Handle Director 1933
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang Director 1932
Three on a Match
Three on a Match Director 1932
Big City Blues
Big City Blues Director 1932
Two Seconds
Two Seconds Director 1932
The Heart of New York
The Heart of New York Director 1932
High Pressure
High Pressure Director 1932
Local Boy Makes Good
Local Boy Makes Good Director 1931
Five Star Final
Five Star Final Director 1931
Broadminded
Broadminded Director 1931
Too Young to Marry
Too Young to Marry Director 1931
Gentleman's Fate
Gentleman's Fate Director 1931
Little Caesar
Little Caesar Director 1931
Tonight or Never
Tonight or Never Director 1931
Top Speed
Top Speed Director 1930
Numbered Men
Numbered Men Director 1930
Show Girl in Hollywood
Show Girl in Hollywood Director 1930
Playing Around
Playing Around Director 1930
Little Johnny Jones
Little Johnny Jones Director 1929
Broadway Babies
Broadway Babies Director 1929
Hot Stuff
Hot Stuff Director 1929
Naughty Baby
Naughty Baby Director 1928
Oh Kay!
Oh Kay! Director 1928
Harold Teen
Harold Teen Director 1928
Flying Romeos
Flying Romeos Director 1928
No Place to Go
No Place to Go Director 1927

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