Cutting his teeth with 30 two-reel westerns in the 1920's William Wyler went on to direct many of the most popular and critically acclaimed films in Hollywood history. He might be the least well known of his golden-age contemporaries which included Hitchcock, Wilder and Welles. However, his prodigious listing of film credits testify to his immensely successful career with both theater patrons and critics alike. "Wuthering Heights", "The Little Foxes", "Mrs. Miniver", "The Best Years of Our Lives", "Roman Holiday" and "Ben-Hur", are a few of the films that distinguish him and help to recognize his complete command of the cinematic production medium. His projects evolved on the strong foundation of a competent narrative structure while he altruistically withdrew any individualistic directorial style or telltale signatures that might distract from its inherent integrity. His prolific Oscar statistics dwarf any of his peers: Wyler received the most Academy Award nominations (12); induced the most Oscar-nominated performances (35) and the most Oscar-winning performances (14). He directed Best Picture Oscar-nominated films 13 times (winning 3), and Wyler's "Friendly Persuasion" was internationally recognized, absconding with the Palm D'or at Cannes in 57'. Wyler is respected by many for both his brave defiance of the House on Un-American Activities Committee (47') and his surprising decision to retire from filmmaking (71') and spend the final decade of his life traveling the globe with his wife (the mother of his 5 children). William Wyler's distinguished cinema is a legendary and unequaled mark in the grandiose history of classic Hollywood.

Suggested Reading

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A Talent for Trouble: The Life of Hollywood's Most Acclaimed Director, William Wyler

by Jan Herman

Director - Selected filmography and DVDBeaver links:

Funny Girl (1968), How to Steal a Million (1966), The Collector (1965), The Children's Hour (1961), Ben-Hur (1959), The Big Country (1958), Friendly Persuasion (1956), The Desperate Hours (1955), Roman Holiday (1953), Carrie (1952), Detective Story (1951), The Heiress (1949), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1944), The Fighting Lady (1944), Mrs. Miniver (1942), The Little Foxes (1941), The Letter (1940), The Westerner (1940), Wuthering Heights (1939), Jezebel (1938), Dead End (1937), Come and Get It (1936), Dodsworth (1936), These Three (1936) , Barbary Coast (1935) (uncredited; replaced by Howard Hawks), The Gay Deception (1935), The Good Fairy (1935), Glamour (1934), Counsellor at Law (1933)