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85-590: A 1961 remake of the film, also directed by Wyler, was released as The Children's Hour in the US and The Loudest Whisper in the UK. Following graduation, college friends Karen Wright and Martha Dobie transform Karen's Massachusetts farm into a boarding school. Although new to the area, they are able to find pupils with the assistance of the wealthy Amelia Tilford, who enrolls her malevolent granddaughter Mary and encourages other families to enroll their daughters. Shortly before

170-469: A Swiss citizen (his father's status automatically conferred Swiss citizenship on his sons), met Laemmle who hired him to work at Universal Studios in New York . As Wyler said: "America seemed as far away as the moon." Booked onto a ship to New York with Laemmle for his return voyage, Wyler met a young Czech man, Paul Kohner (later the famous independent agent), aboard the same ship. Their enjoyment of

255-733: A "far, far better actress" than she had been. She recalled a scene that was only a bare paragraph in the script, but "without a word of dialog, Willy created a scene of power and tension. This was moviemaking on the highest plane," she said. "A scene of such suspense that I never have not marveled at the direction of it." During her acceptance speech when she received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1977, she thanked him. Laurence Olivier , whom Wyler directed in Wuthering Heights (1939) for his first Oscar nomination, credited Wyler with teaching him how to act for

340-825: A crowded family wedding disperses, leaving only two young lovers staring at one another across the expanse of an empty living room, as stunned in place, seemingly, as the camera. All three films were decorated with multiple Oscars (see the following section). It was all Wyler. I had known all the horrors of no direction and bad direction. I now knew what a great director was and what he could mean to an actress. I will always be grateful to him for his toughness and his genius. —Bette Davis, discussing Jezebel Bette Davis received three Oscar nominations for her screen work under Wyler, and won her second Oscar for her performance in Wyler's 1938 film Jezebel . She told Merv Griffin in 1972 that Wyler trained her with that film to be

425-429: A day in the lives of the various people in a detective squad. Lee Grant and Joseph Wiseman made their screen debuts in the film, which was nominated for four Academy Awards , including one for Grant. Critic Bosley Crowther lauded the film, describing it as "a brisk, absorbing film by producer-director William Wyler, with the help of a fine, responsive cast." Carrie was released in 1952 starring Jennifer Jones in

510-587: A director for 20th Century Fox and also cast James Garner in The Children's Hour with Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine . Garner had beaten Warner Bros. in a lawsuit, enabling him to leave the television series Maverick , and had been briefly graylisted as a result but Wyler broke the graylist by casting him; the following year, Garner played a leading role in four major motion pictures. In 1968 he directed Barbra Streisand in her debut film, Funny Girl , costarring Omar Sharif , which became

595-686: A dismal year working in Paris at 100.000 Chemises selling shirts and ties. He was so poor that he often spent his time wandering around the Pigalle district. After realizing that Willy was not interested in the haberdashery business, his mother, Melanie, contacted her distant cousin, Carl Laemmle , who owned Universal Studios , about opportunities for him. Laemmle was in the habit of coming to Europe each year, searching for promising young men who would work in America . In 1921, Wyler, while traveling as

680-423: A grossly distorted version both of what she witnessed between Martha and Joe and of the argument between Martha and Lily, suggesting Martha and Joe engaged in an illicit sexual affair. To verify the story, Mary has Amelia talk to Rosalie, who she has brought with her and coerced by threatening to reveal that Rosalie stole another student's bracelet. Mary even says that Martha injured Rosalie's arm intentionally. Amelia

765-468: A huge financial success. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, and like Audrey Hepburn in her first starring role, Streisand won as Best Actress, becoming the thirteenth actor to win an Oscar under his direction. Streisand had already starred in the Broadway musical of Funny Girl , with seven hundred performances. And although she knew the part well, Wyler still had to mold her stage role for

850-437: A leading star, and shot on 70mm film with stereophonic tracks, it was the most expensive film ever made at that time. The nine-minute chariot race, for example, took six months to film. Ben-Hur became a great box office success. Wyler won his third Academy Award for Best Director and Charlton Heston his first and only Academy Award as its star. Heston recalled in his autobiography that at first he had doubts about playing

935-873: A long collaboration with Samuel Goldwyn for whom he directed such classics as Dodsworth (1936) where he earned his first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Director . The film starred Walter Huston , Ruth Chatterton and Mary Astor , "sparking a 20-year run of almost unbroken greatness." He also directed These Three (1936) with Miriam Hopkins and Merle Oberon , Dead End (1937) with Humphrey Bogart , Wuthering Heights (1939) with Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon, The Westerner (1940) with Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan , The Little Foxes (1941) with Bette Davis , and The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) with Myrna Loy and Fredric March . Wyler's visual style pioneered long, uncut takes in what has come to be called deep-focus cinematography -

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1020-596: A memorable portrayal. MacLaine's enactment is almost equally rich in depth and substance." TV Guide rated the film three-and-a-half out of four stars, adding, "The performances range from adequate (Balkin's) to exquisite (MacLaine's)." On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , the film holds an approval rating of 80% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10. American Film Institute lists William Wyler William Wyler ( / ˈ w aɪ l ər / ; born Willi Wyler ( German: [ˈvɪli ˈvi:lɐ] ); July 1, 1902 – July 27, 1981)

1105-535: A number of schools and developed a reputation as "something of a hellraiser", being expelled more than once for misbehavior. His mother often took him and his older brother Robert to concerts , opera , and the theatre , as well as the early cinema . Sometimes at home his family and their friends would stage amateur theatricals for personal enjoyment. Wyler was supposed to inherit the family haberdashery business in Mulhouse, France. After World War I , he spent

1190-604: A private boarding school for girls. After an engagement of two years to Dr. Joe Cardin, Karen finally agrees to set a wedding date. Joe is a nephew of the influential Amelia Tilford, whose granddaughter Mary is a student at the school. Mary is a spoiled, conniving child who bullies her classmates. While being punished for a lie Mary had told, one of her roommates overhears an argument between Martha and her Aunt Lily. Lily accuses Martha of being jealous and having an "unnatural" relationship with Karen. On hearing this, Mary spreads this gossip to her grandmother and Amelia spreads it around

1275-423: A suit of libel and slander against Mrs. Tilford. A few months later, Martha and Karen are isolated at the school, having lost all of their students and ruined their reputations after losing the lawsuit. Karen calls off her engagement with Joe when he asks her if what was said about Martha and her was true. When she finds out, Martha points out that other female couples have persevered after being discovered, because of

1360-651: A terrific regret in my life is if I had succeeded in getting out of doing Mrs. Miniver " He received his first Oscar nomination for his role, while his co-star, Greer Garson , won her first and only Academy Award for her performance. The film idea was controversial because it was intended to cause the United States to be less isolationist. It was thought that by seeing the suffering of British citizens depicted in fiction story, Americans might be made more willing to aid Britain during their war effort. The film succeeded in its propagandistic aims, eliciting sympathy for

1445-461: A third assistant director and by 1925 he became the youngest director on the Universal lot directing the westerns that Universal was famed for turning out. Wyler was so engrossed in his work that he would dream about "different ways (for an actor) to get on a horse". In several of the one-reelers, he would join the posse in the inevitable chase of the 'bad man'. He directed his first non-Western,

1530-507: Is Toland's work in one of the cinematographer's last films, Wyler's heart-wrenching masterpiece, The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). This story of three American servicemen struggling to adjust to civilian life after fighting in World War 2 hit a chord with postwar audiences. Memorable examples of deep focus here include the complex scene in which the three men wind up at the same bar, unable to stay at home, and, in its powerful closing shot,

1615-413: Is absolutely tireless". Wyler was hired to direct Patton (1970), but quit before the beginning of production in 1969. The last film Wyler directed was The Liberation of L.B. Jones , released in 1970. Wyler had worked with cinematographer Gregg Toland for six of his films, mostly in the 1930s. Toland used deep focus photographic technique for most of them, whereby he could keep all objects on

1700-503: Is an unusual picture and it has been brought to the screen with perception, beauty and a keen sense of drama." The review in Variety said of Bonita Granville and Marcia Mae Jones: "Theirs are inspired performances." It added: "Hellman, if anything, has improved upon the original in scripting the triangle as a dramatis personae of romantic frustration, three basically wholesome victims of an unwholesome combination of circumstance. McCrea

1785-745: Is considered by some to be a highlight in her career, "that could strike envy even in the most versatile and successful actress," according to one critic. De Havilland had seen the play in New York and felt she could play the lead perfectly. She then called Wyler to convince him to have Paramount buy the film rights. He flew to New York to see the play and moved by the story,persuaded the studio to buy it. Along with de Havilland, he managed to get Montgomery Clift and Ralph Richardson to co-star. In 1951, Wyler produced and directed Kirk Douglas and Eleanor Parker in Detective Story , portraying

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1870-479: Is little short of brilliant. Upon the framework of her stage success she has constructed an absorbing, tautly written and dramatically vital screen play. To it, in turn, a gifted cast headed by Merle Oberon, Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea has contributed lavishly of its talents, aided by superb direction and exceptionally fine photography. In its totality the picture emerges as one of the finest screen dramas in recent years . . . Strong, turbulent and caustic, These Three

1955-417: Is shocked by the revelation of a love triangle between Karen, Joe, and Martha, and alerts the other parents who have girls at the school, all of whom withdraw their daughters. The trio sue Amelia for slander , but they lose their case. Karen and Martha are unable to enroll any new students, and Joe is fired from his job at the hospital. Lily returns, but Martha resents her for not coming back to testify during

2040-420: Is the work of little Bonita Granville, as the troublemaker, which will attract the most attention." John Mosher of The New Yorker wrote that "quite a good piece of work has been done with this somewhat problematic drama". He added: "With all the drastic alterations made in the plot, it is surprising how many of the original episodes and scenes have been retained." In the 21st century, TVGuide.com rated

2125-666: The American Film Institute Life Achievement Award . Wyler immigrated to the United States in 1921 where he worked first for Universal Studios in New York before moving to Los Angeles. By 1925, he was the youngest director at Universal, and in 1929 he directed Hell's Heroes , Universal's first sound production filmed entirely on location. Wyler went on to win the Academy Award for Best Director three times, for Mrs. Miniver (1942), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), and Ben-Hur (1959), all of which also won for Best Picture . He

2210-656: The Cannes Film Festival . And in 1959, Wyler directed Ben-Hur , which won 11 Oscars, a feat unequaled until Titanic in 1997 and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in 2003. He had also assisted in the production of the 1925 version . Wyler and its star, Charlton Heston , both knew what the film meant for MGM , which had massive investments in its outcome, with the film's budget having gone from $ 7 million to $ 15 million, and

2295-470: The Hays Code , which was in effect when the film was produced, would never permit a film to focus on or even hint at lesbianism, Samuel Goldwyn was the only producer interested in purchasing the film rights to the play. He signed Hellman to adapt her play for the screen, and the playwright changed the lie from being that the two school teachers were lovers to it being that one of the teachers had slept with

2380-467: The Mediterranean . Wyler filmed The Memphis Belle at great personal risk, flying over enemy territory on actual bombing missions in 1943; on one flight, Wyler lost consciousness from lack of oxygen. Wyler's associate, cinematographer Harold J. Tannenbaum, a First Lieutenant , was shot down and perished during the filming. Director Steven Spielberg describes Wyler's filming of Memphis Belle in

2465-413: The swing gang , cleaning the stages and moving the sets. His break came when he was hired as a second assistant editor. But his work ethic was uneven, and he would often sneak off and play billiards in a pool hall across the street from the studio, or organize card games during working hours. After some ups and downs (including getting fired), Wyler put all his efforts into becoming a director. He started as

2550-555: The 1940 novel; it was the story of a middle-class English family adjusting to the war in Europe and the bombing blitz in London. It starred Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon . Pidgeon originally had doubts about taking on the role, until fellow actor Paul Lukas told him, "You will find working with Wyler to be the most delightful experience you ever had, and that's the way it turned out." Pidgeon recalled: "One thing that would have been

2635-581: The 2017 Netflix series, Five Came Back . Before being assigned to the Air Force, Wyler was hired to direct the documentary The Negro Soldier on African-Americans in the United States Armed Forces . Working on Thunderbolt! Wyler was exposed to such loud noise that he passed out. When he awoke, he found he was deaf in one ear. Partial hearing with the aid of a hearing aid eventually came back years later. Wyler returned from

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2720-719: The British people by showing Britain during its darkest days of the war. Years later, having been in the war himself, Wyler said that the film "only scratched the surface of war... It was incomplete." U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom Joseph Kennedy told the studios to stop making pro-British and anti-German films, because he believed that British defeat was imminent. But MGM producer Eddie Mannix disagreed, saying that "someone should salute England. And even if we lose $ 100,000, that'll be okay." Mrs. Miniver went on to win six Academy Awards, becoming

2805-556: The Oscar for best cinematography; next in Lillian Hellman 's adaptation of her searing stage play, The Little Foxes , into Wyler's 1941 film, which had Wyler and Toland working closely together to bring the hard-edged deep focus from Citizen Kane to bear on another tale of soul-destroying family wealth - including inventing a totally white make-up scheme for its star, Bette Davis, conveying her soullessness. Third, and most famously,

2890-509: The United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand) is a 1961 American drama film produced and directed by William Wyler from a screenplay by John Michael Hayes , based on the 1934 play of the same title by Lillian Hellman . The film stars Audrey Hepburn , Shirley MacLaine , and James Garner , with Miriam Hopkins , Fay Bainter (in her final film role), and Karen Balkin. Former college classmates Martha Dobie and Karen Wright open

2975-634: The War a lieutenant colonel and a disabled veteran. Returning from the War and unsure whether he could work again, Wyler turned to a subject that he knew well and directed a film which captured the mood of the nation as it turned to peace after the war, The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). This story of the homecoming of three veterans from World War II dramatized the problems of returning veterans in their adjustment back to civilian life. Arguably his most personal film, Best Years drew on Wyler's own experience returning home to his family after three years at

3060-489: The actor and director during filming. The Lux Radio Theatre aired a one-hour adaptation of the film on December 6, 1937, with Barbara Stanwyck as Martha Dobie, Errol Flynn as Dr. Joe Cardin, Mary Astor as Karen Wright, and Constance Collier as Lily Mortar. Alma Kruger and Marcia Mae Jones reprised their roles from the film as Amelia Tilford and Rosalie Wells, respectively. Frank S. Nugent of The New York Times wrote: "Miss Hellman's job of literary carpentry

3145-408: The adaptation, and John Michael Hayes, who wrote the script, knew they were there, for they have plainly sidestepped the biggest of them. They have not let us know what the youngster whispered to the grandmother that made her hoot with startled indignation and go rushing to the telephone ... And they have not let us into the courtroom where the critical suit for slander was tried. They have only reported

3230-451: The case and tells her to leave. Joe asks Karen to come with him to Vienna , where he has gotten a job. She balks when he mentions that Martha is also invited and finally asks if there was ever anything between Martha and him. Unable to fully believe his denial after what she heard in court, she tells him to go to Vienna by himself. Once Joe is gone, Martha admits to Karen that she loves Joe, though she says she never told him, and then gets on

3315-714: The death of his year-old son; Olivier had a painful leg ailment, and he developed a dislike for Jones. Hollywood was reeling under the effects of McCarthyism, and the studio was afraid to distribute a film that could be attacked as immoral. Ultimately, the ending was changed and the film was cut to make it more positive in tone. During the immediate postwar period, Wyler directed a handful of critically acclaimed and influential films. Roman Holiday (1953) introduced Audrey Hepburn to U.S. audiences in her first starring role, winning her an Academy Award for Best Actress. Wyler said of Hepburn years later, when describing truly great actresses, "In that league there's only ever been Garbo, and

3400-520: The early 1930s Wyler directed a wide variety of films at Universal, ranging from high-profile dramas such as The Storm with Bebe Daniels , A House Divided with Walter Huston , and Counsellor at Law with John Barrymore , to comedies like Her First Mate with Zasu Pitts and The Good Fairy with Margaret Sullavan . He became well known for his insistence on multiple retakes, resulting in often award-winning and critically acclaimed performances from his actors. After leaving Universal he began

3485-453: The end ... James Garner as the fiancé of Miss Hepburn and Miriam Hopkins as the aunt of Miss MacLaine give performances of such artificial laboring that Mr. Wyler should hang his head in shame. Indeed, there is nothing about this picture of which he can be very proud. Variety said, "Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine ... beautifully complement each other. Hepburn's soft sensitivity, marvelous projection and emotional understatement result in

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3570-432: The end of 1961 and $ 90 million worldwide. Audiences mobbed movie theaters in the months after it opened. Critic Pauline Kael praised Wyler's achievement: I admire the artist who can make something good for the art house audience; but I also applaud the commercial heroism of a director who can steer a huge production and keep his sanity and perspective and decent human feelings beautifully intact. In 1961 he became

3655-428: The fact that MGM was already in dire financial straits. They were aware that if it failed at the box office, MGM might go bankrupt. The film, like many epics, was difficult to make. When Heston was asked which scene he enjoyed doing most, he said "I didn't enjoy any of it. It was hard work." Part of the reason for that was the financial stress placed on making the film a success. With a cast of fifteen thousand extras,

3740-399: The film 4½ out of five stars, calling it "gripping, adult cinema" and commenting that "Oberon gives one of her best dramatic performances and McCrea is also quite fine. The two child actresses have the showiest parts, but the real performances to watch are those of Alma Kruger and Miriam Hopkins. Hopkins, in particular, has rarely been better, her intense, high-strung quality perfectly suited to

3825-539: The film was very under-appreciated: In critic Michael Billington 's opinion: If there were any justice in the world, Laurence Olivier would have got an Oscar for his unforgettable performance in Carrie . Director and screenwriter John Huston had been a close friend of Wyler during his career. When he was twenty-eight and penniless, sleeping in parks in London, Huston returned to Hollywood to see if he could find work. Wyler, four years his senior, had met Huston when he

3910-479: The film, said historian Emily Yellin, and Roosevelt wanted prints rushed to theaters nationwide. The Voice of America radio network broadcast the minister's speech from the film, magazines reprinted it, and it was copied onto leaflets and dropped over German-occupied countries . Churchill sent MGM chief Louis B. Mayer a telegram claiming that " Mrs. Miniver is propaganda worth 100 battleships." Bosley Crowther wrote in his New York Times review that Mrs. Miniver

3995-568: The film. The film was James Garner 's first after suing Warner Bros. to win his release from the television series Maverick . Wyler broke an unofficial blacklist of the actor by casting him, and Garner steadily appeared in films and television shows over the following decades, including immediately playing leading roles in four different major films released in 1963: The Great Escape with Steve McQueen , The Thrill of It All with Doris Day , The Wheeler Dealers with Lee Remick , and Move Over, Darling again with Day. Hayley Mills

4080-635: The first class trip was short-lived, however, as they found they had to repay the cost of the passage out of their $ 25 weekly income as messengers to Universal Pictures. After working in New York for several years, and even serving in the New York Army National Guard for a year, Wyler moved to Hollywood to become a director. Around 1923, Wyler arrived in Los Angeles and began work on the Universal Studios lot in

4165-412: The front. The Best Years of Our Lives won the Academy Award for Best Director (Wyler's second) and Academy Award for Best Picture , as well as six other Academy Awards including one Academy Honorary Award. In 1949 Wyler directed The Heiress , which earned Olivia de Havilland her second Oscar and garnered additional Oscars for Best Art Direction , Best Costume Design , and Best Music . The film

4250-530: The incredulous pleasure of nothing less than life." Greene praised the acting of the protagonists portrayed by Oberon, Hopkins, and, to a lesser extent, McCrea, as well as the "shocking mastery" of the performances by Granville and Jones as the antagonists. The review in Film Daily read, in part: "Tense, dramatic, this is one of the most powerful pictures that has come to the talking screen . . . Miriam Hopkins and Merle Oberon give splendid performances, but it

4335-504: The lawsuit, publish the results in the newspaper, and a full financial settlement will be paid to the teachers. Karen tells Martha that they are still friends, and can work again. Aunt Lily asks Karen about Martha's whereabouts as her door is locked. Karen breaks loose the door's slide lock with a candleholder and discovers Martha has hanged herself in her room. Karen attends Martha's funeral and silently walks away as Joe, Mrs. Tilford, and several other townspeople watch her. Hellman's play

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4420-467: The lost Anybody Here Seen Kelly? , in 1928. This was followed by his first part-talkie films, The Shakedown and The Love Trap . He proved himself an able craftsman. In 1928 he became a naturalized United States citizen . His first all-talking film, and Universal's first sound production to be filmed entirely on location, was Hell's Heroes , filmed in the Mojave Desert in 1929. In

4505-492: The opportunity to direct the film, along with a five-year contract. This film was also the 1st of 8 films Wyler and Goldwyn worked together. Although Wyler wasn't completely happy with Goldwyn's casting choices, he accepted the offer, though he insisted on a three-year contract instead. He tried to convince Goldwyn to replace contract player Joel McCrea with Leslie Howard , but the producer refused and, unwisely, told McCrea about Wyler's preference, which led to difficulties between

4590-478: The other Hepburn, and maybe Bergman. It's a rare quality, but boy, do you know when you've found it." The film was an instant hit, also winning for Best Costume Design ( Edith Head ), and Best Writing ( Dalton Trumbo ). Hepburn would eventually do three movies with Wyler, who her son said was one of the most important directors in her career. Friendly Persuasion (1956) was awarded the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) at

4675-415: The other's fiancé. The Hays Office even prevented the use of, or a reference to, the play's original title, so Hellman also changed the title of her script to The Lie ; it was not until after principal photography was completed that the film was rechristened These Three . Goldwyn had already cast the three leads when he offered William Wyler , who, until then, had helmed mostly B pictures and Westerns ,

4760-416: The parents of the school. Karen learns of this and confronts Amelia about Mary accusing Martha and Karen of being lovers. Mary is foiled at convincing others that she personally saw the interactions between Martha and Karen. Using her knowledge that her roommate, Rosalie, has stolen jewelry and other personal items from a number of people, Mary coerces Rosalie into corroborating her story. The two women file

4845-454: The prospect of guiding another new star into an award-winning performance. He sensed and admired that Streisand had the same kind of dedication to being an actress as did Bette Davis, early in her career. "It just needed to be controlled and toned down for the movie camera." Wyler said afterwards, "I'm terribly fond of her. She was very professional, very good, a hard worker, too hard at times. She would work day and night if you would let her. She

4930-479: The role of a woman unable to stop her world from falling apart around her." At the first ceremony at which the category was contested, Bonita Granville was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress , but lost to Gale Sondergaard (who won for her performance in Anthony Adverse ). The Children%27s Hour (film) The Children's Hour (released as The Loudest Whisper in

5015-596: The role. But his agent advised him otherwise: "Don't you know that actors take parts with Wyler without even reading the damn script? I'm telling you, you have to do this picture!" Kirk Douglas had lobbied Wyler, who directed him in Detective Story in 1951, for the title role, but only after Wyler had already decided on Heston. He offered him instead the role of Messala, which Douglas rejected. Douglas then went on to star in Spartacus (1960). Ben-Hur cost $ 15 million to produce but earned $ 47 million by

5100-545: The same time. Later in his career, Huston recalled his friendship with Wyler during an interview: Willy was certainly my best friend in the industry.... We seemed instantly to have many things in common.... Willy liked the things that I liked. We'd go down to Mexico. We'd go up in the mountains. And we'd gamble. He was a wonderful companion....He was equally capable of playing Beethoven on his violin, speeding around town on his motorcycle, or schussing down steep virgin snow trails. In 1941, Wyler directed Mrs. Miniver , based on

5185-487: The same train as Lily. In passing, Lily mentions having seen Mary and Rosalie with the missing bracelet, and Martha realizes what happened. She gets off the train and convinces Rosalie to tell Amelia the truth. Amelia offers Martha compensation, but Martha refuses, asking only that Amelia take Karen a message from her: "stay with Joe, wherever he is." Martha leaves, Amelia talks to Karen, and Karen goes to Vienna to be with Joe. Lillian Hellman 's 1934 play The Children's Hour

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5270-556: The school opens, Martha's aunt, Lily Mortar, arrives and forces her way into a teaching position as a way to continue sponging off Martha. Karen and local doctor Joe Cardin begin to date, unaware that Martha is in love with him. One evening, Joe falls asleep in a chair in Martha's room while waiting for Karen to return to the school. He wakes with a start and breaks a glass, which wakes up Mary Tilford. Before he leaves, he casually refers to his and Karen's plans to marry, and Mary watches from

5355-977: The screen, despite clashing with Wyler on multiple occasions. Olivier would go on to hold the record for the most nominations in the Best Actor category at nine, tied with Spencer Tracy . Critic Frank S. Nugent wrote in the New York Times , "William Wyler has directed it magnificently. It is, unquestionably, one of the most distinguished pictures of the year." Variety described Olivier's performance as "fantastic... he not only brings conviction to his portrayal but translates intelligently its mystical quality." Five years later, in 1944, while visiting London, Wyler met with Olivier and his actress wife, Vivien Leigh . She invited him to see her performance in The Doctor's Dilemma , and Olivier asked him to direct him in his planned film, Henry V . But Wyler said he

5440-440: The screen. She naturally wanted to be involved in the film's production, often asking Wyler questions, but they got along well. "Things were ironed out when she discovered some of us knew what we were doing," kidded Wyler. What originally attracted him to direct Streisand was similar to what attracted him to Audrey Hepburn, who had also been new to film audiences. He met with Streisand during her musical run and became excited at

5525-577: The shadows as Martha sobs quietly once she thinks she is alone. When Karen punishes Mary for missing classes and lying, Mary acts as though she has a pain and falls to the floor in a faint. Although they are not convinced by Mary's performance, Karen and Martha call Joe to examine her. While Joe and Karen are busy with Mary, Martha decides to finally fire Aunt Lily, who is not a good teacher. Lily feels slighted, even though Martha offers to continue to support her, and they have an argument before she goes, during which Lily confronts Martha with her suspicions about

5610-408: The strength of their love, then admits that she has been in love with Karen for years. Karen says that Martha is just confused about her feelings, but Martha insists it is love, breaking down in tears. Rosalie's mother finds the collection of stolen items her daughter has kept, leading to the revelation of Mary's lie about Martha and Karen. Mrs. Tilford tells the judge, who will overturn the outcome of

5695-436: The stuff of legend." His ability to direct a string of classic literary adaptations into huge box-office and critical successes made him one of " Hollywood 's most bankable moviemakers" from the 1930s to the 1960s. Through his talent for staging, editing, and camera movement, he turned dynamic theatrical spaces into cinematic ones. Wyler is also known for his work as an actors' director, often propelling them to stardom. Wyler

5780-683: The time Wyler was ready to film the remake in 1961, the Hays Code had been liberalized to allow screenwriter John Michael Hayes to restore the original nature of the lie. Aside from having Martha hang rather than shoot herself as she had in the play, he remained faithful to Hellman's work, retaining substantial portions of her dialogue. In the 1996 documentary film The Celluloid Closet , Shirley MacLaine said she and Audrey Hepburn never talked about their characters' alleged homosexuality. She also claimed Wyler cut some scenes hinting at Martha's love for Karen because of concerns about critical reaction to

5865-404: The title role and Laurence Olivier as Hurstwood. Eddie Albert played Charles Drouet. Carrie received two Academy Award nominations: Costume Design (Edith Head), and Best Art Direction (Hal Pereira, Roland Anderson, Emile Kuri). Wyler was reluctant to cast Jennifer Jones, and the filming was subsequently plagued by a variety of troubles. Jones had not revealed that she was pregnant; Wyler was mourning

5950-464: The top box office hit of 1942. It was Wyler's first Academy Award for Best Director. Dear Mad Willy. I saw Mrs. Miniver last night. It is absolutely wonderful. You repeatedly amaze me with the demonstrations of your talent and I ask you to believe that it is with genuine pleasure that I salute this latest and greatest example of your work. —producer David Selznick President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill both loved

6035-467: The trial and the verdict in one quickly tossed off line. So this drama that was supposed to be so novel and daring because of its muted theme is really quite unrealistic and scandalous in a prim and priggish way. What's more, it is not too well acted, except by Audrey Hepburn in the role of the younger of the school teachers ... Shirley MacLaine as the older school teacher ... inclines to be too kittenish in some scenes and do too much vocal hand-wringing toward

6120-478: The use of lenses which can take in the entire depth of a room, keeping everything in focus, i.e. depth of field, and thus can contain dramatic changes in lighting and characters' movements in the same shot. In this, he collaborated with the pathbreaking young cinematographer of 1940's Citizen Kane , Gregg Toland . Gregg Toland shot three of the director's most celebrated films: Wuthering Heights (1939), where Toland's use of low angles, dark shadows and diffusion won him

6205-460: The young woman's true feelings for Joe. Martha hears a noise and discovers Rosalie Wells and Evelyn Munn, who are Mary's roommates, listening at the door. Flustered, she accidentally closes the door on Rosalie's arm, slightly injuring her. Back in their room, Evelyn tells Mary about the argument between Martha and Lily. Feeling persecuted, Mary decides to run away from the school. When her grandmother Amelia just wants to send her back, she tells Amelia

6290-488: Was "not a Shakespearian" and turned down the offer. If any film actor is having trouble with his career, can't master the medium and, anyway, wonders whether it's worth it, let him pray to meet a man like William Wyler. —Laurence Olivier In 1950, Wyler and Olivier made a second film together, Carrie , which was not a commercial success. However, some critics state that it nonetheless contains Olivier's finest film performance, but because of its old-fashioned story,

6375-415: Was Oscar-nominated for Dodsworth (1936), Wuthering Heights (1939), The Letter (1940), The Little Foxes (1941), The Heiress (1949), Detective Story (1952), Roman Holiday (1953), Friendly Persuasion (1956), and The Collector (1965). Film historian Ian Freer calls Wyler a " bona fide perfectionist", whose penchant for retakes and an attempt to hone every last nuance "became

6460-537: Was a German-born American film director and producer. Known for his work in numerous genres over five decades, he received numerous awards and accolades, including three Academy Awards . He holds the record of twelve nominations for the Academy Award for Best Director . For his oeuvre of work, Wyler was awarded the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award , the Directors Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award , and

6545-543: Was born to a Jewish family in Mulhouse , Alsace (then part of the German Empire ). His Swiss -born father, Leopold, started as a traveling salesman but later became a thriving haberdasher in Mulhouse. His mother, Melanie (née Auerbach; died February 13, 1955, Los Angeles , aged 77), was German -born, and a cousin of Carl Laemmle , founder of Universal Pictures . During Wyler's childhood, he attended

6630-439: Was directing his father, Walter Huston , in A House Divided in 1931, and they got along well. Wyler read dialogue suggestions that Huston had given to his father Walter and hired John to work on the dialogue for the script. He later inspired Huston to become a director and became his "early mentor." When America entered World War II in 1941, Wyler, Huston, Anatole Litvak and Frank Capra , by then all directors, enlisted at

6715-529: Was illegal in New York State , but authorities chose to overlook its subject matter when the Broadway production was acclaimed by the critics. The first film adaptation of the play was These Three directed by Wyler and released in 1936. Because the Hays Code , in effect at the time of the original film's production, would never permit a film to focus on or even hint at lesbianism, Samuel Goldwyn

6800-487: Was inspired by the 1810 true story of two Scottish school teachers, Miss Marianne Woods and Miss Jane Pirie , whose lives were destroyed when one of their students accused them of engaging in a sexual relationship, but in the Scottish case, they eventually won their suit, although that did not change the devastation wrought on their lives. At the time of the play's premiere (1934), the mention of homosexuality on stage

6885-407: Was inspired by the true story of two Scottish school teachers whose lives were destroyed in 1810 when they were falsely accused by one of their students of engaging in a lesbian relationship. At the time, the mention of homosexuality on stage was illegal in New York State , but authorities chose to overlook the play's subject matter when its Broadway production was acclaimed by critics. Because

6970-467: Was never better in translating a difficult assignment intelligently and sympathetically. The well bred restraint of Hopkins and Oberon in their travail with the mixture of juvenile emotions at their boarding school is likewise impressive." Writing for The Spectator in 1936, Graham Greene observed: "I have seldom been so moved by any fictional film . . . After ten minutes or so of the usual screen sentiment, quaintness and exaggeration, one began to watch

7055-502: Was originally offered the role of Mary. Miriam Hopkins , who portrays Lily Mortar in the remake, appeared as Martha in These Three . The film's location shooting was done at the historic Shadow Ranch , in present-day West Hills of the western San Fernando Valley . Bosley Crowther of The New York Times observed: In short, there are several glaring holes in the fabric of the plot, and obviously Miss Hellman, who did

7140-512: Was the finest film yet made about the war, "and a most exalting tribute to the British." Between 1942 and 1945, Wyler volunteered to serve as a major in the United States Army Air Forces and directed a pair of documentaries: The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1944), about a Boeing B-17 and its U.S. Army Air Force crew; and Thunderbolt! (1947), highlighting a P-47 fighter - bomber squadron in

7225-464: Was the only producer interested in purchasing the rights. He signed Hellman to adapt her play for the screen, and the playwright changed the lie about the two school teachers being lovers into a rumor that one of them had slept with the other's fiancé. Because the Production Code refused to allow Goldwyn to use the play's original title, it was changed to The Lie , and then These Three . By

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