Mervyn LeRoy
Directing
Born: October 15, 1900 · San Francisco, California, USA
Died: September 13, 1987 (aged 86)
Highest Rated
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.
Known for
The Wizard of Oz
1939
Quo Vadis
1951
Little Caesar
1931
The Bad Seed
1956
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932
Little Women
1949
Waterloo Bridge
1940
Mister Roberts
1955
Gold Diggers of 1933
1933
Random Harvest
1942
At the Circus
1939
Gypsy
1962
Photos (1)
Movies (9)
My American Wife
Extra
Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady
1982
Little Johnny Jones
George Nelson, Jockey
The Chorus Lady
Duke (the jockey)
Broadway After Dark
Carl Fisher
Going Up
The Bellboy
The Making of a Great Motion Picture
1936
Prodigal Daughters
Newsboy
The Call of the Canyon
Jack Rawlins
Self / Appearances (11)
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · 1 eps
This Is Your Life
Self · 2 eps
You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story
Self (archive footage)
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
Self (archive footage)
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Self (archive footage)
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Self
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
Self (archive footage)
Rome, the Eternal City
Self
The Making of the Wizard of Oz
Self
Directing (77)
Little Women
Director
Quo Vadis
Director
The Bad Seed
Director
Waterloo Bridge
Director
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Director
Desire Me
Director
Little Caesar
Director
Mister Roberts
Director
Gypsy
Director
Tonight or Never
Director
Strange Lady in Town
Director
Random Harvest
Director
Gold Diggers of 1933
Director
Hi, Nellie!
Director
Million Dollar Mermaid
Director
Madame Curie
Director
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Director
The Great Sinner
Co-Director
The Devil at 4 O'Clock
Director
Without Reservations
Director
The FBI Story
Director
Three on a Match
Director
Hard to Handle
Director
Home Before Dark
Director
Escape
Director
Johnny Eager
Director
East Side, West Side
Director
No Time for Sergeants
Director
Mary, Mary
Director
Rose Marie
Director
Oh Kay!
Director
Blossoms in the Dust
Director
Toward the Unknown
Director
Two Seconds
Director
Anthony Adverse
Director
The World Changes
Director
Harold Teen
Director
Show Girl in Hollywood
Director
Any Number Can Play
Director
Homecoming
Director
I Found Stella Parish
Director
Five Star Final
Director
A Majority of One
Director
Page Miss Glory
Director
Lovely to Look At
Director
Tugboat Annie
Director
Wake Me When It's Over
Director
Gentleman's Fate
Director
Happiness Ahead
Director
Elmer, the Great
Director
Broadway Babies
Director
Latin Lovers
Director
They Won't Forget
Director
The House I Live In
Director
Big City Blues
Director
Little Johnny Jones
Director
Oil for the Lamps of China
Director
Broadminded
Director
The King and the Chorus Girl
Director
Moment to Moment
Director
Playing Around
Director
You, John Jones!
Director
Top Speed
Director
Heat Lightning
Director
Numbered Men
Director
Unholy Partners
Director
High Pressure
Director
Too Young to Marry
Director
Three Men on a Horse
Director
Sweet Adeline
Director
Hot Stuff
Director
The Heart of New York
Director
Fools for Scandal
Director
Local Boy Makes Good
Director
No Place to Go
Director
Naughty Baby
Director
Flying Romeos
Director
Writing (1)
Producing (21)
The Wizard of Oz
Producer
Little Women
Producer
The Bad Seed
Producer
Gypsy
Producer
Strange Lady in Town
Producer
At the Circus
Producer
The FBI Story
Producer
Stand Up and Fight
Producer
Escape
Producer
Johnny Eager
Producer
Mary, Mary
Producer
Blossoms in the Dust
Producer
Toward the Unknown
Producer
The Great Garrick
Producer
A Majority of One
Producer
Wake Me When It's Over
Producer
The House I Live In
Producer
Dramatic School
Producer
Mr. Dodd Takes the Air
Producer
Moment to Moment
Producer
Fools for Scandal
Producer