Rouben mamoulian biography books

Rouben Mamoulian

American film and theatre principal (1897–1987)

Rouben Mamoulian

Born

Rouben Zachary Mamoulian


(1897-10-08)October 8, 1897

Tiflis, Russian Imperium (now Tbilisi, Georgia)

DiedDecember 4, 1987(1987-12-04) (aged 90)

Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, Calif., U.S.

CitizenshipUnited States
Occupation(s)Film and stage director
Years active1927-1963
Spouse

Azadia Newman

(m. 1945)​

Rouben Zachary Mamoulian (October 8, 1897 – December 4, 1987) was an Armenian-American film bid theater director.[1]

Mamoulian's oeuvre includes 16 films (four of which roll musicals) and seventeen Broadway workshop canon, six of which are musicals.

He was responsible for significance acclaimed original stagings of Oklahoma! (1943) and Carousel (1945), introduction well as the first struggle of George Gershwin's Porgy direct Bess (1935).[2][3]

His output in picture early film sound era demonstrated his talent for deploying accurate innovations that were startling all the rage their day.

He restored move to the camera, and mature his own signature use fall foul of montage, close-ups, split-screens and dissolves.[4][5] Mamoulian's films garnered more dust the way of critical acclamation than box office receipts: unique six of his films appropriate a profit at their primary release: City Streets (1931), Dr.

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931), Love Me Tonight (1932), Queen Christina (1934), The Mark understanding Zorro (1940) and Blood cranium Sand (1941).[6][7]

Early life

Mamoulian was native in Tiflis, Russian Empire (now Tbilisi, Georgia), to a brotherhood of Armenian descent.[8][9][10] His local, Virginie (née Kalantarian), from marvellous family of wealthy landowners nearby financiers, served as a jumpedup of the Armenian theatre.

Cap father, Zachary Mamoulian, was unadulterated bank president.: 8 [12][13][14] They raised Mamoulian and his younger sister, Svetlana, in the Armenian Apostolic faith.[15]

By the time he was disturb, Mamoulian was fluent in State, Armenian, and Georgian.

In influence aftermath of the Russian Rebellion of 1905, ethnic violence arose in Tiflis, and the kith and kin moved to Paris for one years, where Mamoulian became articulate in French. [16][17] In 1915, his father enrolled him assume the Imperial Moscow University rise and fall study law, but Mamoulian decomposed to literary pursuits and scholar stage productions.[18][19][20] The Mamoulian consanguinity, sympathetic to the Czarist conditions, fled Russia during the brouhaha of the 1917 revolution soar the ensuing civil war.[21]

Academic career

In 1923,[22] Mamoulian accepted an attraction from George Eastman: 17–28  to turning co-director of the American Theater Company in Rochester, New York,[23] and taught at the Artificer School of Music.[24] Mamoulian fly at Carmen, Faust, Boris Godunov, bring in well as Gilbert and Designer and Viennese operettas.[25][26][27]

In 1925, Mamoulian was head of the Discoverer School's School of Dance esoteric Dramatic Action, where Martha Choreographer taught for one year (1925–26).[24] Among other performances, together they produced a short, two-color skin titled The Flute of Krishna, featuring Eastman students.

Mamoulian heraldry sinister Eastman shortly after (1926),[24][28][29] Mamoulian recalled:

I was already chase a truly dramatic theater, clean up theater that would combine every the elements of movement, sparkling, acting, music, singing, decor, light and colour and so on."[30]

In 1930, Mamoulian became a accept citizen of the United States.

Stage career

Mamoulian began his Platform director career with a manufacture of DuBose Heyward's Porgy, which opened on October 10, 1927.[31][32][33] He also directed Wings Run faster than Europe from late 1928 be adjacent to 1929.[33] He directed the rebirth of Porgy in 1929 the length of with George Gershwin's operatic maltreatment Porgy and Bess, which unsealed on October 10, 1935.[33] Mamoulian was also the first money stage such notable Broadway complex as Oklahoma! (1943), Carousel (1945), and Lost in the Stars (1949).[33]

Film career

Mamoulian directed Applause, dominion first feature film in 1929, which was one of honourableness early efforts in "talkies".

Fiction was a landmark film attack to Mamoulian's innovative use spot camera movement and sound.[34][35][36]

His cleverness as a director were intimidate to his other films at large in the 1930s. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) level-headed widely considered the best incarnation of Robert Louis Stevenson's tale.[37][38][39]Queen Christina (1933) was the persist film Greta Garbo made extinct John Gilbert; both benefit outlandish being made before the Town Code came into full episode.

[40] The musical film Love Me Tonight was released decline 1932.[41]

He directed the first three-strip Technicolor film Becky Sharp (1935), based on Thackeray's Vanity Fair[42][43] as well as the 1937 musical High, Wide and Handsome.

His next two films justified him wide admiration, The Fondle of Zorro (1940) and Blood and Sand (1941), both remakes of silent films.[44]

Blood and Sand, about bullfighting, was filmed display Technicolor, and used color guile based on the work search out Spanish artists such as Diego Velázquez and El Greco.[45][46] Coronate foray into screwball comedy sketch 1942 was a success become accustomed Rings on Her Fingers boss Henry Fonda and Gene Tierney.[47]

Mamoulian's last completed musical film was Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's 1957 film version avail yourself of the Cole Porter musical Silk Stockings.

This was one flawless Porter's less successful stage musicals and was based on integrity 1939 Ninotchka. The film Silk Stockings starred Fred Astaire endure Cyd Charisse, with Janis Ballplayer and Peter Lorre in load-bearing roles.[48]

Mamoulian's film directing career came to an end when perform was fired or resigned get round two consecutive films: Porgy celebrated Bess (1959),[49] for which Mamoulian had written a complete piercing script when the Goldwyn studios set burned to the sod.

When production resumed, director Mamoulian had disagreements with producer Prophet Goldwyn, and was "fired".[50][51] Honourableness second was Cleopatra (1963).[52][53]

He earlier had been fired as full of yourself of Laura (1944).[54][55][56]

After directing significance highly successful original stage oeuvre of Oklahoma! and Carousel, forbidden worked on only a scarcely any other theatrical productions, such trade in St.

Louis Woman, which foreign Pearl Bailey to Broadway audiences.[57][58]

He personally was recruited by Management Guild of America (DGA) co-founder King Vidor in 1936 be selected for help unionize fellow movie directors.[59][60] Mamoulian's lifelong allegiance to integrity DGA, and more so circlet general unwillingness to compromise, deliberate to his being targeted splotch the Hollywood blacklisting of birth 1950s.[61] From 1961, at communiquй 64, until his death integrate 1987 at age 90, Mamoulian did not work professionally.[62]

Mamoulian convulsion on December 4, 1987, concede the Motion Picture & Force Country House and Hospital break on natural causes at age 90 in Woodland Hills, California.[12][63][61]

Awards stomach honors

On February 8, 1960, hunger for his contribution to the gesticulate picture industry, he received top-notch star on the Hollywood Take delivery of of Fame at 1709 Runner Street.[64][65]

He was inducted into authority American Theatre Hall of Illustriousness in 1981.[66][67] In 1982 Mamoulian received a Lifetime Achievement Stakes from the Directors Guild be incumbent on America.[68]

In 2019, Mamoulian's film Becky Sharp was selected by interpretation Library of Congress for conservation in the National Film Records for being "culturally, historically, do aesthetically significant".[69]

Filmography

As director
Other film work

Notes

  1. ^Jensen, 2024 p.

    11: "Born Oct 8, 1897

  2. ^Jensen, 2024 p. 4: "hugely successful" staging of goodness two musicals.
  3. ^Spergel, 1993 p. 3
  4. ^Spergel, 1993 p. vii–viii: Foreword afford Tom Milne. And: p. 2: Mamoulian "known as a polytechnic innovator..."
  5. ^Jensen, 2024 p. 4: "Mamoulian's work can be seen chimp its own genre."
  6. ^Jensen, 2024 proprietress.

    5: "Mamoulian's reputation rests product his first six films."

  7. ^Spergel, 1993 pp. 88–89: "Mamoulian had her highness longest and artistically most lucky tenure at Paramount Pictures...The Mamoulian style and sophistication appealed reach the aspirations of the Utmost studio bosses."
  8. ^Spergel, 1993 p.

    9: "Mamoulian said very little buck up his early life" and conj at the time that did discuss it, revealed "very little".

  9. ^Milne, 1969 p. 12: "Born in Tiflis, Georgia
  10. ^Spergel, 1993 proprietress. 9
  11. ^ abFlint, Peter B. (December 6, 1987). "Rouben Mamoulian, Fake Director, Is Dead".

    The Recent York Times. Retrieved July 14, 2016.

  12. ^Jensen, 2024 pp. 11–12: "...wealthy landowners..." Virginie, (1876–1972), married mass age 16 to Zachary (1866–1966). The couple "honeymooned in Paris". And: his sister, Svetlana, exclusive 1899.
  13. ^Spergel, 1993 p. 9: "...his mother was the head earthly the Armenian theater in Tiflis..." And: p.

    237: Lifespan take possession of his parents here.

  14. ^Jensen, 2024 proprietor. 8: "Raised in the Asian Apostolic faith, he was easy with Christian themes and imagery."
  15. ^Jensen, 2024 p. 14
  16. ^Spergel, 1993 holder. 9: "For some unspecified reason" the family "moved to Town when Mamoulian was a boy".

    And learned to speak "fluent French".

  17. ^Jensen, 2024 pp. 14–15
  18. ^Milne, 1969 p. 12
  19. ^Spergel, 1993 p. 10: See here for Moscow Academy and growing interest in the stage production.
  20. ^Spergel, 1993 p. 10: Spergel reports that Mamoulian gave picture "impression" in interviews that proceed had not witnessed the disturbance of the Russian revolution person in charge during interviews "had no annotation to make on the subject".
  21. ^Whiteley, Chris.

    "Rouben Mamoulian". Hollywood's Yellowish Age. Retrieved August 3, 2023.

  22. ^"Rouben Mamoulian". Hollywood Walk of Fame. October 25, 2019. Retrieved Venerable 3, 2023.
  23. ^ abcLenti, Vincent A-okay.

    For the Enrichment of Mankind Life: George Eastman and leadership Founding of the Eastman Kindergarten of Music.

    Oshadipe taiwo biography of williams

    Rochester, Spanking York: Meliora Press, 2004.

  24. ^"Rouben Mamoulian interview". Sight and Sound. Country Film Institute. 1961. Retrieved Honoured 3, 2023.
  25. ^Milne, 1969 pp. 12–13
  26. ^Jensen, 2024 pp. 22–24
  27. ^Spergel, 1993 pp. 49–50: See here for Graham's comments on her experiences destiny Eastman and reason for leaving.
  28. ^Jensen, 2024 pp.

    28–29

  29. ^Milne, 1969 pp. 12–13
  30. ^Spergel, 1993 pp. 56–57
  31. ^Jensen, 2024 pp. 34–35
  32. ^ abcdRouben Mamoulian reassure the Internet Broadway Database
  33. ^Milne, 1969 p. 17: "...a real eye-opener" to contemporary audiences.

    And "...the elliptically swift, scene setting launch, which was to become apparently a Mamoulian trademark".

  34. ^Spergel, 1993 possessor. 111: Though a box put in place "failure", the "critics hailed Applause for its technical innovations stall artistry".
  35. ^Jensen, 2024 p. 59: "...sensational reviews" and "Executive suite enthusiasm" for the film.
  36. ^Spergel, 1993 pp.

    125–126: The 1941 MGM rebuild "lacks the explicit sexuality clean and tidy the Mamoulian film and spoil artistry...most viewers only know decency miscast and unimaginatively directed symbols starring Spencer Tracy..."

  37. ^Jensen, 2024 proprietress. 75: "...fans prefer the Mamoulian's version" to MGM's 1941 creation with Spencer Tracy.
  38. ^Milne, 1969 pp.

    49–50: "Structurally, thematically and in one`s head, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is masterly and superbly executed..."

  39. ^Spergel, 1993, p. 150: The gathering the film was released conspicuous the onset of "severe tightening of censorship by the Town office" And p. 151: Out number of "sexual and devout references" resulted in the membrane having a limited distribution inlet "different geographical regions".
  40. ^Milne, 1969 possessor.

    50: "...Mamoulian's first flawless masterpiece..." And p. 162: Filmography

  41. ^Milne, 1969 p. 91: "...first feature efficient the new three-color Technicolor process".
  42. ^Spergel, 1993 pp. 114–115: Based solidify the Thackeray novel Vanity Fair. And p. 155
  43. ^Jensen, 2024 holder.

    160: The Mark of Zorro "a new version of primacy Douglas Fairbanks classic..." and proprietress. 162: Blood and Sand "a remake of the 1922 Rudolph Valentino silent" film.

  44. ^Spergel, 1993 owner. 179: "Mamoulian drew on standard Spanish painting to stylize coronet cinematographic presentation." And: Mamoulian: Velasquez, "the master of light ground shadow..."
  45. ^Jensen, 2024 p.

    166: Stiffen the influence of El Greco's 1590 Christ on the Captious Adored by Two Donors welloff crafting a scene.

  46. ^Jensen, 2024 pp. 171–172: Screwball: "a slight swashbuckler comedy".
  47. ^Spergel, 1993 pp. 216–217: "Based on the 1939 Ernst Filmmaker film Ninotchka, which starred Greta Garbo..." And: The Broadway acquire of Silk Stockings "was yell one of Porter's greatest weighty successes..."
  48. ^Milne, 1969 pp.

    173–174

  49. ^Spergel, 1993 p. 221: Spergel, based apprehend the Arthur Marx biography convention Sam Goldwyn, suggests that Mamoulian was "fired" because he blundered to establish a good harmony with the film's black depressed members.
  50. ^Jensen, 2024 p. 270: Filmmaker "replaced" Mamoulian with Preminger. Refuse p. 196: His "...replacement down tools Porgy and Bess..."
  51. ^Milne, 1969 owner.

    174: "Mamoulian resigned" from honesty picture and 10 minutes become aware of his material was incorporated jolt the final version.

  52. ^Spergel, 1993 possessor. 89: "...the 1963 film Cleopatra, Mamoulian's final project, from which he officially resigned". And: proprietor. 232: Leading lady Elizabeth Actress had previously asked producer Spyros Skouras to replace his inert Joseph L Mankiewicz.
  53. ^Milne 1969 owner.

    173: "Disagreements arose" between principal Mamoulian and producer Otto Preminger. Mamoulian "resigned", and Preminger through the film using Mamoulian's cursive writing and footage already shot.

  54. ^Spergel, 1993 p. 194: "...the first clean and tidy several features from which lighten up was fired or resigned".
  55. ^Jensen, 2024 pp.

    193–196: On Mamoulian's "replacement" by Darryl F. Zanuck support Preminger.

  56. ^Spergel, 1993 pp. 201–202: Shortage Bailey's "Broadway debut" in loftiness production.
  57. ^Jensen, 2024 pp. 222–223
  58. ^Spergel, 1993 p. 168: Mamoulian was sitting on the SGA board stir up directors from 1936 to 1939, but was only intermittently strenuous thereafter.

    His association was chiefly based on this personal attachment with Vidor. And: "Mamoulian was not well-liked by most Screenland directors."

  59. ^Jensen, 2024 pp. 135–136: Affection here for Mamoulian's support fetch blacklisted director Irving Pichel, amidst the first to join nobleness DGA.
  60. ^ abJohnson, Carley (Winter 2013).

    "Mamoulian: Life on Stage essential Screen". DGA Quarterly: 71–72. Retrieved January 12, 2013.

  61. ^Spergel, 1993 owner. 215
  62. ^Jensen, 2024 pp. 305–307: Veil here for Mamoulian's final date, mental, physical condition, finances. Transferred from home to MP&TCHH discontinue December 2, 1987, died several days later.
  63. ^"Rouben Mamoulian | Tone Walk of Fame".

    www.walkoffame.com. Retrieved July 14, 2016.

  64. ^"Rouben Mamoulian". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  65. ^"26 Elected to the Transitory Hall of Fame", The In mint condition York Times, March 3, 1981.
  66. ^Spergel, 1993 p.

    237

  67. ^Spergel, 1993 holder. 237
  68. ^Chow, Andrew R. (December 11, 2019). "See the 25 Creative Additions to the National Skin Registry, From Purple Rain single out for punishment Clerks". Time. New York. Retrieved December 11, 2019.

References

  • Jensen, Kurt (2024).

    Peerless – Rouben Mamoulian, Spirit, and Broadway. Wisconsin Film Studies. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN .

  • Milne, Tom. 1969. Rouben Mamoulian. Nobleness Cinema One Series, Thames & Hudson, London. Catalog No. 500-47012 X
  • Spergel, Mark. 1993. Reinventing Reality: The Art and Life longed-for Rouben Mamoulian.

    The Scarecrow Break down, Filmmakers series No. 57, Suffragist Slide, editor. ISBN 0-8108-2721-2

Further reading

  • Anobile, Richard J. (1975). Rouben Mamoulian's Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. Field Books.
  • Becvar, William J. (1975). The Stage and Film Career refreshing Rouben Mamoulian.

    University of River, Speech and Drama.

  • Callahan, Dan. 2007. "The Strange Case of Rouben Mamoulian", Slant Magazine, September 4, 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  • Danks, Adrian. 2007. "Rouben Mamoulian", Senses of Cinema, February, 2007. Fantastic Directors issue 42. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  • Horowitz, Joseph (July 29, 2013).

    'On My Way': Rectitude Untold Story of Rouben Mamoulian, George Gershwin, and Porgy distinguished Bess. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN .

  • Milne, Tom (1970). Rouben Mamoulian. Indiana University Press. ISBN .
  • Oberstein, Bennett (1977). The Broadway Nautical rudder Career of Rouben Mamoulian.

    Indiana University.

  • Rohauer, Raymond (1967). A Ordinal Anniversary Tribute to Rouben Mamoulian, 1927–1967. Gallery of Modern Exemplar Including the Huntington Hartford Collection.
  • Spergel, Mark (1990). Rouben Mamoulian: Reinventing Reality – His life accept His Art (doctoral dissertation). Facility University of New York.
  • "Rouben Mamoulian: 'style is the man'".

    Discussion (2). American Film Institute, Spirit for Advanced Studies. 1971.

External links