Grot, Anton, 1884-1974

Antocz Franciszek Groszewski was born in Kelbasice, Poland, Jan. 18, 1884; attended the Technical College in Königsberg, Germany majoring in interior decoration, illustration, and design; came to the US, 1909; started his film career in 1913 when he was hired by the Lubin Co. to paint and design sets; moved to Los Angeles in 1922; head of the Warner Bros. Studio Art Department (1927); worked on a variety of films such as The private lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1938), Captain Blood (1935), The sea hawk (1940), and Mildred Pierce (1945); was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and in 1941 received a special Scientific/Technical Oscar for his invention of a water ripple and wave illusion machine first utilized in The sea hawk; retired 1948; died March 21,1974.

From the description of Papers, 1920-1950. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 38291339

Biography

Antocz Franciszek Groszewski was born in Kelbasice, Poland, January 18, 1884; attended the Technical College in Königsberg, Germany majoring in interior decoration, illustration, and design; came to the U.S., 1909; started his film career in 1913 when he was hired by the Lubin Company to paint and design sets; moved to Los Angeles in 1922; head of the Warner Brothers Studio Art Department (1927); worked on a variety of films such as The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1938), Captain Blood (1935), The Sea Hawk (1940), and Mildred Pierce (1945); was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and in 1941 received a special Scientific/Technical Oscar for his invention of a water ripple and wave illusion machine first utilized in The Sea Hawk ; retired 1948; died March 21, 1974.

Biographical Narrative

Anton Grot, motion picture art director, was head of the Art Department at Warner Brothers Studios from 1927-1948. Born in Kelbasice, Poland, and educated in Germany, Grot emigrated to the United States in 1909. He began his career in motion picture design when he was hired by the Lubin Company to paint and design sets. After working with directors such as Cecil B. DeMille and William K. Howard, Grot began his long association with Warner Brothers in 1927. He worked on a variety of films, including historical epics such as The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1938), contemporary dramas such as Mildred Pierce (1945) and romantic adventure films, most notably Captain Blood (1935) and The Sea Hawk (1940).

Lilace Hatayama, January 1979

From the guide to the Anton Grot Papers, 1920-1950, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)