Wyler, William, 1902-1981

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Moving-picture director; interviewee d. 1981.

From the description of Reminiscences of William J. Wyler : oral history, 1971. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122569553

Willy Wyler was born July 1, 1902 in Mulhouse Alsace-Lorraine; he traveled to America at the invitation of cousin Carl Laemmle, 1920, and became a US citizen, 1928; worked in the publicity dept. at Universal, NY and transferred to Universal City, Hollywood, 1921, where he apprenticed many jobs; he was asst. director at Universal, 1924 and directed his first film, Crook buster, 1925, and his first feature, Lazy lightning, 1926; during his first two years as a director he made more than 40 two-reel westerns; began his association with Samuel Goldwyn in 1936; the making of These three (1936) marked his first collaboration with cameraman Gregg Toland, who worked in many of Wyler's films; he served as a Major in US Army Air Corps, 1942-45 and later helped found the Committee for the First Amendment to counteract the Hollywood investigation by House Un-American Activities Committee, 1947; with numerous directorial credits, he retired from directing in 1973; awards include Academy Award best direction for Mrs. Miniver (1942), The best years of our lives (1946), and Ben Hur (1959), the Irving G. Thalberg award (1965), and the American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement award (1976); died July 29, 1981.

From the description of Papers, 1925-1975. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 39846061

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf McGinley, Phyllis, 1905-1978. Lillian Hellman Papers, 1904-1984 (bulk 1934-1984). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Wyler, William, 1902-1981. Papers, 1925-1975. University of California, Los Angeles
creatorOf Goetz, Ruth. Ruth and Augustus Goetz papers, 1930-1966. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Hellman, Lillian, 1905-1984. These three : (Hellman story), 1935. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Erskine, Albert, 1911-1993. Albert Erskine papers, 1930-1999. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Hayes, Joseph. The desperate hours : screenplay, 1954 Sept. 20 / by Joseph Hayes ; from the novel and play by Joseph Hayes. Ohio State University Libraries
referencedIn Brooke Hayward collection of noncommercial recordings The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn Lillian Hellman Papers TXRC05-A10005., 1904-1984 (bulk 1934-1984) Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Goetz, Ruth Goodman. Papers, 1916-1983. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Ruth and Augustus Goetz papers, 1930-1966 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Wyler, William, 1902-1981. Reminiscences of William J. Wyler : oral history, 1971. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Silliphant, Stirling, 1918-1996. The liberation of Lord Byron Jones : a screenplay / by Stirling Silliphant and Jesse Hill Ford ; from the novel by Jesse Hill Ford ; director, William Wyler ; producer, Ronald Lubin. HCL Technical Services, Harvard College Library
referencedIn Lothar and Eva Just Film Stills Collection. Harvard Film Archive, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Swett, Samuel, 1774-1853. Papers, 1743-1847. Gadsden Public Library
referencedIn Shumlin, Herman, 1898-. Papers, 1930-1968. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Hayes, John Michael, 1919-2008. The children's hour, 1961 May 23 / by Lillian Hellman ; first revised screenplay, John Michael Hayes. Ohio State University Libraries
creatorOf Silliphant, Stirling, 1918-1996. The liberation of Lord Byron Jones : a screenplay / by Stirling Silliphant ; from the novel by Jesse Hill Ford ; producer, Ronald Lubin. HCL Technical Services, Harvard College Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Erskine, Albert, 1911-1993. person
associatedWith Goetz, Ruth person
associatedWith Goetz, Ruth. person
associatedWith Goetz, Ruth Goodman. person
associatedWith Hayes, John Michael, 1919-2008. person
associatedWith Hayes, Joseph. person
associatedWith Hayward, Brooke, 1937- person
associatedWith Hellman, Lillian, 1905-1984 person
associatedWith Higham, Charles, person
associatedWith McGinley, Phyllis, 1905-1978. person
associatedWith Shumlin, Herman, 1898- person
associatedWith Silliphant, Stirling, 1918-1996 person
associatedWith Swett, Samuel, 1774-1853. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Actresses
Motion picture producers and directors
Motion picture producers and directors
Motion pictures
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1902-07-01

Death 1981-07-27

Americans

English

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