David O. Selznick
- Known for
- Production
- Born
- May 10, 1902
- Died
- June 22, 1965 (aged 63)
- Birthplace
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia David O. Selznick (May 10, 1902 – June 22, 1965) was an American film producer, screenwriter and film studio executive. He is best known for producing Gone with the Wind (1939) and Rebecca (1940), both earning him an Academy Award for Best Picture. In 1926, Selznick moved to Hollywood, and with the help of his father's connections, he got a job as an assistant story editor at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He left MGM for Paramount Pictures in 1928, where he worked until 1931, when he joined RKO as Head of Production. His years at RKO were fruitful, and he worked on many films, including A Bill of Divorcement (1932), What Price Hollywood? (1932), Rockabye (1932), Bird of Paradise (1932), Our Betters (1933), and King Kong (1933). While at RKO, he also gave George Cukor his directing break. In 1933 he returned to MGM where his father-in-law, Louis B. Mayer, was studio CEO. Mayer established a second prestige production unit for David, parallel to that of powerful Irving Thalberg, who was in poor health. Selznick's unit output included the all star cast movie Dinner at Eight (1933), David Copperfield (1935), Anna Karenina (1935), and A Tale of Two Cities (1935). Selznick went on to make more films at MGM, Paramount and RKO, but he wanted more independence and formed Selznick International Pictures in 1935. Here he produced classics such as Gone with the Wind. Gone with the Wind overshadowed the rest of Selznick's career. Later, he was convinced that he had wasted his life trying to outdo it. The closest he came to matching the film was with Duel in the Sun (1946) featuring future wife Jennifer Jones in the role of the primary character Pearl. With a huge budget, the film is known for causing moral upheaval because of the then risqué script written by Selznick. And though it was a troublesome shoot with a number of directors, the film would be a major success. The film was the second highest-grossing film of 1947 and was the first movie that Martin Scorsese saw, inspiring Scorsese's own directorial career.
Known For
Filmography
A Farewell to Arms
Movie · Producer
Indiscretion of an American Wife
Movie · Executive Producer
The Third Man
Movie · Executive Producer
Portrait of Jennie
Movie · Producer
The Paradine Case
Movie · Producer
Duel in the Sun
Movie · Producer
Spellbound
Movie · Producer
The Fighting Generation
Movie · Producer
Since You Went Away
Movie · Producer
Rebecca
Movie · Producer
Gone with the Wind
Movie · Producer
Made for Each Other
Movie · Producer
Intermezzo: A Love Story
Movie · Producer
Joan Fontaine Wardrobe Test
Movie · Producer
The Young in Heart
Movie · Producer
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Movie · Producer
A Star Is Born
Movie · Producer
The Prisoner of Zenda
Movie · Producer
Nothing Sacred
Movie · Producer
The Garden of Allah
Movie · Producer
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Movie · Producer
Imogene Coca Screen Test
Movie · Producer
David Copperfield
Movie · Producer
A Tale of Two Cities
Movie · Producer
Reckless
Movie · Producer
Anna Karenina
Movie · Producer
Viva Villa!
Movie · Producer
Manhattan Melodrama
Movie · Producer
Christopher Strong
Movie · Producer
Our Betters
Movie · Producer
Dinner at Eight
Movie · Producer
Scarlet River
Movie · Executive Producer
Lucky Devils
Movie · Executive Producer
The Cheyenne Kid
Movie · Executive Producer
The Great Jasper
Movie · Producer
Topaze
Movie · Producer
Sweepings
Movie · Producer
The Past of Mary Holmes
Movie · Executive Producer
Cross Fire
Movie · Producer
Dancing Lady
Movie · Executive Producer
Night Flight
Movie · Executive Producer
Meet the Baron
Movie · Producer
King Kong
Movie · Executive Producer
The Age of Consent
Movie · Executive Producer
The Most Dangerous Game
Movie · Executive Producer
Symphony of Six Million
Movie · Executive Producer
The Half-Naked Truth
Movie · Executive Producer
Roar of the Dragon
Movie · Executive Producer
The Sport Parade
Movie · Executive Producer
Rockabye
Movie · Executive Producer
Young Bride
Movie · Executive Producer
The Roadhouse Murder
Movie · Executive Producer
The Conquerors
Movie · Executive Producer
The Phantom of Crestwood
Movie · Executive Producer
What Price Hollywood?
Movie · Executive Producer
The Lost Squadron
Movie · Executive Producer
Bird of Paradise
Movie · Executive Producer
The Animal Kingdom
Movie · Producer
State's Attorney
Movie · Executive Producer
Is My Face Red?
Movie · Executive Producer
A Bill of Divorcement
Movie · Executive Producer
Thirteen Women
Movie · Executive Producer
Hold 'Em Jail
Movie · Executive Producer
Hell's Highway
Movie · Executive Producer
Renegades of the West
Movie · Executive Producer
The Penguin Pool Murder
Movie · Executive Producer
Westward Passage
Movie · Executive Producer
Secrets of the French Police
Movie · Executive Producer
Little Orphan Annie
Movie · Producer
Street of Chance
Movie · Producer
Chinatown Nights
Movie · Associate Producer
The Dance of Life
Movie · Associate Producer
The Man I Love
Movie · Producer
The Four Feathers
Movie · Associate Producer
Roulette
Movie · Producer
The Glorious Lady
Movie · Producer