George Stevens

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

George Stevens (December 18, 1904 - March 8, 1975) was an American motion picture director, producer, writer and cinematographer. Born in Oakland, California, Stevens broke into the movie business as a cameraman, working on many Laurel and Hardy shorts. His first feature film was The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble in 1933.

In 1934 he got his first directing job, the slapstick Kentucky Kernels. His big break came when he directed Katharine Hepburn in Alice Adams in 1935. He went on in the late 1930s to direct several Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire movies, not only with the two actors together, but on their own.

Following World War II, in which he photographed the graphic scenes at the Dachau concentration camp, his films became more dramatic. I Remember Mama in 1948 was the last movie with comic scenes that he made. He was responsible for such classic films as A Place in the Sun, Shane, The Diary of Anne Frank, Giant and The Greatest Story Ever Told.

Stevens is the father of TV and film writer, producer, and director George Stevens, Jr., and the grandfather of TV and film producer and director Michael Stevens.

Stevens died on his ranch in Lancaster, California.

[edit] Academy Awards and Nominations

• 1960 - Nominated - Best Director - The Diary of Anne Frank
• 1960 - Nominated - Best Picture - The Diary of Anne Frank
• 1957 - Won Best Director - Giant
• 1957 - Nominated Best Picture - Giant
• 1954 - Won Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
• 1954 - Nominated Best Director - Shane
• 1954 - Nominated Best Picture - Shane
• 1951 - Won Best Director - A Place in the Sun
• 1951 - Nominated Best Picture - A Place in the Sun
• 1944 - Nominated Best Director - The More the Merrier
• 1944 - Nominated Best Picture - The More the Merrier
• 1943 - Nominated Best Picture - The Talk of the Town

Stevens has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1701 Vine Street.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Books

• George Stevens: Interviews (2004), Paul Cronin
• Giant: George Stevens, a Life on Film (2004), Marilyn Ann Moss

[edit] External link

• George Stevens at the Internet Movie Database
• Article about George Stevens