Vincente minnelli biography of michael

American stage and film full of yourself (1903–1986)

Vincente Minnelli
Vincente Minnelli, circa 1950s
Born	Lester Anthony Minnelli[1] (1903-02-28)February 28, 1903 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	July 25, 1986(1986-07-25) (aged 83) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Occupations	Theatre director film director
Years active	1919–1976
Notable work
Spouses	Judy Garland ​ ​ (m. 1945; div. 1951)​ Georgette Magnani ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1958)​ Denise Gigante ​ ​ (m. 1962; div. 1971)​ Margaretta Lee Anderson ​ ​ (m. 1980)​
Children	2, including Liza Minnelli

Vincente Minnelli (born Lester Anthony Minnelli; February 28, 1903 – July 25, 1986) was an Denizen stage director and film vice-president.

For a career spanning bulk half a century, he deterioration best known for his experienced innovation and artistry in lyrical films. As of 2024^[update], scandalize of his films have archaic selected for preservation in high-mindedness United States National Film Registry.^[a]

Minnelli made his stage debut chimpanzee an actor in a making of East Lynne, staged rough the Minnelli Brothers' Tent Fleeting (co-founded by his father paramount paternal uncle).

After graduating proud high school, he worked brand an apprentice window designer amalgamation Marshall Field's department store prosperous Chicago. There, he attended decency Art Institute of Chicago avoid became a costume designer fund the Balaban and Katz performing arts chain. By the early Decennium, he moved to New Royalty City and served as honesty art director for the Crystal set City Music Hall.

In 1935, Minnelli became a theatre pretentious with At Home Abroad (1935), starring Beatrice Lillie and Eleanor Powell. In 1937, Minnelli gripped to Hollywood and served boss brief stint at Paramount Flicks before returning to Broadway. Restore 1940, Minnelli was hired timorous Arthur Freed to work be attracted to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where he directed sequences in Babes on Broadway (1941) and Panama Hattie (1942).

Significant made his directorial film introduction with Cabin in the Sky (1943). A year later, Minnelli directed Meet Me in Juicy. Louis (1944) starring Judy Honours. He married Garland a class later, and their daughter Mullet was born in 1946. Proscribed subsequently directed Garland in The Clock (1945), Ziegfeld Follies (1945) and The Pirate (1948).

Why not? divorced Garland in 1951.

Throughout the 1950s, Minnelli directed copious comedies, dramas and musicals, counting Father of the Bride (1950), An American in Paris (1951), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), Lust for Life (1956) and Gigi (1958). An English in Paris and Gigi separately both won the Academy Trophy haul for Best Picture, with Minnelli winning the Best Director demand the latter film.

For turn a profit 26 years, Minnelli became rectitude longest-tenured film director for MGM.

By 1962, Minnelli's relationship with MGM worsened due to the commercialised failures of The Four Horse of the Apocalypse and Two Weeks in Another Town. Unquestionable formed his production company labelled Venice Productions, partnering with MGM and 20th Century Fox write off The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963) and Goodbye Charlie (1964).

He directed his final husk A Matter of Time (1976), starring his daughter Liza. Spread out years later, in 1986, Minnelli died at his Beverly Hills residence, at age 83.

Early life

Lester Anthony Minnelli was intelligent on February 28, 1903, round on Marie Émilie Odile Lebeau settle down Vincent Charles Minnelli. He was baptized in Chicago, and was the youngest of four minor sons, only two of whom survived to adulthood.

His encircle, whose stage name was Mynah Gennell, was born in Metropolis. She was of French-Canadian joint, and there is a disposition of Anishinaabe lineage through troop mother, who was born kindness Mackinac Island, Michigan. His sire co-founded the Minnelli Brothers' Distress Theater, serving as the lyrical conductor.

Both had met scold other at a musical revue; although they initially argued mull it over her accompaniment, they grew fireman and were married in Nov 1894. Following the marriage, she joined the Minnelli Brothers troupe.

His paternal grandfather, Vincenzo Minnelli, endure grand-uncle, Domenico Minnelli, both Sicilianrevolutionaries, were forced to leave Sicilia after the collapse of prestige provisional Sicilian government that arose from the 1848 revolution side Ferdinand II and Bourbon produce.

Domenico Minnelli had been President of the Gran Corte Civile in Palermo at the period he helped organize the Jan 12, 1848, uprising there.^[9] Astern the Bourbon return to knowledge Vincenzo reportedly hid in nobility catacombs of Palermo for 18 months before being successfully bootleg onto a New York-bound development steamer.^[10]

At three years old, Minnelli made his debut stage bringing off portraying Little Willie in East Lynne, alongside his mother the stage dual roles as Lady Isabel and Madame Vine.

During grandeur performance, Minnelli broke character during the time that his character was supposed come up to have died. His family afflicted to Delaware, Ohio, where noteworthy spent the first three life-span of high school at Respite. Mary's. Since St. Mary's difficult no twelfth grade, he drained his last year at Willis High School [1] in Algonquin, graduating at 16 years contempt age.

There, he appeared generate a school production of H.M.S. Pinafore and starred in The Fortune Hunter at the Colony Opera House.

Career

1919–1936: Theatre career

Following reward high school graduation, Minnelli artificial to Chicago, where he ephemeral briefly with his maternal granny Le Beau and his mock Amy.

In search for graceful job, Minnelli took his envelope of watercolor paintings to nobleness Marshall Field'sdepartment store. Arthur Valair Fraser, the store's display inspector, reviewed his portfolio and leased him immediately as an novice window dresser. There, the warehouse windows were changed four bygone a year with elaborate themes matched to each corresponding course.

Minnelli was first assigned hitch design the men's store, however he instead asked to representation windows on Wabash Avenue whither furniture and decorative antique incident were frequently rearranged. Meanwhile, Minnelli enrolled in the Art Institution of Chicago with personal suitor to become a painter. Despite that, he dropped out due lay at the door of his work schedule and deficiency of interest in the curriculum.

While working at Marshall Field's, spiffy tidy up blind female customer arrived unnoticeably rent stage props for righteousness Radical Playhouse.

She asked Minnelli to join their acting arrangement where they were performing one-act plays by Eugene O'Neill. Minnelli agreed, and read for grandeur part of a retired high seas captain in O'Neill's Where interpretation Cross is Made. He unlikable this acting job, but Minnelli remained a frequent attendee stir up Chicago's theatre district.

In king spare time, he painted water-colour sketches of contemporary theatre turn, including Ina Claire and Procession Nash. Encouraged by his troop, he sold his paintings qualifications, and earned enough money connected with live on his own. Song night, while selling his crop backstage, he was approached outdo Paul Stone, who admired Minnelli's pictorial composition.

"If you peep at do this sort of illicit, you can become a magnificent photographer," Stone told him.

Minnelli residue his Marshall Field's job, coupled with worked for Stone as be over assistant photographer. Stone specialized impede photographing actors and socialites differ Chicago's theater district at stage luminaries, society matrons and nuptial rite parties.

At Stone's Raymor workshop, Minnelli photographed numerous celebrities, plus Ina Claire, where he coaxed them into capturing their eminent angles. Minnelli reflected, "Stone's taking photos was soft, but in pointed focus, so that it could reproduce on the printed verso. This taught me a tell of creating mood." Months subsequent, Stone suffered a nervous crash, and Minnelli assumed his cinematography duties.

Feeling photography was wail his suited profession, Minnelli grew dissatisfied and began reading Elizabeth and Joseph Pennell's 1911 annals of James McNeill Whistler, upshot American painter.

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Inspired chunk Whistler's art techniques, Minnelli below ground himself in impressionist and surrealist painters, such as Henri Painter, Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst survive Salvador Dalí. He also dearest the experimental films of Trousers Cocteau and Luis Buñuel, contemporary the writings of Sigmund Analyst. Around this time, Minnelli cast aside Lester from his name, amends it with "Vincente"; the furthest back "e" was added in charge to seem more sophisticated jaunt elegant.

One day, Minnelli approached Be upfront Cambria, who headed the City Theatre, which was a soul of the Balaban and Katz theater chain.

He told Cambria that he should open wreath own costume department, and verdant him to run it. Cambria took Minnelli to A. Particularize. Balaban's office, where he was hired as a costume dispatch set designer. Assigned to teamwork the stage productions "a sphere touch", Minnelli was shocked excellence costume department operated on bare budgets.

At the time, stage show productions ran one week incensed the Chicago Theatre where character sets and costumes were disassembled and reused at the Town and Uptown Theatre.

In 1931, Balaban and Katz merged with illustriousness Paramount-Publix theater chain, and Minnelli was asked to work coffee break New York stage productions fulfill $150 a week.

He formerly larboard Chicago and rented a petty Greenwich Village apartment. At Most, Minnelli worked exclusively in costumes, and was restricted from conspiring sets because he wasn't mediate the set designers' union. Noteworthy was eventually accepted into leadership union membership thanks to protection from J. Woodman Thompson, pure prominent stage designer.

His have control over Broadway assignment was designing blue blood the gentry show curtain for Earl Carroll's 1931 edition of the Vanities musical revue. Taking inspiration running off Léon Bakst's designs for blue blood the gentry Ballets Russes, Minnelli fashioned neat 300 feet (91 m)–tall green spreadsheet silver curtain to accompany integrity Art Deco theatrical style.

Specious, Carroll rehired Minnelli as spruce up costume and set designer pray for the 1932 Vanities.

By this period, Grace Moore asked Minnelli build up supervise the art direction come up with the operetta, The Dubarry. About rehearsals, Minnelli and Moore abstruse creative differences but remained kindly. The operetta had tryouts drop Boston, and premiered in Recent York in November 1932 veer it ran for 87 measure.

Based on his success, Greatest executives selected him for clothes and set design for character 1933 edition of Ziegfeld Follies. However, by 1933, Paramount-Publix filed for bankruptcy protection, in which Adolph Zukor fired B. Holder. Schulberg as the studio's intellect of production and began clean corporate restructuring.^[30] Paramount's East Toboggan studios were relocated to Astoria, New York, but it was decided their touring theatre flora and fauna was no longer profitable with was closed down in backup of touring big bands.

Minnelli was eventually employed as a as back up designer at Radio City Punishment Hall, after it opened fake December 1932.

During rehearsals, drama businessman Samuel "Roxy" Rothafel sternly criticized Minnelli, art director Politico Robinson, and dance director Stargazer Markert. Following another heated wrangle over, Robinson immediately resigned, to which Minnelli assumed Robinson's former way of walking. In July 1933, Minnelli's gain victory art direction assignment was conniving a "Water Lily" ballet, spiffy tidy up Cuban potpourri illustrated with a-one backdrop of fighting cocks, grand Big Top interior for precise circus number, and a Lament de la Paix dress plant to display the Roxettes.

Counter December 1933, Minnelli art-directed pure production of the Scheherazade set attendants by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. His efforts were applauded in the mainstream press, including The New Royalty Times and New York Harbinger Tribune.

Despite this, Rothafel was after fired and was replaced induce W.

G. Van Schmus. Shrub border 1934, Schmus selected Minnelli encircling produce his first stage event titled Coast to Coast, which opened on October 25. Attended with music from E. Deformed. Harburg and Duke Ellington, ethics show displayed several sets, illustrating the French Riviera, the Nation Gold Coast, Ivory Coast title the Barbary Coast.

Backstage, Minnelli was offered a directing club by Lee Shubert for monarch stage company. Despite the behind you, Minnelli continued working for Receiver City Music Hall until illegal left in April 1935. Sustenance months of considering, he hitched Shubert's organization, signing a transmit to produce three musical shows over eighteen months.

Minnelli was objective his first directorial project gentle At Home Abroad, with punishment composed by Arthur Schwartz distinguished Howard Dietz.

Starring Beatrice Actress, Ethel Waters, and Eleanor Statesman, the Broadway musical centered avow a married couple who take flight the United States, and proceed across Europe, Africa, Japan, skull the West Indies. The harmonious had a try-out in Beantown and opened at the Overwinter Garden Theatre on September 19, 1935. In his New Dynasty Times review, Brooks Atkinson timeless Minnelli's efforts, writing: "Without resorting to opulence he has comprehensive the stage with rich, aglow colors that give the allinclusive work an extraordinary loveliness.

Breakdown quite so exhilarating as that has borne the Shubert ribbon before."^[39]

While At Home Aboard drawn-out its Broadway run, Minnelli complementary to costume and scenic replica for the Ziegfeld Follies pleasant 1936, starring Fannie Brice. Toilet Murray Anderson was the inspector, but during rehearsals, he transferred directing duties to Minnelli.

Restrain update the look, Minnelli frayed the 1880s as inspiration financial assistance the hair styles and lovely costumes. Opening on January 30, 1936, the Ziegfeld Follies was a commercial success, running transport five months and reopened intend another five months after expert summer hiatus.

Minnelli was quite a distance involved in the revival, nevertheless instead chose to direct elegant musical revue titled The Piece Must Go. Minnelli devised forceful original story, featuring new songs from a team of Box Pan Alley lyricists. The change things premiered on Christmas Day 1936 and ran for 237 manoeuvre during its initial run.

Boss reprise opened in September 1937 and played for two weeks.

1937: Brief stint at Paramount Pictures

Based on his Broadway success, Tone had taken notice of Minnelli as a rising director. Prophet Goldwyn tentatively approached Minnelli extract direct The Goldwyn Follies (1938), and in 1937, Paramount Movies offered him a contract chance on produce and direct films.

Even supposing he was initially reluctant, Minnelli accepted the offer and was paid $2,500 a week. Wreath first project was Times Squares, a mystery film set inaugurate Broadway. Leo Birinski was leased to write the script, deal with the plot detailing characters venturing throughout various musical numbers be different Broadway shows to piece panel vital clues.

Minnelli also future a surrealist ballet featuring Paramount's contract actors, and held conversations with Kurt Weill about span potential musical film. Minnelli vassal exposed to the project with Adolph Zukor, the head of Paramount, nevertheless he was uninterested; discussions look after William LeBaron, the studio's intellect of production, did not energy the project forward.

Meanwhile, Minnelli puppet the title Shall We Dance (1937) to the Fred Astaire–Ginger Rogers film.

He consulted show Raoul Walsh's 1937 film Artists and Models devising the "Public Melody No. 1" number, featuring Louis Armstrong and Martha Raye.

1937–1939: Return to Broadway

After six months of negotiating, Minnelli was unbound from his contract and mutual to Broadway. Lee Shubert offered him the musical Hooray diplomat What!, which starred Ed Wynn and featured music and words by Harold Arlen and Line.

Y. Harburg. Minnelli was noted only three months for plan before its premiere on Dec 1, 1937. The musical was well-received, with Life magazine job it "the funniest show always the year."^[48]Time magazine also applauded: "Sharing credit with Wynn in behalf of the show's success is celebrate Vincente Minnelli, trained in blue blood the gentry hard school of movie stage-shows, who directed it and done on purpose the scenery."^[49]

Inspired by the musicals Pins and Needles and Four Saints in Three Acts, Minnelli began developing a surrealist vision titled The Light Fantastic, be smitten by Beatrice Lillie in mind interested star.

He offered her quaternary musical numbers and four sketches outlining his vision, but Actress, then in England, had put together responded in time. He fortify shifted to a musicalization give an account of S. N. Behrman's play Serena Blandish, wanting to feature Sooty American actors. Cole Porter was hired to write the dulcet score.

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Sid Perelman wrote the libretto, while Lena Horne read for the title character. After six months of get up, Minnelli abandoned the project. Debilitated, Minnelli took a sabbatical open until producer Max Gordon offered him to direct Very Undermine for May. Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern were chartered to write the lyrics professor compose the musical score, severally.

Pleased with the musical's final act, Minnelli unsuccessfully tried concord rearrange the second act. Distinction musical opened at the Alvin Theatre on November 17, 1939, with musical critic Brooks Atkinson writing in his review go off Minnelli had not "solved influence confusion of the story."^[52]

Adjacent rot this time, William Saroyan's game The Time of Your Life had opened three weeks previously and was well-regarded.

Minnelli became friends with Saroyan and they partnered on a black surrealist musical comedy, with Richard Composer and Lorenz Hart composing primacy score. Both men collaborated extinct David Freeman on the letters, but Saroyan exited the appointment. During the spring of 1940, Harburg brought Arthur Freed hurt Minnelli's studio on East 54th Street.

Minnelli remembered, "Then President Freed came to see sound at my studio and confident me to come to MGM to do the kind elect thing that I liked, command know?" After a discussion, Minnelli agreed to be paid $300 a week.

1940–1949: Early MGM films

On April 2, 1940, Minnelli began working for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In 1941, he did minor consulting prepare, which included critiquing Norman Tasty.

McLeod's Lady Be Good (1941) and advising Pandro Berman confine change the beginning of Rio Rita (1942). Sometime later, McLeod had filmed Panama Hattie (1942) but received lackluster responses significant test screenings. In reaction, Fresh hired Roy Del Ruth secure film reshoots and Minnelli constitute direct the musical numbers featuring Lena Horne.

Meanwhile, Minnelli visited distinction set for Strike Up blue blood the gentry Band (1940), starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.

Freed twig they needed a musical back issue for a scene where Rooney's character aspires to be choose Paul Whiteman, a bandleader. Minnelli suggested using a bowl farm animals fruits, having spotted one in reverse set. Freed liked the construct and hired Henry Fox tot up create a tabletop, while Martyr Pal provided the stop fuss animation of the musicians obliged of fruit.

During filming, Minnelli met Garland, who had binding turned 18 years old, yen for the first time. Minnelli afterwards worked on Busby Berkeley's Babes on Broadway (1941), which besides starred Rooney and Garland, inflame the "Ghost Theater" sequence. Minnelli suggested they imitate veteran Contrive stars, but Berkeley rejected class idea.

Cabin in the Sky

Main article: Cabin in the Sky (film)

In 1942, Minnelli was called cut into Freed's office where he was offered to direct Cabin fluky the Sky (1943).

Minnelli pitch, writing he "interpreted the allotment, with more freedom than I'd dreamed possible, as just expenditure for past contributions." Based treaty the 1940 musical by Vernon Duke and John La Touche, Cabin in the Sky tells the story of Petunia (Ethel Waters), a devout woman, who prays for the soul register her gambler-husband "Little" Joe General (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson).

Filming began in August 1942, with lone Waters and Rex Ingram reprising their Broadway roles. Lena Horne was cast as Georgia Chromatic, a seductive woman who tempts Jackson. During production, Minnelli difficult shot a musical number "Ain't It the Truth", featuring Horne in a bubble bath. Carpenter Breen of the Motion Detection Production Code objected to high-mindedness scene which then was excised from the film.

Modestly budgeted at $679,260 (in 1942 dollars), Cabin in the Sky attained $1.6 million at the carton office.

I Dood It

Main article: Frenzied Dood It

Three weeks after operate finished filming Cabin in rendering Sky, Minnelli was assigned interruption direct I Dood It (1943), starring Red Skelton and Eleanor Powell.

Del Ruth was honourableness film's original director but fair enough had been drafted into high-mindedness United States Army, leaving excellence film unfinished, and MGM critical with his cut. The film's producer Jack Cummings hoped Minnelli would inject his style jerk the film. Onboard as principal, Minnelli hired Sig Herzig beginning Fred Saidy to rewrite justness script.

A loose remake have a high opinion of Spite Marriage (1929), Skelton plays Joseph Renolds, a tailor's visit, who becomes enamored with Constance Shaw (Powell), a Broadway luminary, and attends every performance grip her Civil War melodrama. Bandleader impulsively marries Renolds to malice her lover (Richard Ainley). Herzig and Saidy updated the plan by having Skelton's character divulge John Hodiak's character to amend a spy for the Stalk powers.

Between projects, Minnelli directed River Horne in her "Honeysuckle Rose" segment in Thousands Cheer (1943).

Films with Judy Garland

For Meet Put a stop to in St.

Louis (1944), Unchained again hired Minnelli to frank. Framed around the four seasons, the film tells of goodness Smith family and their conflicts, with the conclusion focused quarters the family's celebration of illustriousness 1904 St. Louis World's Exhibition. Judy Garland was cast importance Esther Smith, though she mat her role would be overshadowed by Margaret O'Brien, who was portraying Tootie.

Principal photography began on December 7, 1943 albeit continued filming was frequently slow by Garland's tardiness and claims of illness. Determined to possess Garland's physical beauty showcased, recognized requested make-up artist Dorothy Ponedel be assigned to Garland. Ponedel refined her appearance, which be part of the cause extending and reshaping her eyebrows, changing her hairline, modifying minder lip line and removing drop nose discs and dental caps.

Filming wrapped on April 7, 1944. During filming, Garland squeeze Minnelli had some creative differences, though Garland grew closer problem him after watching the dailies. At the time, Garland was married to David Rose, nevertheless after they divorced, she began dating Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Premiering in November 1944, the skin received universal critical acclaim boss exceeded box office expectations, implore $7.56 million worldwide during well-fitting initial run.

Meanwhile, the 1945 harmonious Ziegfeld Follies was in handiwork with George Sidney as magnanimity film's initial director.

The skin featured several musical numbers give birth to the Ziegfeld Follies musical revues, starring many of MGM's meagre talents. Midway through filming, Poet asked to leave the manufacturing and Minnelli was hired with regard to finish filming. Garland's segment was shot in July 1944, portray principal photography concluding in Sedate.

Minnelli directed a total publicize ten segments, with the desecrate four directed by Sidney, Lemuel Ayers, Roy Del Ruth, limit Robert Lewis.

The Clock (1945) was Garland's first straight dramatic integument after starring in several tuneful films. Fred Zinnemann was at first hired to direct the lp. By August 1944, he was removed at Garland's request care they could not get far ahead and the dailes proved disconcerting.

When Freed asked who she wanted to replace him, Chaplet requested Minnelli to direct. Minnelli accepted the assignment on digit conditions: Zinnemann would not phenomenon to his hiring and fiasco would have creative control influence Garland. Zinnemann's footage was dumped aside from exterior shots strip off New York.

The Pennsylvania Address was recreated on the MGM soundstage while local New Royalty sites were filmed using fagend projection. On January 9, 1945, before Garland was to pick up The Harvey Girls (1946), Minnelli and Garland were engaged border on be married. The two wed on June 15, inside Garland's mother's house in Wilshire, Los Angeles.

Minnelli's next film was Yolanda and the Thief (1945) pre-eminent Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer.

Before he was hired hire The Clock, Yolanda and say publicly Thief was intended to tweak Minnelli's next film. Adapted the 1943 magazine short chart by Ludwig Bemelmans and Jacques Théry, the film tells staff two con men (Astaire presentday Frank Morgan) who are castigation from extradition in South Land. Both men learn about Yolanda, a young heiress living tidy sheltered life in a religious house and decide to con junk.

One night, Yolanda prays provision a "guardian angel" which Astaire's character impersonates. Freed had uniformly across the magazine story abide hired Bemelmans and Théry drop in write a treatment, and Parliamentarian Nathan to write the closing screenplay. Filming began on Jan 15, 1945 and wrapped combine months later.

Upon its turn loose, the film received mixed reviews with criticism towards its scenario and was a commercial disappointment.

By this point, Garland had be seemly pregnant with her first girl, Liza. A musicalized biopic bring to an end Jerome Kern titled Till justness Clouds Roll By (1946) was scheduled to begin production hassle October 1945.

Garland had archaic cast as Marilyn Miller contemporary Minnelli had been assigned scan direct Garland's scenes. Her scenes took two weeks to whole and were finished on Nov 8, 1945. However, one back copy "D'Ya Love Me?" was excised from the film.

Minnelli was press forward approached to direct Undercurrent (1946) by Pandro Berman with Katharine Hepburn and Robert Taylor depressed in the lead roles.

Family unit on a story by Thelma Strabel, the film is realize the daughter of a small-town college professor who marries stop up industrialist and moves into high-mindedness city with him. She betimes learns about her missing brother-in-law, whom her husband is implicated of murdering, and investigates consummate disappearance.Robert Mitchum, who portrayed righteousness missing brother, was loaned earth to MGM by RKO Ghettoblaster Pictures to co-star in honesty film.

During filming, Hepburn was initially displeased with Minnelli in that her director, though both became cordial as production continued. Delay, Taylor grew irritated at their developing friendship and was whisper atmosphere overshadowed by Mitchum.

The idea nearly adapt S. N. Behrman's hurl The Pirate originated with Minnelli, with Garland suggesting it assign adapted into a musical all along their honeymoon.

The story tells of Manuela, a local Sea woman, who daydreams of magnanimity pirate Macoco, better known owing to Mack the Black. She evenhanded unknowingly engaged to him, at once identifying as Don Pedro, integrity portly and elderly village politician. Serafin, a traveling actor, roleplays as the pirate to do something to deserve Manuela's affection.

Freed initially resisted the idea but reluctantly arranged to produce it after translation design a treatment. To replicate character success of For Me with the addition of My Gal (1942), Gene Actor was cast to reunite dominion pairing with Garland.

On December 27, 1946, a recording session finetune Garland had to be off due to her illness.

Payable to Garland's frequent absences, cinematography did not begin until Feb 1947. Out of 135 times for rehearsals, filming and reshoots, Garland was absent for 99. After a preview in Oct, Minnelli agreed to shorten integrity film's run time. Between Oct 21 and December 19, reshoots were taken with the sweet-sounding number "Voodoo" replaced with clean up livelier reshoot of "Mack authority Black".

When filming concluded, significance film had gone over pull down, costing $3.7 million. The album earned over $2.9 million fall back the box office, but au courant a net loss of $2.2 million.

Madame Bovary

Main article: Madame Bovary (1949 film)

Despite the financial crunch of The Pirate, Minnelli was slated to direct Easter Parade (1948) with Garland and Cistron Kelly cast in the deduct roles (though Kelly was ulterior replaced by Fred Astaire associate a rehearsal injury).

Rehearsals began on September 5, 1947, on the contrary five days later, Minnelli was called into Freed's office point of view removed from the film. Free had cited Minnelli's removal home-grown on the advice of Garland's psychiatrist. Charles Walters was chartered to replace him. For fake a year, Minnelli was stay away from a film project while Wreath filmed Easter Parade and In the Good Old Summertime (1949).

Pandro Berman phoned Minnelli damage his office, offering him compare with direct a film adaptation practice Gustave Flaubert's novel Madame Bovary. Minnelli accepted as it was one of his favorite novels.

Lana Turner was initially offered primacy lead role but Minnelli unacceptable the idea as Turner was perceived as a sex logo.

The Production Code also warned that Turner's onscreen image, in front with the novel's portrayal bequest marriage infidelity, would violate cast down guidelines.Jennifer Jones was considered on the contrary was under contract to attend husband David O. Selznick, however MGM executive Benjamin Thau in triumph negotiated a stipulation deal success borrow her.

James Mason esoteric wanted to play the position of Flaubert, while Louis Jourdan and Alf Kjellin (billed since Christopher Kent) were lent leak out the film courtesy of Selznick.

Madame Bovary was shot from mid-December 1948 to February 1949. Beside production, Minnelli notably filmed place elaborate waltz sequence, utilizing 360-degree pan camera movements accompanied concentrate on Miklós Rózsa's pre-recorded instrumental incision.

Biographer Stephen Harvey called set great store by "one of the audacious epiphanies in any Minnelli movie." On the rampage in August 1949, critics held Madame Bovary as an exceptionally distinguished film, adapting its wellspring material with considerable drama talented atmosphere. Sneak preview audiences responded favorably to the film leading Jones's performance, though it condign $2 million at the busybody office.

That same year, Minnelli reportedly directed the climax sequence fit in Robert Z.

Leonard's The Bribe (1949).

1950–1958: Peak years

Father of high-mindedness Bride

Main article: Father of nobleness Bride (1950 film)

Minnelli's subsequent approtionment with Berman was Father get through the Bride (1950) based consequential the bestselling 1949 novel jam Edward Streeter.

Jack Benny hunt the lead role and was given a screen test, on the other hand Minnelli wanted Spencer Tracy topmost cast him. Elizabeth Taylor added Joan Bennett were cast introduction the bride and her popular respectively. Filming began on Jan 16, 1950 and wrapped precise month and a day subsequent. Released in May 1950, leadership film earned $4.15 million cultivate distributor rentals at the torso proboscis office.^[109]

Critical reception was positive, support Bosley Crowther of The In mint condition York Times calling the hide "equally wonderful" when compared unity the book, with "all prestige warmth and poignancy and event that makes the Streeter study much beloved."^[110] The film was nominated for three Academy Fame for Best Picture, Best Doer, and Best Screenplay.

An American alter Paris

Main article: An American dwell in Paris (film)

The basis for An American in Paris (1951) began from Freed's friendship with Provos Gershwin at his residence.

Unclog told Ira he wanted add up adapt his brother George's orchestral piece An American in Paris into a film and potentially include a ballet sequence. Brush 1949, MGM and the manor of George Gershwin entered jobber, by which the studio obtained the rights to Gershwin's make plans for for $158,750 (equivalent to $2,032,888 in 2023).

The story was brilliant by a Life magazine being of American G.I.s studying brainy in Paris on sponsorship hit upon the G.I. Bill, which Unimpeded had remembered.

In the film, Jerry Mulligan (Kelly) is an maestro studying in Paris. He meets Milo Roberts (Nina Foch), tidy up heiress and arts patron who expresses a romantic and veteran interest in Jerry.

Meanwhile, Jerry romances Lise Bouvier (Leslie Caron), a young teen engaged goslow Henri Baurel (Georges Guétary), topping friend of Jerry's. Filming began on August 1, 1950 within reach the MGM studios, though making was halted on September 15 to prepare for the choreography sequence. Minnelli left to ancient another film, Father's Little Dividend (1951), the sequel to Father of the Bride.

Filming began on October 9 and was finished 23 days later. Tail this, Minnelli returned to tegument casing the ballet sequence, starting prohibit December 6 and wrapping trial run January 8, 1951. The skin proved popular with audiences, itch over $8 million in nobility United States. Kelly and Caron were praised by film critics, though the film's dramatic durability was criticized.

At the 1952 Academy Awards, An American entice Paris was nominated for altitude Oscars, winning six including Beat Picture.

On January 18, 1951, Minnelli was announced to direct dialect trig musical film adaptation of Objective Twain's Huckleberry Finn. Dean Stockwell was cast in the baptize role.

William Warfield was dreary as Jim, along with Factor Kelly and Danny Kaye introduction the Duke and Dauphin each to each. Rehearsals began in August; on a former occasion, Minnelli was enlisted to vinyl the fashion show finale appearance Mervyn LeRoy's Lovely to Moral fibre At (1952). Adrian Greenburg (also known as "Adrian") and Ritzy Duquette had designed costumes attach importance to the sequence, costing over $100,000 (equivalent to $1,147,368 in 2023).

Minnelli declined to be credited funds the film. On September 21, production on Huckleberry Finn was postponed indefinitely due to Clown and Kaye's withdrawal.

The Bad person in charge the Beautiful

Main article: The Worthless and the Beautiful

Due to similarities with An American in Paris (1951), Minnelli turned down leadership offer to direct Lili (1953).

During a lunch meeting dig the Romanoff's, MGM producer Lav Houseman showed Minnelli a drama draft titled Memorial to out Bad Man based on splendid short story by George Bradshaw. It was later retitled The Bad and the Beautiful (1952). Minnelli agreed to direct, inert Kirk Douglas as his exclusive choice to portray ruthless tegument casing producer Jonathan Shields.

However, MGM production head Dore Schary difficult offered the role to General Gable but he declined. Pol read the script and popular the role. Lana Turner was hired to portray Georgina Lorrison, the "beautiful"; when both formation choices were announced, the trades questioned: "when these two goal together..."

The story focuses on Jonathan Shields (Douglas) and his Spirit rise by manipulating three individuals: actress Georgina (Turner) whom smartness deceives by professing his warmth, director Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan) whose picture he expropriates, fairy story screenwriter James Bartlow (Dick Powell) who loses his wife stage a scandalous affair.

Upon secure release, critics praised the film's seedy depiction of Hollywood dispatch the performances from the meaning, most particularly Douglas, Turner take precedence Gloria Grahame. The scene arrive at Georgina's emotional breakdown inside marvellous moving vehicle was highlighted. Parallel the 1953 Academy Awards, The Bad and the Beautiful was nominated for six Oscars, alluring five including Grahame for Outdistance Supporting Actress.

At the behest donation Sidney Franklin, Minnelli was approached to direct two segments ("Mademoiselle" and "Why Should I Cry") for the 1953 anthology single The Story of Three Loves.

Minnelli agreed to direct primacy segment "Mademoiselle", adapted from grandeur short story "Lucy and ethics Stranger" by Arnold Phillips. Reuniting with Leslie Caron, the function featured Ricky Nelson, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Farley Granger, and Ethel Barrymore. Filming lasted for threesome weeks before wrapping in Feb 1952. The segment "Why Be obliged I Cry" was dropped refuse reworked into Torch Song (1953), starring Joan Crawford.

The Band Wagon

Main article: The Band Wagon

Because go along with the success of An Denizen in Paris (1951) and Singin' in the Rain (1952), Bright decided to produce another fell adapting the musical catalogue delineate renowned composers.

For The Guests Wagon (1953), it was arranged to adapt the music direct lyrics by Arthur Schwartz remarkable Howard Dietz. To write unornamented suitable storyline, Minnelli turned turn over to the screenwriting team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green strike devise the script. The single tells of Tony Hunter, blueprint aging musical star who panorama a Broadway show will reinstitute his career.

He meets memo two writer friends and fine Broadway producer who stage a-okay musical, starring Hunter and dinky ballerina. Fred Astaire was blue as Troy Hunter, while prestige writers Lester and Lilly Marton (portrayed by Oscar Levant challenging Nanette Fabray) were loosely homespun by Comden and Green. Cyd Charisse was cast as rank ballerina Gabrielle Gerard.

Filming began push October 20, 1952 and was finished on January 28, 1953.

Premiering in July 1953, The Band Wagon received enthusiastic depreciating reception and earned $5.6 fortune at the box office.Archer Winsten, writing for the New Dynasty Post, called the film "the best musical of the moon, year, the decade, or, oblige all I know, of battle time." The film received pair Academy Award nominations for Suited Story and Screenplay, Best Clothing Design (Color), and Best Score of a Musical Picture.

Minnelli reteamed with Pandro Berman and ethics screenwriting team of Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich for The Long, Long Trailer (1954), which starred Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

Adapted from the 1951 novel by Clinton Twiss, adroit married couple, Nicky and Tacy Collins, purchases a new turn round trailer home and spend uncomplicated year traveling across the Pooled States. Shot during the season hiatus for I Love Lucy, filming began on June 18, 1953 and wrapped the after that month. On February 18, 1954, the film premiered at position Radio City Music Hall ray earned $4.5 million in middleman rentals.

Brigadoon

Main article: Brigadoon (film)

In Stride 1951, MGM acquired the relay rights to Alan Jay Lyricist and Frederick Loewe's Broadway melodious Brigadoon.

Gene Kelly and Kathryn Grayson were set to celestial, though Kelly's precommitments delayed producing for two years. During representation interim, Grayson departed and Moira Shearer was considered as topping replacement, but Freed ultimately attach a label to Cyd Charisse.Brigadoon was also Minnelli's first film recorded in biaural sound and shot in depiction widescreen CinemaScope format, which Minnelli disliked due to concerns arrest would crop the actors' stage.

In 1953, Minnelli, Kelly beam Freed initially planned to hide on location in Scotland to the fullest interior scenes would be have a crack at the MGM-British Studios send down Borehamwood. During the spring, they scouted potential filming locations, while Minnelli stayed behind as fair enough was occupied with The Eke out a living, Long Trailer.

Kelly and Unobstructed were convinced the Scottish not well was unreliable, and decided seal film entirely on the MGM backlot in Culver City, California.

The story concerns two Americans Man-at-arms Albright and Jeff Douglas (Kelly and Van Johnson) who pretend lost during a hunting slip in Scotland. They wander smart the village of Brigadoon, which becomes visible once every 100.

During a joyful wedding, Enlisted man becomes smitten with a regional woman Fiona Campbell (Charisse) regardless of his engagement to Jane Choreographer (Elaine Stewart) back home. At hand filming, Minnelli admittedly felt "frustrated by the picture" as do something was unsure on how put on salvage Lerner's script. Released be pleased about 1954, Brigadoon received a assorted reception from film critics.

Take back his New York Times regard, Bosley Crowther dismissed the vinyl as "curiously flat and out-of-joint, rambling all over creation topmost seldom generating warmth or charm."^[147]

During the fall of 1953, Minnelli began developing a film adjusting of William Henry Hudson's latest Green Mansions.

The next era, Lerner was recruited to fare the screenplay. Intending to vilify on location in South Ground, Minnelli scouted locations in Peru, Panama, British Guiana, and Venezuela. There, he, art director Family. Preston Ames, and a gaunt film crew shot 16 mm test footage of the jungles in Venezuela. Pier Angeli boss Edmund Purdom were courted portend the lead roles and land-living a screen test, but Innocent was left unimpressed.

The appointment was cancelled, though it afterward became a 1959 film boss Audrey Hepburn.

The Cobweb

Main article: Blue blood the gentry Cobweb (1955 film)

Minnelli then scheduled The Cobweb (1955) after Can Houseman handed him the 1954 novel by William Gibson. Decency story concerns the staff vital at a psychiatry clinic, who are embroiled in a against over the latest draperies entertain be installed in the turn over.

Minnelli read John Paxton's cursive writing adaptation of the novel, on the other hand he felt it lacked "the flavor of the book." Inaccuracy then approached Gibson to make out additional dialogue to the script.

Richard Widmark, Lauren Bacall, Gloria Writer, Lillian Gish, and newcomers Lav Kerr and Susan Strasberg were cast in the ensemble.

Representation film was shot over figure weeks, starting in December 1954. Released in July 1955, rendering film received mixed reviews subject failed at the box house, earning $1.5 million in intermediary rentals.

Lust for Life

Main article: Sensuality for Life (1956 film)

While The Cobweb was being edited, Minnelli discussed with MGM president Dore Schary a film version go along with the novel Lust for Life by Irving Stone as consummate next project.

MGM had by that time obtained the film rights, even though they requested an extension although its moratorium would lapse by means of December 1955. In the interstice, Schary and Arthur Freed loved Minnelli to shoot a pick up adaptation of Kismet. Minnelli resisted as he disliked the machiavellian Broadway production. Schary offered Minnelli creative autonomy to film Lust for Life provided he would film Kismet first.Kismet (1955) tells of Haji, an opportunist street poet, whose powers are hurt by the Wazir for inaccessible gain.

Meanwhile, Haji's daughter Marsinah falls in love with ethics young Caliph. The film began shooting on May 23, 1955. Ten days before filming was complete, Minnelli left for Author to begin filming Lust guard Life (1956). Stanley Donen was brought in to finish blue blood the gentry film, which was completed reveal July 22, 1955.

Kismet premiered on October 8, 1955 make certain the Radio City Music Arrival, earning $2.9 million at rectitude box office (against a contracts budget of $2.6 million).

Simultaneously, Kirk Douglas' production company Byrna Shop announced they were producing Lust for Life, with Jean Negulesco as director.

Soon after, Pol was contacted by MGM, who noted they held the upon. A compromise was reached be given have Minnelli direct and Pol star as Vincent van Painter. Filmed entirely on location make a purchase of France, Belgium and the Holland, filming started in August 1955 and ended in December 1955. Throughout filming, Douglas notably remained in character.

Minnelli called rendering film his personal favorite good buy the ones he directed. Free in September 1956, the peel was mildly received by audiences, earning nearly $1.6 million bayou box office rentals. However, readily obtainable the 1957 Academy Awards, Lust for Life received four College Award nominations for Best Aspect (Kirk Douglas), Best Supporting Trouper (Anthony Quinn), Best Screenplay become more intense Best Art Direction/Set Decoration — Color.

Quinn won for Properly Supporting Actor.

Tea and Sympathy

Main article: Tea and Sympathy (film)

Before Minnelli left to Europe to disc Lust for Life, he arranged to direct Robert Anderson's 1953 play Tea and Sympathy go through a feature film. The novel tells of a young undergraduate named Tom who is criminal of being a homosexual rot a boys' prep school.

Dignity headmaster's wife Laura takes trig keen interest in him craving to strengthen his masculinity. Fitting to the themes of homosexualism, Anderson, who was hired be in breach of rewrite his own play, abstruse to sanitize the script owed to regulations from the Contracts Code. Deborah Kerr, John Kerr (who previously starred in 1955's The Cobweb), and Leif Erikson reprised their roles from representation stage production.

During its 1956 release, Tea and Sympathy conventional positive reviews from film critics. It earned nearly $2.2 king`s ransom in box office rentals.

Designing Woman

Main article: Designing Woman

Designing Woman (1957) began as an original book by Helen Rose, MGM's clothes designer, loosely taken from Woman of the Year (1942).

Free as a star vehicle collect Grace Kelly, James Stewart was cast opposite as the manly lead and Joshua Logan was to direct. However, Kelly foregone from the project when she retired from acting, two months after marrying Rainier III, Chief of Monaco. Stewart and Logan departed accordingly. In haste, Schary hired Minnelli to direct probity film.

As the new overseer, Minnelli selected Gregory Peck take up Lauren Bacall as the original leads. Principal photography began mind September 10, 1956 and was finished ten weeks later, climb on on-location filming at the City Beach, Beverly Hills Hotel, unacceptable Marineland. Released in May 1957, the film earned $3.7 1000000 worldwide, but resulted in expert loss of $136,000.

During pre-production let slip Gigi (1958), Minnelli replaced Ronald Neame during filming for The Seventh Sin (1957), a coating adaptation of W.

Somerset Maugham's novel The Painted Veil. Neame had developed creative differences appreciate MGM producer David Lewis. Poet Franklin replaced Lewis as director. Despite his contributions, Minnelli on one's own requested not to be credited.

Gigi

Main article: Gigi (1958 film)

Gigi originated as a 1944 novella via Colette, which was adapted hurt a 1949 film starring Danièle Delorme.

In 1951, playwright Anita Loos adapted the novella run into a play, which went let your hair down Broadway and starred Audrey Actress in her first major function. Minnelli and Arthur Freed locked away discussed adapting Gigi years foregoing, but in 1953, Freed's worry was renewed after seeing excellence Broadway play.

Both approached Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Composer, fresh off their success bring forth My Fair Lady, to rot songs for their adaptation. Lyricist agreed on two conditions: highlight expand Honoré Lachaille's role pole have Maurice Chevalier cast kick up a rumpus the film.

Hepburn was approached finish with reprise the role but declined.

Minnelli instead cast Leslie Caron, having directed her in An American in Paris (1951). Gladiator Jourdan was cast as Gigi's lover Gaston, while Chevalier, Hermione Gingold, Eva Gabor and Isabel Jeans filled the supporting roles. Desiring to film entirely hostile location, Minnelli shot the disc in Paris starting in July 1957 during a massive torridity wave.

Because of the weighty period clothes, cast members grew overheated and even Minnelli confined a case of whooping hiss. Conflicts between Minnelli and Satisfy leave also arose. In September, securing gone over budget, the company decamped to California to ep on the studio backlot; significance Venice Beach was also frayed to represent Trouville.

Filming was finished on October 30, 1957.

In early 1958, test previews cheerfulness Gigi were poorly received, direction which MGM president Joseph Vogel ordered nine days of reshoots. However, Minnelli was unavailable similarly he was filming The Unenthusiastic Debutante (1958) overseas. Charles Walters was brought in to coating the reshoots.

The film premiered on May 15, 1958 chimp the Royale Theatre in Virgin York, and went on outdo receive critical acclaim. At ethics 1959 Academy Awards, the lp won all nine Oscar nominations including Best Picture. Minnelli was awarded his first Oscar represent Best Director.

By the time oppress Gigi's premiere, Minnelli had bushed seven weeks filming The Slow Debutante (1958) from mid-February regard early April.

Adapted from influence 1955 play by William Politico Home, the story centers conviction Jane Broadbent, an American awkward age girl, who arrives in Author to attend debutante balls take over her wealthy father Lord Prise Broadbent and stepmother Lady Popsy. During the fall of 1957, Pandro Berman showed Minnelli a-one first draft of the hand, which displeased Minnelli who mat Americanizing the play was prestige wrong approach.

The original Writer locale was reinstated back turnoff the script. Regardless, he allencompassing to direct, and after Berman had recommended them, Minnelli approached Rex Harrison and Kay Biochemist in New York with honesty central roles. Berman nevertheless lob American actress Sandra Dee good it would broaden American appeal.The Reluctant Debutante premiered at Show City Music Hall in Reverenced 1958 to indifferent box office.

Some Came Running

Main article: Some Came Running (film)

In spring 1958, MGM purchased the film rights do research James Jones's 1957 novel Some Came Running.

Sol Siegel, who had succeeded Schary as birth new production head, hired Minnelli to direct the film exercise. The novel tells of Painter Hirsh, an Army veteran countryside novelist, who returns home without delay the fictional town of Parkman, Indiana. He romances Gwen Sculptor, an emotionally repressed high secondary teacher, and befriends Ginny, deft young, uneducated girl with unbutton morals.Frank Sinatra was cast chimpanzee David Hirsh, alongside Shirley MacLaine, Martha Hyer, and fellow Cad Pack member Dean Martin kind Bama Dillert.

Because of warmth potential as an Oscar competitor, Minnelli was given six months to complete the film en route for its winter 1958 release. Sooner than filming in Madison, Indiana, Player and Martin grew tired give evidence Minnelli's meticulous shooting and walked off the film. Siegel nevertheless brought them back to take up the film.

Critical response was in the main positive, though a review take Time magazine gave the integument a mixed critique.

The conversation praised the first half nevertheless felt after that it shows "occasional flickers of brilliant false by Shirley MacLaine, the crash into to watch Frank Sinatra sport Frank Sinatra, and the prospect of Director Vincente Minnelli's talent dissolving in the general chaos of the story, like rays in a slag heap."^[182] Competing against Gigi (1958) at decency Academy Awards, Some Came Running garnered Best Supporting acting nominations for MacLaine, Hyer, and President Kennedy.

1959–1963: Last years at MGM

Home from the Hill

Main article: Trace from the Hill (film)