Oliver Smith

Production Designer

About

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Birth Place

Waupaun, Wisconsin, USA

Born

February 13, 1918

Died

January 23, 1994

Cause of Death

Emphysema

Biography

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Prolific and accomplished set designer of theater, dance, opera and film who contributed to our cultural atmosphere over four decades. Smith added color to the 50s in particular by designing some of the decade's most beloved artifacts of performance. He created the Broadway sets of "My Fair Lady," "Auntie Mame," "West Side Story," "Camelot" and "Hello, Dolly!," among many others. For the...

Filmography

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Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)

Hellraiser (1987)

Riding High (1980)

The Great Train Robbery (1979)

Porridge (1979)

His Double Life (1934)

Photos & Videos

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Guys And Dolls (1955) -- (Movie Clip) Adelaide

Band Wagon, The (1953) -- (Movie Clip) Dem Bones Cafe

Biography

Prolific and accomplished set designer of theater, dance, opera and film who contributed to our cultural atmosphere over four decades. Smith added color to the 50s in particular by designing some of the decade's most beloved artifacts of performance. He created the Broadway sets of "My Fair Lady," "Auntie Mame," "West Side Story," "Camelot" and "Hello, Dolly!," among many others. For the Metropolitan Opera, he designed "La Traviata" and, in the sphere of modern dance, he crafted the look and space of Agnes de Mille's "Fall River Legend" and Jerome Robbins' "Fancy Free." His film work included the primary-colored confection that was the set of Joseph Mankiewicz's "Guys and Dolls" (1955), "Porgy and Bess" (1959), and even the provincial glories of the film musical "The Sound of Music" (1965). His final film set design was for "Giselle" (1968).

Filmography

Cast (Feature Film)

Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)

Hellraiser (1987)

Riding High (1980)

The Great Train Robbery (1979)

Porridge (1979)

His Double Life (1934)

Bringing Up Betty (1919)

Art Director (Feature Film)

Porgy and Bess (1959)

Production Design

Oklahoma! (1955)

Production Design

Guys and Dolls (1955)

Production Design

The Band Wagon (1953)

Music numbers Designer by

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

The Turning Point (1977)

Cast (Special)

Color Him Dead (1974)

Art Director (Special)

Plaza Suite (1982)

Art Department (Special)

Scenic Designer

Misc. Crew (Special)

A Renaissance Revisited (1996)

Cast (TV Mini-Series)

Anna Lee: Dupe (1994)

Jesus of Nazareth (Do Not Use) (1977)

Life Events

1942

Designed first Broadway set, "Rosalinda"

1945

Became co-director of American Ballet Theater

1955

Debut as film production designer "Guys and Dolls"

1977

Last film credit, art consultant on "The Turning Point"

1992

Named director emeritus of American Ballet Theater

Videos

Guys And Dolls (1955) -- (Movie Clip) Adelaide Frank Sinatra (as Nathan Detroit) with his one ballad, Frank Loesser's "Adelaide," sung to his fianceè (Vivian Blaine), which he chose to sing not-fully in character, in the Samuel Goldwyn production of Guys And Dolls, 1955, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

Band Wagon, The (1953) -- (Movie Clip) Dem Bones Cafe Michael Kidd choreography, setting designed by Oliver Smith, in the "Dem Bones Cafe" section of the "Girl Hunt" ballet, Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse generating gangster heat, in Vincente Minnelli's The Band Wagon, 1953.

Guys and Dolls (1955) -- (Movie Clip) The Oldest Established Nathan Detroit (Frank Sinatra) comiserates with pals Benny (Johnny Silver) and Nicely-Nicely (Stubby Kaye) who then join him in Frank Loesser's tune "The Oldest Established," in Guys and Dolls, 1955.

Guys And Dolls (1955) -- (Movie Clip) On The Inskirts Dialogue from writer-director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, via Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, from Damon Runyon's story, Salvation Army Sergeant Sarah Brown (Jean Simmons) and gambler Sky Masterson (Marlon Brando), just before their first song in Guys And Dolls, 1955.

Guys And Dolls (1955) -- (Movie Clip) If I Were A Bell Big treat for Jean Simmons fans, as "Sergeant" Sarah Brown, with gambler Sky Masterson (Marlon Brando) after their night out in Havana, Frank Loesser's If I Were A Bell, both actors recording their own vocals, from Guys And Dolls, 1955.

Bibliography

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