George Stevens

Director

About

Birth Place

Oakland, California, USA

Born

December 18, 1904

Died

March 08, 1975

Biography

Leading Hollywood craftsman, responsible for some fine films of the 1930s and 40s, but whose later output tended toward the over-ambitious and excessive. The son of performers, Stevens entered films at age 17 as a cameraman and later worked for the Hal Roach company, where he directed his first shorts. He joined RKO in 1934 and proceeded to churn out a series of crafty comedies and light...

Filmography

The Only Game in Town (1970)

Director

The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

Director

The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)

Director

Giant (1956)

Director

The Eddie Cantor Story (1954)

Director

Shane (1953)

Director

Photos & Videos

View All

Gunga Din (1939) -- (Movie Clip) Children Are Looking Bonnie!

Gunga Din (1939) -- (Movie Clip) Very Regimental!

Family & Companions

Joan Stevens

Wife

Divorced.

Bibliography

"George Stevens: An American Romantic"

Donald Richie, Garland Publishing (1971)

Notes

Awarded a citation from General Eisenhower for filming such important war events as D-Day and the freeing of inmates at Dachau (1945)

Biography

Leading Hollywood craftsman, responsible for some fine films of the 1930s and 40s, but whose later output tended toward the over-ambitious and excessive.

The son of performers, Stevens entered films at age 17 as a cameraman and later worked for the Hal Roach company, where he directed his first shorts. He joined RKO in 1934 and proceeded to churn out a series of crafty comedies and light musicals, scoring his first major success with "Alice Adams" (1935), which was followed by the Astaire-Rogers classic "Swing Time" (1936), the action-packed "Gunga Din" and the brilliantly realized debut pairing of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, "Woman of the Year" (1941).

After heading the Army Signal Corps Special Motion Picture Unit during WWII, Stevens re-entered civilian life in 1945 and hit his peak with "I Remember Mama" (1948) and "A Place in the Sun" (1951). His subsequent work, including "Shane" (1953) and "Giant" (1956), strove for epic status but came off as overblown and excessive. Stevens's final effort, "The Only Game in Town" (1970), was a refreshing, if flawed, return to his earlier, more modest, style.

Son George Stevens, Jr., is a producer who made a well-received documentary on his father, "George Stevens, Filmmaker" (1984), served as chief of the United States Information Service's motion picture division from 1962-67 and was named the first head of the American Film Institute in 1977.

Filmography

Life Events

1909

First appearance on stage at Alcazar Theater in San Francisco in "Sappho"

1920

Became actor and stage manager for father's theatrical company

1921

Moved to Hollywood; began working as assistant and second cameraman

1924

First film as cameraman, "The White Sheep"

1927

Joined Hal Roach as cameraman and scriptwriter for Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang, and Harry Langdon comedy shorts

1930

First film as director, "Ladies Past"

1932

Directed shorts for Universal and RKO

1933

Directed first feature film, "The Cohens and the Kellys in Trouble"

1938

Producing debut, "Vivacious Lady"

1943

Joined US Army Signal Corps and became head of Special Motion Pictures Unit

1945

Formed Liberty Films with William Wyler, Frank Capra and Samuel J. Briskin

Photo Collections

Penny Serenade - Movie Posters

Here are two different styles of the American one-sheet movie poster for Penny Serenade (1941), starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

A Damsel in Distress - Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Here are several photos taken during production of RKO's A Damsel in Distress (1937), directed by George Stevens and starring Fred Astaire, Joan Fontaine, and George Burns & Gracie Allen.

I Remember Mama - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for I Remember Mama (1948), starring Irene Dunne. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

A Place in the Sun - Lobby Cards

Here are a few Lobby Cards from A Place in the Sun (1951), directed by George Stevens. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Gunga Din - Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Here are a few photos taken behind-the-scenes during production of RKO's Gunga Din (1939), directed by George Stevens and starring Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Victor McLaglen.

Alice Adams - Title Lobby Card

Here is the Title Lobby Card from Alice Adams (1935), starring Katharine Hepburn. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Quality Street - Movie Posters

Here are a few original-release American movie posters from Quality Street (1937), starring Katharine Hepburn and Franchot Tone.

Swing Time - Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Here are a few photos taken behind-the-scenes during production of RKO's Swing Time (1936), directed by George Stevens and starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Woman of the Year - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Woman of the Year (1942). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Giant - Movie Poster

Here is the American One-Sheet Movie Poster for Giant (1956), directed by George Stevens. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Gunga Din - Movie Posters

Following are several movie posters from Gunga Din (1939), starring Cary Grant, Victor McLaglen, and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Examples are from American, French and Belgian releases.