Andre Detoth
About
Biography
Filmography
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Notes
"My birthdate changes between 1900 and 1920 according to different publications, but the fact remains I was born. The truth is, I don't remember the event. I was told by a reliable source that it was 1913, May 15, in Hungary." --de Toth
On his uncredited work on "Superman", de Toth told Anthony Slide: "They earned the Oscars and I walked away with the best: happy memories."
Biography
Born and raised in Hungary, Andre de Toth came to the USA in the 1940s and became established as a workmanlike director whose films, notably his Westerns and films noir, were later hailed for their moody, psychological aspects. A genuinely colorful character, the one-eyed helmer has proven evasive in interviews, particularly in relation to his early life and career and his marriage to screen siren Veronica Lake. The son of a former Hussar turned civil engineer, de Toth disappointed his father by being asked to leave a number of schools and then by deciding not to pursue a military career. Instead, he allegedly showed an early artistic bent, having a one-person art show while in his early teens (he claims to have destroyed the paintings and sculpture). His first play is said to have closed before it opened but led to a meeting with playwright Ferenc Molnar who served as a mentor, introducing de Toth to various high profile individuals and obtaining writing assignments for the youth. After obtaining a law degree, de Toth reportedly entered the Hungarian film industry, working as a camera operator for noted cinematographer Istvan (Stefan) Eiben. During the 1930s, he reportedly lived throughout Europe and visited the USA on several occasions. While in London, de Toth worked in several capacities for the Korda brothers before heading to Vienna to work on a script. On one of his trips to Los Angeles, he claims to have done uncredited work on the script for 1937's "The Life of Emile Zola."
Returning to Budapest, de Toth began his directing career in earnest under the name Endre Toth, making five films in less than one year. His first "Toprini nasz/Wedding at Toprin" caught the attention of Harry Cohn at Columbia but it would be several years before de Toth was ready to move permanently to the USA. Although there have been allegations that he made films of the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, it has not been proven. What is known is that de Toth returned to London and worked for the Korda brothers, often as a production assistant and/or second unit director, although he only received onscreen credit for his work on 1942's "The Jungle Book." He finally arrived in Hollywood in 1943 and entered the American film industry as helmer of "Passport to Suez," a well-made piece of propaganda about the Nazis wanting to bomb the Suez Canal. Harry Cohn put the director under contract for one film and the result, "None Shall Escape" (1944), was a taut drama about a Nazi officer made to examine his career. It was "Ramrod" (1947), though, that first brought him widespread attention. A Western drama featuring Veronica Lake, Charles Ruggles and Joel McCrea, it was acclaimed for its spectacular black-and-white photography (by Russell Harlan) and for its strong cast. The film also established what has come to be perceived as the major theme that runs through nearly all of de Toth's work: the vagaries of human relationships.
De Toth scored again with "Pitfall" (1948) which turned on a bored insurance salesman who embarks on an affair that threatens everything he holds important. Again, the director showed a particular affinity with his actors, eliciting fine portrayals from leads Dick Powell, Jane Wyatt and Lizbeth Scott and supporting actor Raymond Burr. De Toth shared a 1950 Oscar nomination with William Bowers for Best Original Motion Picture Story for "The Gunfighter" (1950), a superb character study of a killer trying to live down his past. (De Toth, however, objected to the casting of leading man Gregory Peck claiming the role was created with Gary Cooper in mind.) In 1951, he made the first of six fine Westerns with Randolph Scott, "Man in the Saddle." He finally realized his dream of directing his friend Cooper in "Springfield Rifle" (1952), but contemporary critics were dismissive of the results.
"House of Wax" (1953), on the other hand, was praised by reviewers. The one-eyed de Toth was a curious choice to helm a 3-D film as he could not experience the stereoscopic process, but he persevered and the film was the most successful 3-D movies of its day (It also introduced Vincent Price to the genre with which he would become indelibly linked.) De Toth followed with a series of fast-paced thrillers, the best of which is "Crime Wave" (1954), a hostage drama raised a notch by the acting of Sterling Hayden, Gene Nelson and Phyllis Kirk. "The Indian Fighter" (1955) was the first film produced by Kirk Douglas and offered the star a strong role as an army scout. De Toth brought a steady hand to the proceedings, earning notice for depicting the Native Americans with more depth than contemporary directors.
Turning to social problems, de Toth directed the stark drama about drug addiction "Monkey on My Back" (1957), loosely drawn from the life of boxer Barney Ross. After helming the well-received "Day of the Outlaw" (1959) and the disappointing "Man on a String" (1960), the director decamped to Italy where he oversaw a number of forgettable films. During this European sojourn, de Toth took time to work as an uncredited "consultant" on David Lean's spectacular "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962). The exact nature of his contributions remains murky; de Toth says he "found locations," but conceded he shot some footage, although how much of his work found its way into the final cut is unknown. After a near-fatal 1964 skiing accident, he slowed his output. Reportedly, de Toth worked as a second unit director on one or more of the James Bond films and wrote and produced "Billion Dollar Baby" (1967, directed by Ken Russell) for Bond producer Albert 'Cubby' Broccoli. After replacing Rene Clement on the above-average "Play Dirty" (1968), he more or less retired from active filmmaking. De Toth produced "El Condor" (1970) and then offered uncredited assistance on numerous projects (including staging the flying sequences of 1978's "Superman" and as a script doctor on 1980's "The Lion of the Desert"). With the awarding of the 1995 life achievement prize by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the publication of his memoirs, "Fragments: Portraits From the Inside," de Toth began to receive his due for his economical and entertaining body of work.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Visual Effects (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Life Events
1931
Entered Hungarian film industry (date approximate)
1937
First film as screenwriter ("from story"), "Falu rossza/Evil Village"
1939
Directed five Hungarian features credited as Endre Toth; the first, "Toprini nasz/Wedding in Toprin"
1939
Moved to England
1942
Relocated to Los Angeles
1943
Hollywood directing debut, "Passport to Suez"
1944
Signed to a one picture contract with Columbia; helmed the war drama "None Shall Escape"
1947
Joined Enterprise Productions
1947
Directed first Western, "Ramrod", starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake
1948
Sued by Columbia for nonpayment of part of his salary paid by Warner Bros; amount in question was roughly $1,400; under terms of his contract, de Toth had to pay Columbia a percentage of any salaries he earned on loan-outs
1950
Shared Oscar nomination with William Bowers for the Best Motion Picture Story for "The Gunfighter"
1951
First of six films with Randolph Scott, the Western "Man in the Saddle"
1953
Helmed "House of Wax", a 3-D remake of "Mystery of the Wax Museum"; first horror role for Vincent Price
1957
Directed the drug addiction drama "Monkey on My Back"
1962
Acted as a consultant to David Lean on "Lawrence of Arabia"; reportedly "found locations" and did uncredited 2nd unit work
1964
Seriously injured in a skiing accident
1968
Executive produced and directed "Play Dirty"; replaced Rene Clement as director
1970
Produced "El Condor", directed by John Guillermin
1976
Made film on board minehunter HMS Bronington with HRH Prince Charles of England
1978
Worked as uncredited director of the flying sequences of "Superman"; some sequences also used in "Superman II"
1980
Reportedly offered assistance on the feature "The Lion of the Desert"
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Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
"My birthdate changes between 1900 and 1920 according to different publications, but the fact remains I was born. The truth is, I don't remember the event. I was told by a reliable source that it was 1913, May 15, in Hungary." --de Toth
On his uncredited work on "Superman", de Toth told Anthony Slide: "They earned the Oscars and I walked away with the best: happy memories."
De Toth's motto was "Don't be careful, have fun."
"I am interested in the most complex things I know of--people. And they're very intricate in their relationships to each other. ... Real violence has nothing to do with hardware, blowing up buildings. Real violence is from within--the violence of people, the violence of Raymond Burr in 'Pitfall'" --Andre de Toth quoted in Moviemaker, April 1998.
"I'll do something one day I'll be proud of. ... I haven't really lived up to what I would like to do. Not yet." --de Toth in his 80s, quoted in Moviemaker, April 1998.
