Matinee Classics - Fred Zinnemann Biography & Filmography

Fred Zinnemann DIRECTOR

FRED ZINNEMAN BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Fred Zinnemann was born April 29, 1907 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (now Austria) with the birth name Alfred. In his childhood, he envisioned himself as a famous and successful violinist. However, he chose instead to go to the University of Vienna to study law. While attending school, he discovered the works of such filmmakers as Eisenstein and von Stroheim, and decided to quit his studies to envelop himself in the motion picture industry. Much to the dismay of his family, he left for Paris from 1927-1928 to study a course in cinematography. Zinnemann soon ascertained that he should move to Hollywood to find the greatest potential for work. Thus, in 1929, he relocated to America, not becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen until 1936.

His first job was as an extra in “All Quiet on the Western Front” (1929). Soon after, he found work as an assistant to documentary filmmaker Robert Flaherty. From this relationship, Zinnemann learned how to convey a sense of realism in his later pictures. Many of the movies he created drew from his experience with Flaherty, adding authenticity and honesty. In the 1930's, MGM hired him to direct a number of short films like “Friend Indeed” (1937) and “The Story of Doctor Carver” (1938). For his involvement in “That Mothers Might Live” (1938), Zinnemann brought home a Best Short Subject Academy Award. In 1942, after directing numerous shorts such as “While America Sleeps” (1939), “A Way in the Wilderness” (1940), and “A Crime Does Not Pay Subject: ‘Forbidden Passage’” (1941), he moved up to full length feature films. Although, he had done previous work on some full length ones earlier, including “People on Sunday” (1930), “The Wave” (1936), and “Tracking the Sleeping Death” (1938).

Up until 1948, he worked mainly on B-films, not limited to “Kid Glove Killer” (1942), “My Brother Talks to Horses” (1947), and “Little Mister Jim” (1947). With “The Search” (1948), a poignant tale of a post World War II European refugee family in which the director actually made a cameo appearance, Zinnemann got out of his rut and nabbed the film two Academy Award wins and five nominations, one of which included Best Director. However, it was not until 1952 that the director was finally recognized as a major box-office force. His most famous, “High Noon” (1952), starring Gary Cooper, went on to become a multi Academy Award nominee and a classic, raising Zinnemann’s directing reputation. More hits ensued, like “From Here to Eternity” (1953), which cemented his great abilities, “Oklahoma!” (1955), which proved the director had musical skills, “The Nun’s Story” (1959), “The Sundowners” (1960), and “A Man for All Seasons” (1966), which demonstrated his talent for adapting stage works. All of these films were either Academy Award nominees or winners.

Zinnemann took a bit of a break before returning with the thriller “Day of the Jackal” (1973). He followed it up with the anti-Nazi “Julia” (1977) and later, the drama “Five Days One Summer” (1982). With his excellence in a wide range of movie genres, the director proved his filmmaking merit. He additionally presented proof of his artistry and skill in the industry by winning three Oscars and getting nominated for five, although in his whole career his pictures had earned over twenty of the prestigious statuettes. He has been given a vast quantity of other honors from various film festivals and institutes, as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Once he retired from directing, he proclaimed “I will always think of myself as a Hollywood director, not only because I grew up in the American film industry, but also because I believe in making films that will please a mass audience, and not just in making films that express my own personality or ideas. I have always tried to offer an audience something positive in a film and to entertain them as well.” Zinnemann’s films left an impact on the viewers, and they, too, will always think of him as a great Hollywood legend. On March 14, 1997, while in London, England, the director had a heart attack and passed away.

Filmography

1982 Five Days One Summer

1981 Rece do góry

1977 Julia

1973 The Day of the Jackal

1966 A Man for All Seasons

1964 Behold a Pale Horse

1960 The Sundowners

1959 The Nun's Story

1958 The Old Man and the Sea

1957 A Hatful of Rain

1956 Screen Directors Playhouse

1955 Oklahoma!