Matinee Classics - Victor Fleming Biography & Filmography

Victor Fleming DIRECTOR

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VICTOR FLEMING BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Victor Fleming was born February 23, 1889 in La Cañada, California. He entered the film business, more particularly Flying A Studio in Santa Barabara, California, in 1910 as a stuntman – usually performing in car scenes. This of course came natural to him, as he had prior been a mechanic and race car driver. In 1915 he got his first gig behind the camera, working with his new actor friend, Marshall Neilan, at Kalem. Here he helped film early Ham and Bud comedy shorts.

Soon after, Fleming joined Triangle under the Douglas Fairbanks unit where he often labored under the directors Allan Dwan and D.W. Griffith. His first picture here was “The Habit of Happiness” (1916), and he continued to aid in the filmmaking process for over ten more films, not limited to “Macbeth” (1916), “American Aristocracy” (1916), and “Reaching for the Moon” (1917). In 1917 the cinematographer got his first taste of directing as second assistant director to D.W. Griffith in his drama “Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Throughout the Ages”.

During World War I, Fleming served in the photographic section as chief photographer for President Woodrow Wilson at Versailles, France. After the war ended, Fleming joined Douglas Fairbanks once again at the newly created United Artists. This time, however, he served as director. He made his debut with 1919’s “When the Clouds Roll By”, which he also wrote and even made an appearance in.

The director quickly became known as a “man’s director”, helming action packed, fast paced, dramatic features. Later, at Paramount, Fleming came out with his first success, the drama “Lord Jim” (1925). A year following, he exposed Clara Bow’s true talent in the comedy “Mantrap” (1926). The director soon after helped unearth another star, Gary Cooper, in his first true hit, the western “The Virginian” (1929).

In 1932, Fleming joined MGM, where he would release some of the studio’s most outstanding features. Clark Gable was launched to stardom with “Red Dust” (1932), and the director continued to launch his own fame with such classics as “Bombshell” (1933), “Treasure Island” (1934), “Captain Courageous” (1937), and “Test Pilot” (1938). His two most esteemed came in 1939: the fantastical family adventure that propelled Judy Garland to the top, “The Wizard of Oz”, and the lovely eight Oscar winning romance “Gone with the Wind”, in which he was asked to take over direction for George Cukor.

In the forties, Fleming came out with such films as “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1941), which served as his third and final production effort (his first two being “Adventure” (1925) and “Renegades” (1930), “Tortilla Flat” (1942), “A Guy Named Joe” (1943), “Adventure” (1945), and his final, the seven Academy Award nominated but mixed reviewed “Joan of Arc” (1948).

Soon after completing “Joan of Arc”, Fleming died suddenly from a heart attack. His death occurred on January 6, 1949 in Cottonwood, Arizona. He was survived by his wife of sixteen years, Lucile Rosson, and their two kids. During his career, he won only one Oscar, as Best Director for “Gone with the Wind”. However, he was bestowed an even greater honor, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for all of his impressive work in the motion picture industry.

Filmography

1956 Ford Star Jubilee

1948 Joan of Arc

1945 Adventure

1943 A Guy Named Joe

1942 Tortilla Flat

1941 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

1941 They Dare Not Love

1939 Gone with the Wind

1939 The Wizard of Oz

1938 The Crowd Roars

1938 The Great Waltz

1938 Test Pilot