stanley dawn born april american film director choreographer celebrated works rain town directed actor dancer noteworthy films include seven brothers funny face damn yankees road received body work career golden lion venice film festival hailed film critic king hollywood musicals married times children current long term partner film director comedian began career chorus line broadway director befriended kelly went hollywood worked choreographer kelly town worked contract director mgm producer producing hit films amid critical acclaim solo director kelly kelly directed musical rain regarded greatest films relationship kelly deteriorated final collaboration fair weather broke contract mgm independent producer musicals began lose public appeal switched comedies continued hit films late 1960s career slowed briefly returned stage director 1990s credited transitioning hollywood musical films realistic backstage dramas integrated art form songs natural continuation story kelly films musicals extravagant stylized work set broadway stage environment musical numbers stage kelly films created cinematic form included dances achieved film medium stated direct continuation rogers musicals turn came geared realism film critic said contribution evolution hollywood musical anybody including surviving notable director hollywood golden age early life stage career born columbia south_carolina moses dress shop manager helen daughter jewelry salesman younger sister born august born jewish parents youth described childhood lonely unhappy jews columbia occasionally bullied anti semitic classmates school help cope isolation spent youth local movie theaters especially fond comedies film strongest impact musical flying rio said seen picture thirty times transported sort fantasy world happy comfortable easy supported sense filled shot screened home movies camera father bought inspired took dance lessons columbia performed local town theater family traveled new_york_city summer saw broadway musicals took dance lessons early instructors new_york taught year old graduating high school sixteen attended summer semester studying psychology encouraged mother moved new_york_city pursue dancing stage fall auditions cast chorus dancer original broadway production hart pal directed legendary title role played young broadway star role asked appear chorus broadway best foot forward quickly assistant stage manager kelly asked assistant choreographer eventually fired stage manager assistant choreographer beat band briefly returned broadway help dance numbers film career hollywood choreographer successful producer musical films metro bought film rights film version starring moved hollywood audition film signed year contract mgm best foot forward appeared chorus dancer assistant choreographer renewed friendship kelly quickly popular supporting actor musicals kelly loaned film offered chance dance numbers asked assist kelly stated stanley needed job needed count knew steps explain going shot set correctly accepted choreographed dance sequences kelly cover girl came idea alter ego dance sequence kelly reflection jumps shop window dances director insisted idea work kelly directed scene spent year editing film kelly movie star considered film critics important innovative musical signed year contract columbia choreographed films returned mgm following year kelly wanted assistance film kelly choreographed musical released mgm starring kelly famous scene film kelly dances cartoon mouse jerry animation supervised credited cartoonist idea scene originally kelly wanted use sequence met discuss project time disney working similar idea unwilling allow characters appear mgm film spent months shooting kelly dancing spent year scene frame frame according net result preview anchors away went blew audience away kelly completed service photographer worked uncredited choreographer musical films period said practiced craft working music track photography directed sequences tried original idea musical sequences stated military service high blood pressure kelly returned civilian life directed choreographed kelly dance scenes living big way began work original story baseball players early 20th century spend season song dance men film eventually ball game kelly hoped direct film freed hired berkeley instead directed kelly dance numbers film starred kelly town success ball game freed gave kelly chance direct town released film adaptation musical sailors leave new_york_city musical filmed location kelly wanted shoot entire film new_york freed allow spend week away studio week produced film famous opening number new_york new_york away studio interference sound stage cinematographer shot scene streets new_york_city pioneered cinematic techniques popularized french new wave years later techniques included spatial jump cuts degree hidden cameras abrupt changes screen direction non professional actors biographer stated scene avoids developing plot describing setting conveying atmosphere mood introducing character said today film regarded turning point musical moved dance musical genre theater captured film film city important character abandon chorus town starred kelly kelly play sailors hour shore leave new_york romantic ambitions film success financially critically won academy award best music scoring musical picture green won like directorial debut stated kelly responsible dance movements camera dramatic musical sequences kelly believed good team thought complemented mgm contract director success town signed seven year contract mgm director films producer freed kelly replaced director personal differences star given chance direct idol starred brother sister american dancing team performing england occasion royal wedding elizabeth philip originally cast lead role fired illness replace found pregnant replaced film love affair wealthy englishman threatens ruin brother sister act finds romance film loosely based real life career sister early dancing partner retired marrying english lord film contains famous dance sequences world number gravity dancing walls ceiling shot achieved building set inside rotating reinforced steel cylindrical chamber camera attached cylinder film lyricist claimed thought idea film included music released later love better film stars oscar nominated performance story star years earlier parks plays business agent finds compelled marry innocent young dance teacher played kelly appear cameo roles film remained unreleased year parks admitted house american activities committee member communist_party named members film unsuccessful box office rain kelly height fame release american paris teamed rain highly praised films time film produced freed written green photographed starred kelly freed wanted musical old songs composer written late 1920s early 1930s hired green write script kelly involved early development stages green decided write story inspired time period songs written hollywood transition silent films late 1920s green interviewed mgm hollywood period fun movie musicals technical difficulties early sound films included characters loosely based freed berkeley scene references silent film star kelly use mgm large collection sets props costumes outdated equipment 1920s film kelly silent film stars hollywood careers threatened invention help best friend brown connor love interest saves career turning latest film musical filming found kelly broadway melody ballet sequence rain musical number took months kelly found necessary dig holes cement create street film hit released april earning million kelly american paris surprise best picture winner march mgm decided release rain got pulled theaters showcase older film preventing making profits rain nominated academy awards best supporting actress best original score won golden globe award best actor musical comedy green won writers guild america award best written american musical initially film received moderate reviews critics begin receive widespread acclaim late 1960s earliest supporters critic said enjoyable movie musicals best hollywood musical time released critical popular success seven seven brothers break mgm established successful film director continued solo career mgm based true story film stars brings lion joins army musical girl break film stars aspiring dancers competing lead new broadway musical champion appear music lane famous scene girl break dance choreographed backwards played reverse create illusion surrounded hundreds balloons instantly appear touch fingers shooting film bitter experience major set fight film choreography fight split cast crew taking taking film reviewed release reputation grown years solidified solo career scored hit musical seven brothers based short story film music lyrics choreography plays 1850s marries adam hours meeting returns adam log cabin oregon discovers husband brothers makes mission sarcastic suggestion brothers kidnap women neighboring town marry film shot new format remembered dance sequences particularly barn raising scene architecture construction ballet steps seven brothers highest grossing films appeared critics best films lists nominated academy_awards including won success surprise mgm invested money musicals starring kelly seven seven brothers profitable rivals town rain success major turning point career film later criticized novelist described anti woman calling movies men women musical rape later deep heart biography hungarian born american composer starring film included cameos mgm contract actors including screen pairing brother fred received mediocre reviews cult status popularity helped film hit financially teamed kelly final directorial collaboration musical fair weather produced freed written green music starred kelly originally envisioned sequel town kelly play reunite years world war discover lives turned expected kelly approached project collaboration reluctant accept success friendship deteriorated production noted atmosphere day tense speaking anybody quoted saying percent nightmare struggle beginning end mgm allow directors shoot location new_york moderately profitable film successful pairs previous films film kelly freed film completion fulfilled mgm contract agreement working studios project mgm completing final days shooting july director commitments director independent producer film paramount_pictures producer contains original george songs unrelated broadway musical starred loosely based life fashion photographer visual consultant designed opening title sequence film written included additional music began pre production mgm difficulty paramount contracts owned rights music wanted mgm contracts eventually deal reached released mgm contract allowed films paramount respectively plays aging fashion photographer discovers intellectual bohemian hepburn turns new model falling love paris cinematographer ray june collaborated film abstract look resembled fashion photography period despite protests paramount recently spent fortune developing crisp funny face screened competition cannes film festival received good reviews critics like sight sound contrast accused anti intellectual pre production funny face received letter old boss inviting film version stage hit game deal secure music wanted funny face able accept directed film version game stars day music choreography plays plant supervisor factory constant disputes plant union organizer day end falling love described working relationship relaxed stating play tennis come watch set hour watch rushes home modest financial success praised review declared surely master movie musical game exists prove film kiss personally asked grant direct began developing contract mgm plot strongly resembles town film features grant navy officers leave san_francisco unlike town kiss dark comedy contrasts officers heroism self absorbed leave film released poor reviews films independent producer director reluctantly agreed direct kiss condition 20th century fox buy remaining contract mgm free contractual obligations formed grant signed distribution deal self produce nearly films rest career stanley productions grant inaugurated company based play starring grant schedule film shot location london like directorial debut utilized landmarks plays famous actress falls love playboy diplomat grant tells married wife refuses divorce discovers lying having wife man order win grant affection film famous scene involves clever strict production code scene grant paris london exchange talk phone split screen stars synchronized movements appear bed film financial critical success compared directors briefly returned musical genre damn yankees based broadway hit directed hands collaboration film like game film includes music ross choreography starred damn yankees adaptation legend fan baseball team washington senators mentions sell soul losing team good hitter plays devil grants fan wish transforms muscular young hitter hunter able shoot real senator yankee games location seven hidden cameras low budget film moderate financial success received good reviews musical film years england england home early 1970s musicals popularity caused focus comedy films observed london base afforded advantage away hollywood rat race going way spite spite satisfying advantage european influence way looking life making movies england early 1960s praised early influence emerging british new wave film movement late 1950s signed non exclusive film deal film contract feeling adapted stage play film shot paris starred plays orchestra conductor mistress grows tired plots marry order quickly divorce money ill shoot died release film successful financially critically quickly teamed film surprise package released film plays american gangster deported greek island rhodes plays surprise package sent island plays king rhodes plots film financial success stated desperately needed money personal reasons times movie money films completed columbia contract studio cancelled deal poor box office results unable produce projects pursuing time playwright man seasons patch blue successful films directors produced film grass released grant play earl large estate england forced permit guided tours mansion order help financial problems plays american oil falls love plays eccentric american grant girlfriend film financial disappointment successful england original stage version west end hit praised films starring said wanted movie like favorites north northwest film referred best movie produced released universal adapted novel hepburn discovers husband murdered sinister men searching gold hidden grant befriends helps fight begin fall love end film released december weeks assassination president word assassinate twice financially successful film influenced number romantic comedy released years following film critic called stylish amusing melodrama said spirit makes unlike films country probably best american film remade directed inspired film starring film written uncredited rewrite plays american professor oxford_university expert ancient approached middle eastern prime minister investigate organization attempting assassinate uses codes communicate investigation leads mystery involving prime minister mysterious mistress film second consecutive hit road starring supporting roles early career film conceived written novelist nominated academy_award called personal films passion disclosed textbook film editing film complicated non linear story year relationship hepburn course separate interwoven road trips years south france moderately successful box office critical reception extremely mixed called film version commercial american trash film attained cult following cited early example non linear storytelling film film frequently asked film students living fan british variety fringe wanted work comedy duo resulting film updated version legend written cook music moore starred moore plays lonely young man love worker drives attempt suicide devil cook appears offers seven wishes exchange soul film fun loving association swinging london 1960s divided critics roger_ebert called satire barbed contemporary dry understated overall photographed intelligent funny film hand time magazine called known variations theme film hit especially popular american college students considered favorite films called personal film said great deal think important life remade director directed staircase adaptation autobiographical stage play music moore star middle aged gay couple run london barber shop live bad marriage film shot paris tax purposes financial success received poor reviews release film critic called film rare hollywood movie depict gay experience wisdom humor warmth lost treasure later works marriage ended moved hollywood producer asked direct adaptation beloved children book little prince lyricist composer wrote music screenplay filming location tunisia stars title role musical film damn yankees contained little dancing choreographed dance scenes snake stated took change tempo musical phrases intention song entire score released financial disaster film starring plays prohibition era alcohol mexico california help compete affection stated cared film gave years life think good movie went budget unsuccessful box office critics praised film having surface throttle characterized hollywood films 1930s nostalgia old hollywood movies theme film produced scripted film actually shorter films presented old fashioned double feature complete fake movie trailer introduction comedian starred premiered competition 29th berlin international film festival films dynamite hands black white tribute boxing morality films second film tribute extravagant musicals like previous films unsuccessful financially critically science fiction film saturn starring read script writer set designer showed prompting pass initially hired produce grade asked complete film time director barry unable direct according tiny bit barry shot ended finished film critical financial disaster initially want credited director early 1980s attached direct adaptation dead zone worked writer script eventually dropped project directed film years later stated initially attracted making film wanted connect contemporary youthful audiences script worked close script david wound making theatrical film december romance blame rio film remake film moment written stars moore shot location rio_de_janeiro play wealthy executives vacation families rio affair teenage daughter johnson received poor reviews modest success financially produced televised ceremony academy awards included musical performance song star star directed musical sequence episode popular series directed music video song dancing ceiling awarded commencement address stated thought unique tap dancer doctor tap danced graduates time taught film musicals request preparing produce direct movie musical adaptation starring michael_jackson allegations jackson young boys ranch tabloid scandal project abandoned later year directed stage version george theater replaced original director weeks opened closed days awarded appreciation body work marked grace wit visual innovation acceptance speech danced oscar statue singing cheek cheek song popularized idol presented award created montage films final television film movie love letters aired abc april film starred based play plays successful senator finds long lost love recently died corresponded mail years remembers collection old love letters wanted theatrical film version play unable secure financing major studio instead took project abc directed musical play starring connecticut legacy career biggest rival compared like contract director mgm known musicals according biographer critics tend express distinct preference bold nonsense style direction visual palette character motivations film directors said prefer work worked directors early career describes open collaborative suggestions directors camera work differs forward backwards tracking shots preferred horizontal tracking shots crane shots film critics considering approach better suited dance sequences dismisses later comedy films praises leading musical triumphant personal direction doors rival fresh air excitement sequences equal integration song dance story dismisses personal style dependent collaborators better films contributions rain stating stanley operated camera stanley didn dance film directors skill director praised actors work influenced later directors film musicals film artist pays tribute rain films praised film attending los_angeles premiere rain revered film included group films inducted library congress included sight sound prestigious list films twice earliest fans called film greatest pictures dance host critically acclaimed popular films important contribution art film helping transition movie musicals realistic backstage settings filmed theater cinematic form film dance eventually film scholars named concept dance dance created medium film origins kelly films film scholar described dance distinctive strengths dancing filmmaking adds kelly elevated hollywood dance simplistic display dancing photographic ability perception incorporates dancer camera developed balance camera dancer encouraged photographer choreographer contribute significantly creation final effectiveness dance began gain momentum film industry hollywood studios recruited best talent broadway musical films films included promoted singing talking dancing film music 42nd street major success films established backstage musical plot revolves stage people involved putting musicals set standard genre placing musical numbers context stage performance story developing characters stated disliked films reaction backstage musicals credits producer freed driving force transition adding freed sort instinct change musical backstage world didn know change change kelly stated person knew understood musicals progress better suit film medium techniques kelly films set new standards special effects animation editing cinematography collaboration cover girl firmly established intentions particularly alter ego dance sequence employed special effect achieved live advancing story revealing character inner conflict kelly tested limits film potential jerry mouse dance time sophisticated combinations live action animation time ball game perfected called indication changing trends musical films differed berkeley relatively small scale affairs place major emphasis comedy transitions narrative lyrics personalities performance skills stars spectacle group dynamics credits kelly making musicals realistic compared berkeley style separation narrative space performance space ball game berkeley film director today viewed passing torch kelly found working berkeley difficult director left film completion kelly directed work able realize ambitions kelly released town opened film extravagant musical number shot location new_york fast paced editing experimental camera work breaking conventions time celebrated film rain appropriately musical birth movie musical film includes musical montage says making fun stated rain references berkeley marks time hollywood musical extravagant non dancing overhead floral pattern predominantly featured line tap dancing seen knees stated film cinematography moves audience perspective dance singled film famous title number states moment technically accomplished dance present feeling swinging circle open umbrella brilliantly choice movement readily identifiable audience know actual dance accompanying movement high crane shot takes place time kelly swinging widest arcs umbrella effect finest single example application camera dance moment kelly canon complimented direction moses number including certain camera techniques shot medium shot ending shot beginning credits earlier musicals integrated states early musicals clear beginning characters going sing gene didn far moses sort talk song continued use special effect shots create elaborate dance sequences kelly sophisticated animation film invitation dance relationship gene kelly relationship complicated spoke friend mentor decades worked kelly explicitly negative later years asserted kelly comments demonstrated long standing attempt diminish contributions collective work reasons conflict personal men married dancer professional felt kelly treat equal disagreed deserved credit joint projects film directors age enrolled gene kelly studio dance pennsylvania developed crush twenties cast best foot forward kelly met later moving hollywood marriage strained separated divorced marriage frustration kelly making town find immediately took kelly worked kelly personal assistant films married continued assisting kelly death rumors held kelly having affair marriage love kelly wife blair autobiography makes mention affair kelly romantic relationship state marriage unhappy close kelly kelly said marriage showed emotional lack good judgment stated marriage stanley doomed start time stanley looked saw loved time looked stanley guess saw way pretty kelly marriage blair ended moved married children died november musical glorious feeling depicted making rain love triangle kelly professional conflict kelly relationship described similar characters rain kelly star performer trusted sidekick kelly described like son initially kelly finding cold rough credited kelly jump starting career filmmaker stated mgm producer biggest promoter people believe owed kelly kelly biographer described having particular identity evident talent kid south wanted business stated moved hollywood accord sources state followed kelly helped job kelly public able dance steps rehearsals cover girl admitted consider great performer despite growing resentment kelly able contain feelings professional attitude collaborations tensions exploded set fair weather recent hits deep heart seven seven brothers want film kelly fought set time confident asserting quit film friendship kelly ended tensions included hit films compared kelly closely involved wanted direct flop kelly ambitious film invitation dance financially unsuccessful shooting seven brothers complained budgetary constraints larger budget time kelly unsuccessfully attempted dramatic acting devil makes marriage ending later years state nice kelly tribute green kelly said public speech needed grow added needed stanley camera described thought boy mgm complained kelly gave credit work kelly credit jerry mouse dance sequences said grateful paid debt times got money worth claimed surprised bitterness kelly directorial careers relative importance men contributions debated critics wrote problem assessing career collaboration real standing director remarked career suggests filmed singing rain retreating crane shot set reports state kelly rode camera boom shots camera set ups stated time beginning end million times remember instances remember getting idea said gene prime stanley eager talented pupil shooting town correspondence mgm production addressed exclusively kelly actress stated people visited set rain relate experiences silent era ask speak kelly rain art director stated gene ran stan good ideas worked gene office boy gene sense gene great respect kelly involved rain script draft structure began resemble final version kelly films solo directors usually critically acclaimed financially successful kelly films kelly film hello credited effectively killing hollywood musical personal life married divorced times children wife dancer choreographer actress married april divorced second wife actress girlfriend protégé later married actor marshall sons born born provided grant character marshall married lengthy custody battle sons marshall married wagner moved england wife previously second wife 2nd married son born lived london separated fourth wife american actress married remained close friends divorce fifth wife thirty years junior proposed days having met married early 1940s dated actress working broadway dated year second marriages current longtime companion writer director dated claimed proposed marriage times eldest son visual effects artist worked films designed title credits blame rio died heart attack age second son film producer worked films quick dead television series blood sand stanley son worked production assistant blame rio father died south_carolina mother helen died south_carolina delivered eulogy funeral deaths 2000s surviving notable film director hollywood golden age occasionally appears film festivals continued develop ideas film projects subject documentary stanley december announced pre production new film written produced table reading script potential investors included actors celebration birthday retrospective work titled talent little luck celebration stanley held july august columbia south_carolina retrospective included tour childhood neighborhood lecture film screenings nickelodeon movie theater frequented child filmography
Stanley Donen