HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Frank Borzage (; April 23, 1894 – June 19, 1962) was an
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
-winning American
film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, pr ...
and actor, known for directing '' 7th Heaven'' (1927), '' Street Angel'' (1928), '' Bad Girl'' (1931), ''
A Farewell to Arms ''A Farewell to Arms'' is a novel by American writer Ernest Hemingway, set during the Italian campaign of World War I. First published in 1929, it is a first-person account of an American, Frederic Henry, serving as a lieutenant () in the a ...
'' (1932), '' Man's Castle'' (1933), '' History Is Made at Night'' (1937), '' The Mortal Storm'' (1940) and ''Moonrise'' (1948).


Biography

Borzage's father, Luigi Borzaga, was born in Ronzone (then
Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire (german: link=no, Kaiserthum Oesterreich, modern spelling , ) was a Central- Eastern European multinational great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence, ...
, now Italy) in 1859. As a stonemason, he sometimes worked in Switzerland; he met his future wife, Maria Ruegg (1860, , Switzerland1947, Los Angeles), where she worked in a silk factory. Borzaga emigrated to Hazleton, Pennsylvania]in the early 1880s, where he worked as a coal miner. He brought his fiancée to the United States, and they married in Hazleton in 1883. Their first child, Henry, was born in 1885. The Borzaga family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where Frank Borzage was born in 1894, and the family remained there until 1919. The couple had 14 children, eight of whom survived childhood: Henry (1885–1971), Mary Emma (1886–1906), Bill (1892–1973), Frank, Daniel (1896–1975, a performer and member of the John Ford Stock Company), Lew (1898–1974), Dolly (1901–2002) and Sue (1905–1998). Luigi Borzaga died in Los Angeles in a car accident in 1934; his wife Maria (Frank's mother) died of cancer in 1947.


Career

In 1912, Frank Borzage found employment as an actor in Hollywood; he continued to work as an actor until 1917. His directorial debut came in 1915 with the film ''The Pitch o' Chance''. Borzage was a successful director throughout the 1920s; he reached his peak in the late silent and early sound era. Absorbing visual influences from the German director
F.W. Murnau Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau (born Friedrich Wilhelm Plumpe; December 28, 1888March 11, 1931) was a German film director, producer and screenwriter. He was greatly influenced by Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Shakespeare and Ibsen plays he had seen at th ...
, who was also resident at Fox at this time, he developed his own style of lushly visual romanticism in a hugely successful series of films starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, including '' 7th Heaven'' (1927), for which he won the first
Academy Award for Best Director The Academy Award for Best Director (officially known as the Academy Award of Merit for Directing) is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given in honor of a film director who has exhibi ...
, '' Street Angel'' (1928) and '' Lucky Star'' (1929). He won a second Oscar for 1931's '' Bad Girl''. He directed 14 films from 1917 to 1919 alone; his greatest success in the silent era was with '' Humoresque'' (1920), a box-office winner starring Vera Gordon. Borzage's trademark was intense identification with the feelings of young lovers in the face of adversity, with love in his films triumphing over such trials as World War I ('' 7th Heaven'' and ''
A Farewell to Arms ''A Farewell to Arms'' is a novel by American writer Ernest Hemingway, set during the Italian campaign of World War I. First published in 1929, it is a first-person account of an American, Frederic Henry, serving as a lieutenant () in the a ...
''), disability ('' Lucky Star''), the Depression ('' Man's Castle''), a thinly disguised version of the
Titanic RMS ''Titanic'' was a British passenger liner, operated by the White Star Line, which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, Unite ...
disaster in '' History Is Made at Night'', and the rise of
Nazism Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) i ...
, a theme which Borzage had virtually to himself among Hollywood filmmakers, including '' Little Man, What Now?'' (1933), '' Three Comrades'' (1938), and '' The Mortal Storm'' (1940). His work took a spiritual turn in films such as '' Green Light'' (1937), '' Strange Cargo'' (1940) and ''
The Big Fisherman ''The Big Fisherman'' is a 1959 American historical drama film directed by Frank Borzage about the life of Simon Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus. Starring Howard Keel, Susan Kohner and John Saxon, the production is adapted from the 194 ...
'' (1959). Of his later work, only ''
Moonrise Moonrise and moonset are times when the upper limb of the Moon appears above the horizon and disappears below it, respectively. The exact times depend on the lunar phase and declination, as well as the observer's location. As viewed from outsid ...
'' (1948) has enjoyed much critical acclaim. After 1948, his output was sporadic. In 1955 and 1957, Borzage was awarded The George Eastman Award, given by
George Eastman House The George Eastman Museum, also referred to as ''George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography and Film'', the world's oldest museum dedicated to photography and one of the world's oldest film archives, opened to the public in 1949 in ...
for distinguished contribution to the art of film. For his contributions to the film industry, Borzage received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. The star is located at 6300 Hollywood Boulevard. He was the original director of ''
Journey Beneath the Desert ''Journey Beneath the Desert'' ( it, Antinea, l'amante della città sepolta) is a 1961 adventure film based on the novel '' Atlantida'' by Pierre Benoit. Cast * Jean-Louis Trintignant - Pierre * Haya Harareet - Queen Antinea * Georges Rivièr ...
'' (1961), but was too unwell to continue, and Edgar G. Ulmer took over. Borzage was uncredited for the sequences he did direct. While hospitalized in February 1962, he received the D. W. Griffith Award. He was an officer and board member of the
Directors Guild of America The Directors Guild of America (DGA) is an entertainment guild that represents the interests of film director, film and television director, television directors in the United States motion picture industry and abroad. Founded as the Screen Dire ...
.


Personal life

On June 7, 1916, Borzage married vaudeville and film actress Lorena "Rena" Rogers in Los Angeles and remained married until 1941. In 1945, he married Edna Stillwell Skelton, the ex-wife of comedian
Red Skelton Richard Red Skelton (July 18, 1913September 17, 1997) was an American entertainer best known for his national radio and television shows between 1937 and 1971, especially as host of the television program ''The Red Skelton Show''. He has stars ...
; they were divorced in 1949. He was married to Juanita when he died. He was a keen sportsman, with a 3-goal polo handicap and a two handicap in golf, and a yachtsman. Borzage died of cancer in 1962, aged 68, and he was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.


Filmography


Director

* ''
The Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In the battle, Union Major General George Meade's Army of the ...
'' (1913) * '' Granddad'' (1913) * ''
The Mystery of Yellow Aster Mine ''The Mystery of Yellow Aster Mine'' is a 1913 American short drama silent black and white film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Wallace Reid, Pauline Bush and Arthur Rosson. It was made in June and released on August 26. Cast * Wallace ...
'' (1913) * ''
The Gratitude of Wanda ''The Gratitude of Wanda'' is a 1913 American short drama silent black and white film directed by Wallace Reid, written by Bess Meredyth and starring Pauline Bush, Arthur Rosson, Jessalyn Van Trump and Frank Borzage. Reid also appears in the ...
'' (1913) * ''
The Geisha ''The Geisha, a story of a tea house'' is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts. The score was composed by Sidney Jones to a libretto by Owen Hall, with lyrics by Harry Greenbank. Additional songs were written by Lionel Monckton and James P ...
'' (1914) * '' Samson'' (1914) * '' The Wrath of the Gods'' (1914) * ''
The Typhoon ''The Typhoon'' is a 1914 American drama film directed by Reginald Barker, written by Melchior Lengyel, and starring Sessue Hayakawa, Gladys Brockwell, Frank Borzage, Henry Kotani and Leona Hutton. It was released on October 10, 1914, by Paramoun ...
'' (1914) * '' Knight of the Trail'' (1915) * '' The Pitch o' Chance'' (1915) * '' The Pride and the Man'' (1916) * '' Dollars of Dross'' (1916) * '' Life's Harmony'' (1916) * '' The Silken Spider'' (1916) * ''The Code of Honor'' (1916) * '' Two Bits'' (1916) * '' A Flickering Light'' (1916) * '' Unlucky Luke'' (1916) * '' Jack'' (1916) * '' The Pilgrim'' (1916) * '' The Demon of Fear'' (1916) * '' The Quicksands of Deceit'' (1916) * '' Nugget Jim's Pardner'' (1916) * '' That Gal of Burke's'' (1916) * '' The Courtin' of Calliope Clew'' (1916) * '' Nell Dale's Men Folks'' (1916) * '' The Forgotten Prayer'' (1916) * '' Matchin' Jim'' (1916) * '' Land o' Lizards'' (1916) * '' Immediate Lee'' (1916) * '' Flying Colors'' (1917) * '' Until They Get Me'' (1917) * ''
A Mormon Maid ''A Mormon Maid'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and written by Charles Sarver and Paul West. While traveling westward with her family, Dora must face the proposal to become a Mormon elders sixth wife. The fil ...
'' (1917) * '' Wee Lady Betty'' (1917) * '' The Gun Woman'' (1918) * ''
The Curse of Iku ''The Curse of Iku'' is a 1918 American drama film directed by Frank Borzage and featuring Borzage, Tsuru Aoki, and Thomas Kurihara in lead dual roles. It is not known whether the film currently survives.
'' (1918) * '' The Shoes That Danced'' (1918) * '' Innocent's Progress'' (1918) * '' Society for Sale'' (1918) * '' An Honest Man'' (1918) * ''
Who Is to Blame? ''Who is to Blame?'' (russian: Кто виноват?) is a novel by Alexander Herzen. History ''Who is to Blame?'' was first published in the journal ''Otechestvennye Zapiski'' (1845-1846), with some cuts by the censor. It was published in book ...
'' (1918) * '' The Ghost Flower'' (1918) * ''
The Atom The Atom is a name shared by five superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original Golden Age Atom, Al Pratt, was created by writer Bill O'Connor and artist Ben Flinton and first appeared in All-American Pub ...
'' (1918) * '' Toton the Apache'' (1919) * ''
Whom the Gods Would Destroy The saying Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad, sometimes given in Latin as ''Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat'' (literally: Those whom God wishes to destroy, he first deprives of reason) or ''Quem Iuppiter vult perdere, dementa ...
'' (1919) * ''
Prudence on Broadway ''Prudence on Broadway'' is a lost 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Olive Thomas. It was produced and distributed by the Triangle Film Corporation. Cast *Olive Thomas as Prudence *Francis McDonald as Grays ...
'' (1919) * '' Humoresque'' (1920) * '' Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford'' (1921) * ''
The Duke of Chimney Butte ''The Duke of Chimney Butte'' is a 1921 American silent western film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Fred Stone, Vola Vale and Josie Sedgwick.Munden p.206 Cast * Fred Stone as Jeremeah Lambert * Vola Vale as Vesta Philbrook * Josie Sedgw ...
'' (1921) * '' Back Pay'' (1922) * '' Billy Jim'' (1922) * '' The Good Provider'' (1922) * '' The Valley of Silent Men'' (1922) * ''
The Pride of Palomar ''The Pride of Palomar'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Frank Borzage and written by Grant Carpenter, Peter B. Kyne, and John Lynch. The film stars Forrest Stanley, Marjorie Daw, Tote Du Crow, James O. Barrows, Joseph J. ...
'' (1922) * ''
The Nth Commandment ''The Nth Commandment'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Colleen Moore. It is based on a story, ''The Nth Commandment'', by Fannie Hurst, a well-known novelist of the day. The film's title jests some ...
'' (1923) * '' Children of Dust'' (1923) * '' The Age of Desire'' (1923) * '' Secrets'' (1924) * '' The Lady'' (1925) * '' Daddy's Gone A-Hunting'' (1925) * '' The Circle'' (1925) * '' Lazybones'' (1925) * ''
Wages for Wives ''Wages for Wives'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Jacqueline Logan, Creighton Hale, Earle Foxe, ZaSu Pitts, Claude Gillingwater, and David Butler. The film was released by Fox Film Corporation on ...
'' (1925) * '' The First Year'' (1926) * '' The Dixie Merchant'' (1926) * '' Early to Wed'' (1926) * '' Marriage License?'' (1926) * '' 7th Heaven'' (1927) * '' Street Angel'' (1928) * '' Lucky Star'' (1929) * ''
They Had to See Paris ''They Had to See Paris'' is a 1929 American Pre-Code comedy film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Will Rogers, Irene Rich, and Marguerite Churchill. The screenplay concerns a wealthy American oil tycoon who travels to Paris with his fam ...
'' (1929) * '' The River'' (1929) * ''
Song o' My Heart ''Song o' My Heart'' is a 1930 Pre-Code American film directed by Frank Borzage and starring John McCormack, Alice Joyce, Maureen O'Sullivan, Effie Ellsler and John Garrick. It was O'Sullivan's second film role. The film was double-shot in bot ...
'' (1930) * ''
Liliom ''Liliom'' is a 1909 play by the Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnár. It was well known in its own right during the early to mid-20th century, but is best known today as the basis for the Rodgers and Hammerstein 1945 musical ''Carousel''. P ...
'' (1930) * '' Doctors' Wives'' (1931) * '' Young as You Feel'' (1931) * '' Bad Girl'' (1931) * '' After Tomorrow'' (1932) * '' Young America'' (1932) * ''
A Farewell to Arms ''A Farewell to Arms'' is a novel by American writer Ernest Hemingway, set during the Italian campaign of World War I. First published in 1929, it is a first-person account of an American, Frederic Henry, serving as a lieutenant () in the a ...
'' (1932) * '' Secrets'' (1933) * '' Man's Castle'' (1933) * '' No Greater Glory'' (1934) * '' Little Man, What Now?'' (1934) * ''
Flirtation Walk ''Flirtation Walk'' is a 1934 American romantic musical film written by Delmer Daves and Lou Edelman, and directed by Frank Borzage. It focuses on a soldier (Dick Powell) who falls in love with a general's daughter (Ruby Keeler) during the gene ...
'' (1934) * '' Living on Velvet'' (1935) * '' Stranded'' (1935) * ''
Shipmates Forever ''Shipmates Forever'' is a 1935 American musical film directed by Frank Borzage and written by Delmer Daves. Set at the United States Naval Academy, the film stars Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Lewis Stone, Ross Alexander, John Arledge, Eddie Acuff, ...
'' (1935) * '' Desire'' (1936) * ''
Hearts Divided ''Hearts Divided'' is a 1936 American musical film about the real-life marriage between American Elizabeth 'Betsy' Patterson and Jérôme Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon. It stars Marion Davies and Dick Powell as the couple. The film was a remake ...
'' (1936) * '' Green Light'' (1937) * '' History Is Made at Night'' (1937) * '' Big City'' (1937) * ''
Mannequin A mannequin (also called a dummy, lay figure, or dress form) is a doll, often articulated, used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, window dressers and others, especially to display or fit clothing and show off different fabrics and textiles. ...
'' (1937) * '' Three Comrades'' (1938) * ''
The Shining Hour ''The Shining Hour'' is a 1938 American romantic drama film directed by Frank Borzage, based on the 1934 play '' The Shining Hour'' by Keith Winter, and starring Joan Crawford and Margaret Sullavan. The supporting cast of the MGM film features ...
'' (1938) * ''
Disputed Passage ''Disputed Passage'' is a 1939 American drama war film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Dorothy Lamour, Akim Tamiroff, John Howard, Judith Barrett and William Collier, Sr. Set in war-torn China, the film was described by ''The New York Ti ...
'' (1939) * '' I Take This Woman'' (1940) * '' Strange Cargo'' (1940) * '' The Mortal Storm'' (1940) * '' Flight Command'' (1940) * '' Billy the Kid'' (1941) * '' Smilin' Through'' (1941) * '' The Vanishing Virginian'' (1942) * '' Seven Sweethearts'' (1942) * '' Stage Door Canteen'' (1943) * '' His Butler's Sister'' (1943) * '' Till We Meet Again'' (1944) * '' The Spanish Main'' (1945) * '' I've Always Loved You'' (1946) * '' Magnificent Doll'' (1946) * ''
That's My Man ''That's My Man'' is a 1947 American drama film directed by Frank Borzage, written by Steve Fisher and Bradley King, and starring Don Ameche, Catherine McLeod, Roscoe Karns, John Ridgely, Kitty Irish and Joe Frisco. It was released on June 1, ...
'' (1947) * ''
Moonrise Moonrise and moonset are times when the upper limb of the Moon appears above the horizon and disappears below it, respectively. The exact times depend on the lunar phase and declination, as well as the observer's location. As viewed from outsid ...
'' (1948) * ''
China Doll A china doll is a doll made partially or wholly out of glazed porcelain. The name comes from ''china'' being used to refer to the material porcelain. Colloquially the term ''china doll'' is sometimes used to refer to any porcelain or bisque doll, ...
'' (1958) * ''
The Big Fisherman ''The Big Fisherman'' is a 1959 American historical drama film directed by Frank Borzage about the life of Simon Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus. Starring Howard Keel, Susan Kohner and John Saxon, the production is adapted from the 194 ...
'' (1959) * ''
Journey Beneath the Desert ''Journey Beneath the Desert'' ( it, Antinea, l'amante della città sepolta) is a 1961 adventure film based on the novel '' Atlantida'' by Pierre Benoit. Cast * Jean-Louis Trintignant - Pierre * Haya Harareet - Queen Antinea * Georges Rivièr ...
'' (1961)


Actor

* ''
The Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In the battle, Union Major General George Meade's Army of the ...
'' (1913) - minor role, uncredited * ''
The Gratitude of Wanda ''The Gratitude of Wanda'' is a 1913 American short drama silent black and white film directed by Wallace Reid, written by Bess Meredyth and starring Pauline Bush, Arthur Rosson, Jessalyn Van Trump and Frank Borzage. Reid also appears in the ...
'' (1913, short) * '' Samson'' (1914) - Bearded Philistine, uncredited * '' The Wrath of the Gods'' (1914) - Tom Wilson * ''
The Typhoon ''The Typhoon'' is a 1914 American drama film directed by Reginald Barker, written by Melchior Lengyel, and starring Sessue Hayakawa, Gladys Brockwell, Frank Borzage, Henry Kotani and Leona Hutton. It was released on October 10, 1914, by Paramoun ...
'' (1914) - Renard Bernisky * ''The Cup of Life'' (1915) - Dick Ralston * '' Intolerance'' (1916) - minor role, uncredited * ''Land o' Lizards'' (1916) - The Stranger * ''Immediate Lee'' (1916) - Immediate Lee * ''The Pride and the Man'' (1916) * '' A School for Husbands'' (1917) - Hugh Aslam * ''
A Mormon Maid ''A Mormon Maid'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and written by Charles Sarver and Paul West. While traveling westward with her family, Dora must face the proposal to become a Mormon elders sixth wife. The fil ...
'' (1917) - Tom Rigdon * '' Wee Lady Betty'' (1917) - Roger O'Reilly * '' Flying Colors'' (1917) - uncredited * '' Fear Not'' (1917) - Franklin Shirley * '' The Gun Woman'' (1918) - Townsman - uncredited * ''
The Curse of Iku ''The Curse of Iku'' is a 1918 American drama film directed by Frank Borzage and featuring Borzage, Tsuru Aoki, and Thomas Kurihara in lead dual roles. It is not known whether the film currently survives.
'' (1918) - Allan Carroll / Allan Carroll III * ''
The Atom The Atom is a name shared by five superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original Golden Age Atom, Al Pratt, was created by writer Bill O'Connor and artist Ben Flinton and first appeared in All-American Pub ...
'' (1918) * '' Jeanne Eagels'' (1957) - as himself, uncredited


In popular culture

Borzage briefly appears as a character in
Horace McCoy Horace Stanley McCoy (April 14, 1897 – December 15, 1955) was an American writer whose mostly hardboiled stories took place during the Great Depression. His best-known novel is '' They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'' (1935), which was made into a ...
's 1935 novel '' They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'', when he attends its
dance marathon Dance marathons (or marathon dances) are events in which people dance or walk to music for an extended period of time. They started as dance contests in the 1920s and developed into entertainment events during the Great Depression in the 1930s. ...
setting as a spectator. The narrator, Robert Syverten, notices Borzage in the crowd and has a brief conversation with him, expressing his admiration of '' No Greater Glory'' and sharing his own ambition to become a film director.


References


Further reading

* Dumont, Hervé. ''Frank Borzage: the Life and Times of a Hollywood Romantic''. McFarland, 2006. * Lamster, Frederick. ''"Souls Made Great Through Love and Adversity": the Film Work of Frank Borzage''. Scarecrow, 1981.


External links

* *
Senses of Cinema: Great Directors Critical Database



''A Farewell to Arms'' (1932)
– This Borzage-directed adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's novel has fallen into the public domain and is available online through the
Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...
.
Frank Borzage and the Classic Hollywood Style
*
Frank Borzage
at Virtual History {{DEFAULTSORT:Borzage, Frank 1894 births 1962 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors Best Directing Academy Award winners Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Deaths from cancer in California People from Hazleton, Pennsylvania Male actors from Salt Lake City People from Greater Los Angeles Silent film directors Film directors from California Film directors from Utah 20th-century American male actors American film directors of Italian descent Film directors from Pennsylvania