Robert Zigler Leonard (October 7, 1889 – August 27, 1968) was an American film director, actor, producer, and screenwriter.

Biography

He was born in Chicago, Illinois. At one time, he was married to silent star

Mae Murray Mae Murray (born Marie Adrienne Koenig; May 10, 1885 – March 23, 1965) was an American actress, dancer, film producer, and screenwriter. Murray rose to fame during the silent film era and was known as "The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips" and "Th ...

with the two forming

Tiffany Pictures Tiffany Pictures, which also became Tiffany-Stahl Productions for a time, was a Hollywood motion picture studio in operation from 1921 until 1932. It is considered a Poverty Row studio, whose films had lower budgets, lesser-known stars, and overall ...

to film eight motion pictures that were released by

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director for ''

The Divorcee ''The Divorcee'' is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film written by Nick Grindé, John Meehan, and Zelda Sears, based on the 1929 novel ''Ex-Wife'' by Ursula Parrott. It was directed by Robert Z. Leonard, who was nominated for the Academy ...

'' and ''

The Great Ziegfeld ''The Great Ziegfeld'' is a 1936 American musical drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and produced by Hunt Stromberg. It stars William Powell as the theatrical impresario Florenz "Flo" Ziegfeld Jr., Luise Rainer as Anna Held, and ...

''. Both were nominated for

Best Picture This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

, and the latter won. Known by his nickname Pop, Leonard was brought in late by MGM as a reliable director who could get its ''Pride and Prejudice'' (1940), starring

Greer Garson Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson (29 September 1904 – 6 April 1996) was an English-American actress and singer. She was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer who became popular during the Second World War for her portrayal of strong women on the hom ...

and Laurence Olivier, onto the big screen. One of the more unusual credits in his filmography is the film noir thriller ''

The Bribe ''The Bribe'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by Robert Z. Leonard and written by Marguerite Roberts, based on a story written by Frederick Nebel. The drama features Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Charles Laughton, and Vincent Price. Plot F ...

'' (1949) with its sleazy settings, slippery characters, and steamy atmosphere. Robert Leonard died in 1968 in Beverly Hills, California of an aneurysm. He is interred at

Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park is a privately owned cemetery in Glendale, California. It is the original and current flagship location of Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries, a chain of six cemeteries and four additional mortuaries in Southern Cal ...

, near his wife Gertrude Olmstead.

Legacy

On February 8, 1960, Robert Leonard received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to the motion picture industry, at 6370 Hollywood Blvd. Themasterkey 1914 newspaperad

Filmography

Director

* '' Sally Scraggs, Housemaid'' (1913) * ''

The Ruby Circle Richelle Mead (born November 12, 1976) is an American fantasy author. She is known for the ''Georgina Kincaid'' series, ''Vampire Academy'', '' Bloodlines'' and the '' Dark Swan'' series. Education and career Richelle Mead was born in Michigan, ...

'' (1914) * '' The Master Key'' (1914) * ''

Christmas Memories ''Christmas Memories'' is the second Christmas album and twenty-ninth studio release by American singer Barbra Streisand. It was released on October 30, 2001, by Columbia. Streisand recorded the album during July, August, and September 2001 in v ...

'' (1915) * '' Judge Not'' (1915) * '' The Crippled Hand'' (1916) * '' The Plow Girl'' (1916) * ''

The Love Girl ''The Love Girl'' is a 1916 American silent comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Ella Hall, Adele Farrington and Kingsley Benedict.Langman p.143 Cast * Ella Hall as Ambrosia * Adele Farrington as Ambrosia's Aunt Betty * Kingsle ...

'' (1916) * ''

Little Eve Edgarton ''Little Eve Edgarton'' is a 1916 American silent comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Ella Hall, Doris Pawn and Gretchen Lederer.Spehr & Lundquist p.351 Cast * Ella Hall as Eve Edgarton * Doris Pawn as Miss Van Eaton * Gretche ...

'' (1916) * ''

The Eagle's Wings ''The Eagle's Wings'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Grace Carlyle, Vola Vale and Herbert Rawlinson.Codori p.78 Cast * Grace Carlyle as Mona Wright * Vola Vale as Kitty Miles * Herbert Rawlinso ...

'' (1916) * '' Secret Love'' (1916) * '' On Record'' (1917) * '' A Mormon Maid'' (1917) * ''

The Primrose Ring ''The Primrose Ring'' is a novel by Ruth Sawyer, published first in 1915 and illustrated by Fanny Munsell. This was Sawyer's first published novel. She later wrote the 1937 Newbery Medal winner ''Roller Skates''. Film adaptation The novel was ...

'' (1917) * '' At First Sight'' (1917) * ''

Princess Virtue ''Princess Virtue'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Mae Murray, Lule Warrenton and Wheeler Oakman. An incomplete copy was found and kept in the Library of Congress. Prints and/or fragments were foun ...

'' (1917) * '' The Bride's Awakening'' (1918) * '' Danger, Go Slow'' (1918) * '' Her Body in Bond'' (1918) * '' Face Value'' (1918) * '' Modern Love'' (1918) * '' Big Little Person'' (1919) * ''

The Miracle of Love "The Miracle of Love" is an electropop ballad recorded by British duo Eurythmics. It was written by Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart. The track was released as the third single from the duo's sixth alb ...

'' (1919) * '' The Scarlet Shadow'' (1919) * ''

The Delicious Little Devil ''The Delicious Little Devil'' is a 1919 American silent comedy-drama film starring Mae Murray and Rudolph Valentino. A 35 mm print of the film is housed at the EYE Film Instituut Nederland,The Way of a Woman'' (1919) * '' What Am I Bid?'' (1919) * '' Stronger Than Death'' (1920) * ''

April Folly ''April Folly'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and written by Adrian Johnson and Cynthia Stockley. The film stars Marion Davies, Madeline Marshall, Hattie Delaro, Amelia Summerville, Conway Tearle, J. Herbe ...

'' (1920) * '' The Restless Sex'' (1920) * '' Heedless Moths'' (1921) * '' The Gilded Lily'' (1921) * '' Peacock Alley'' (1922) * '' Fascination'' (1922) * '' Broadway Rose'' (1922) * ''

Jazzmania ''Jazzmania'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring his then-wife Mae Murray. In keeping with Murray's previous films and a few of her succeeding films, the movie possesses some of the most provocative ...

'' (1923) * '' The French Doll'' (1923) * ''

Fashion Row ''Fashion Row'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Mae Murray in a dual role, Earle Foxe, and Freeman Wood. The film involves two Russian sisters emigrate to America. One tries to hide her peasant or ...

'' (1923) * '' Love's Wilderness'' (1924) * ''

Mademoiselle Midnight ''Mademoiselle Midnight'' is a 1924 American silent drama film starring Mae Murray and directed by Murray's then husband, Robert Z. Leonard. The film was written by Carl Harbaugh and John Russell. The film was the final release of Metro under ...

'' (1924) * ''

Circe, the Enchantress ''Circe, the Enchantress'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard. The film starred Leonard's then-wife Mae Murray. This was their last collaboration, and they divorced soon after. Considered to be a lost film for de ...

'' (1924) * ''

Cheaper to Marry ''Cheaper to Marry'' is a 1925 American film starring Conrad Nagel, Lewis Stone, Marguerite De La Motte and Paulette Duval. The film was directed by Robert Z. Leonard, and written by Alice D. G. Miller based upon a play by Samuel Shipman. Plo ...

'' (1925) * '' Time, the Comedian'' (1925) * '' Bright Lights'' (1925) * '' Dance Madness'' (1926) * '' Mademoiselle Modiste'' (1926) * '' The Waning Sex'' (1926) * ''

A Little Journey ''A Little Journey'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and featuring Claire Windsor, William Haines and Harry Carey. It is based on a play by Rachel Crothers. No prints are thought to survive of this film. It ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Demi-Bride ''The Demi-Bride'' is a 1927 American comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard, depicting the naughtiness synonymous with Paris at the time. The film is considered lost. A one minute fragment was shared by the Eye Filmmuseum. Synopsis Crique ...

'' (1927) * '' Adam and Evil'' (1927) * '' Tea for Three'' (1927) * '' The Cardboard Lover'' (1928) * '' A Lady of Chance'' (1928) * '' Baby Mine'' (1928) * ''

Marianne Marianne () has been the national personification of the French Republic since the French Revolution, as a personification of liberty, equality, fraternity and reason, as well as a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty. Marianne is displayed in ...

'' (1929, silent) * ''

'' (1929, musical) * '' In Gay Madrid'' (1930) * ''

Let Us Be Gay ''Let Us Be Gay'' is a 1930 American pre-Code romantic comedy-drama film produced and distributed by MGM. It was directed by Robert Z. Leonard and stars Norma Shearer. It was filmed concurrently with and based upon the 1929 play by Rachel Croth ...

'' (1930) * ''

The Bachelor Father ''The Bachelor Father '' is a 1931 American pre-Code MGM comedy drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Marion Davies and featuring Ralph Forbes, C. Aubrey Smith, Ray Milland and Guinn Williams (actor), Guinn "Big Boy" Williams. ...

'' (1931) * ''

Five and Ten ''Five and Ten'' is a 1931 American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by an uncredited Robert Z. Leonard and starring Marion Davies, Leslie Howard and Irene Rich. Davies plays as an heiress and Howard the man she loves, though he marries s ...

'' (1931) * '' It's a Wise Child'' (1931) * ''

Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) ''Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)'' is a 1931 American pre-Code film directed and produced by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Greta Garbo and Clark Gable. The film was based on the novel by David Graham Phillips and made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. ...

'' (1931) * ''

The Son-Daughter ''The Son-Daughter'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Clarence Brown and written by John F. Goodrich, Claudine West, and Leon Gordon, adapted from the play of the same name by David Belasco. The film stars Helen Hayes, Ramon N ...

'' (1932) * ''

Strange Interlude ''Strange Interlude'' is an experimental play in nine acts by American playwright Eugene O'Neill. O'Neill began work on it as early as 1923 and developed its scenario in 1925; he wrote the play between May 1926 and the summer of 1927, and complete ...

'' (1932) * ''

Dancing Lady ''Dancing Lady'' is a 1933 American pre-Code musical film starring Joan Crawford and Clark Gable, and featuring Franchot Tone, Fred Astaire, Robert Benchley, and Ted Healy and His Stooges (who later became The Three Stooges with Curly, ...

'' (1933) * '' When Ladies Meet'' (1933) * '' Peg o' My Heart'' (1933) * '' Outcast Lady'' (1934) * '' After Office Hours'' (1935) * '' Naughty Marietta'' (1935) * ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in ...

'' (1935) * '' Escapade'' (1935) * '' Piccadilly Jim'' (1936) * ''

'' (1936) * '' Small Town Girl'' (1936) * '' The Firefly'' (1937) * '' Maytime'' (1937) * '' The Girl of the Golden West'' (1938) * ''

Broadway Serenade ''Broadway Serenade'' (also known as ''Serenade'') is a 1939 musical drama film distributed by MGM, produced and directed by Robert Z. Leonard. The screenplay was written by Charles Lederer, based on a story by Lew Lipton, John Taintor Foote an ...

'' (1939) * '' New Moon'' (1940) * '' Pride and Prejudice'' (1940) * '' Third Finger, Left Hand'' (1940) * ''

Ziegfeld Girl Ziegfeld Girls were the chorus girls and showgirls from Florenz Ziegfeld's theatrical Broadway revue spectaculars known as the '' Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), in New York City, which were based on the Folies Bergère of Paris. Desc ...

'' (1941) * '' When Ladies Meet'' (1941) * ''

Stand by for Action ''Stand By for Action'' (British title: ''Cargo of Innocents'') is a 1942 American black-and-white U.S. Navy war film from MGM, directed by Robert Z. Leonard, and starring Robert Taylor (American actor), Robert Taylor, Brian Donlevy, Charles Laug ...

'' (1942) * ''

We Were Dancing ''We Were Dancing'' is a short comic play in two scenes by Noël Coward. It is one of ten short plays that make up '' Tonight at 8.30'', a cycle written to be performed in groups of three plays across three evenings. The original production, ...

'' (1942) * '' The Man from Down Under'' (1943) * ''

Marriage Is a Private Affair ''Marriage is a Private Affair'' is a 1944 war-comedy film, directed by Robert Z. Leonard, based on novel ''Marriage Is a Private Affair'' (1941) by Judith Kelly. It stars Lana Turner, Frances Gifford and James Craig. Plot During World War II ...

'' (1944) * ''

Week-End at the Waldorf ''Week-End at the Waldorf'', an American comedy drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, and Van Johnson. It premiered in Los Angeles on 17 October 1945. The screenplay by Samuel and Bella ...

'' (1945) * ''

The Secret Heart ''The Secret Heart'' is a 1946 film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Claudette Colbert, Walter Pidgeon and June Allyson. Plot Lee (Claudette Colbert) is engaged to marry Larry Adams (Richard Derr), a spendthrift widower with two childr ...

'' (1946) * ''

Cynthia Cynthia is a feminine given name of Greek origin: , , "from Mount Cynthus" on Delos island. The name has been in use in the Anglosphere since the 1600s. There are various spellings for this name, and it can be abbreviated to Cindy, Cyndi, Cyndy, ...

'' (1947) * '' B.F.'s Daughter'' (1948) * ''

In the Good Old Summertime ''In the Good Old Summertime'' is a 1949 American Technicolor musical film directed by Robert Z. Leonard. It stars Judy Garland, Van Johnson, S.Z. Sakall, Spring Byington, Clinton Sundberg, and Buster Keaton in his first featured film role at M ...

'' (1949) * ''

Duchess of Idaho Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ranke ...

'' (1950) * '' Nancy Goes to Rio'' (1950) * '' Grounds for Marriage'' (1951) * '' Too Young to Kiss'' (1951) * '' Everything I Have Is Yours'' (1952) * '' The Clown'' (1953) *''

The Great Diamond Robbery ''The Great Diamond Robbery'' is a 1954 American comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Red Skelton, James Whitmore, Cara Williams and Reginald Owen. It was produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Plot A diamond potential ...

'' (1953) * ''

Her Twelve Men ''Her Twelve Men'' is a 1954 American comedy drama film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It stars Oscar-winning Greer Garson, and was directed by Robert Z. Leonard, and written by William Roberts and Laura Z. Hobson. It was based on the best-sellin ...

'' (1954) * ''

Beautiful But Dangerous ''Beautiful But Dangerous'' (also released as ''La donna più bella del mondo''/ ''The World's Most Beautiful Woman'') is a 1956 French-Italian comedy drama romance film directed by Robert Z. Leonard. The picture is a biopic about Italian opera ...

'' (1955) * '' The King's Thief'' (1955) (replaced

Hugo Fregonese Hugo Geronimo Fregonese (April 8, 1908 in Mendoza – January 11, 1987 in Tigre) was an Argentine film director and screenwriter who worked both in Hollywood and his home country.''Cine Nacional''Hugo Fregonese filmography Cinenacional.com ...

during filming) * '' Kelly and Me'' (1957)

Actor

* '' The Sea Urchin'' (1913) * ''

Shon the Piper ''Shon the Piper'' is a 1913 American silent short historical romantic drama film directed by Otis Turner and starring Robert Z. Leonard and Lon Chaney. The film follows a Scottish Duke who disguises himself as a piper and falls in love wit ...

'' (1913) * '' Sally Scraggs, Housemaid'' (1913) * ''

'' (1914) * ''

'' (1915) * '' The Crippled Hand'' (1916) * '' Married Flirts'' (1924) * ''

Show People ''Show People'' is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by King Vidor. The film was a starring vehicle for actress Marion Davies and actor William Haines and included notable cameo appearances by many of the film personalities of the d ...

'' (1928) * '' The Firefly'' (1937) * ''

Abbott and Costello in Hollywood ''Abbott and Costello in Hollywood'' is a 1945 American black-and-white comedy film directed by S. Sylvan Simon and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello alongside Frances Rafferty. Made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was produced by Marti ...

'' (1945, cameo scene with

Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedienne and producer. She was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning five times, and was the recipient of several other accolades, such as the Golde ...

and

Preston Foster Preston Stratton Foster (August 24, 1900 – July 14, 1970), was an American actor of stage, film, radio, and television, whose career spanned nearly four decades. He also had a career as a vocalist. Early life Born in Ocean City, New Jersey ...

)

References

External links

* *
Robert Z. Leonard
at Virtual History
Robert Z. Leonard portrait from the 1910s
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leonard, Robert Z. 1889 births 1968 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors Film producers from Illinois American male screenwriters Male actors from Chicago 20th-century American male actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Film directors from Illinois Screenwriters from Illinois 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters