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Victor Lonzo Fleming (February 23, 1889 – January 6, 1949) was an American film director,
cinematographer The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the photographing or recording of a film, television production, music video or other live action piece. The cinematographer is the ch ...
, and producer. His most popular films were '' Gone with the Wind'', for which he won an
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 ...
, and '' The Wizard of Oz'' (both 1939). Fleming has those same two films listed in the top 10 of the
American Film Institute The American Film Institute (AFI) is an American nonprofit film organization that educates filmmakers and honors the heritage of the motion picture arts in the United States. AFI is supported by private funding and public membership fees. Lead ...
's 2007 AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies list.


Biography


Early life

Fleming was born at the Banbury Ranch near what is now La Cañada Flintridge, California, the son of Eva (née Hartman) and William Richard Lonzo Fleming.


Career

He served in the photographic section for the
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...
during
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
, and acted as chief photographer for President
Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...
in
Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, ...
, France. Beginning in 1918, Fleming taught at and headed
Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
's School of Military Cinematography, training over 700 soldiers to cut, edit, shoot, develop, store and ship film; filmmakers that participated in the program included
Josef von Sternberg Josef von Sternberg (; born Jonas Sternberg; May 29, 1894 – December 22, 1969) was an Austrian-American filmmaker whose career successfully spanned the transition from the silent to the sound era, during which he worked with most of the major ...
,
Ernest B. Schoedsack Ernest Beaumont Schoedsack (June 8, 1893 – December 23, 1979) was an American motion picture cinematographer, producer, and director. Schoedsack worked as a cameraman in World War I, where he served in the Signal Corps. At the conclusion o ...
, and Lewis Milestone. He showed a mechanical aptitude early in life; while working as a car mechanic, he met the director
Allan Dwan Allan Dwan (born Joseph Aloysius Dwan; April 3, 1885 – December 28, 1981) was a pioneering Canadian-born American motion picture director, producer, and screenwriter. Early life Born Joseph Aloysius Dwan in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Dwan, wa ...
, who took him on as a camera assistant. He soon rose to the rank of cinematographer, working with both Dwan and
D. W. Griffith David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the motion picture, he pioneered many aspects of film editing and expanded the art of the n ...
, and directed his first film in 1919. Many of his
silent films A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...
were action movies, often starring Douglas Fairbanks, or Westerns. Because of his robust attitude and love of outdoor sports, he became known as a "man's director"; however, he also proved an effective director of women. Under his direction, Vivien Leigh won the Best Actress Oscar, Hattie McDaniel won for Best Supporting Actress, and
Olivia de Havilland Dame Olivia Mary de Havilland (; July 1, 1916July 26, 2020) was a British-American actress. The major works of her cinematic career spanned from 1935 to 1988. She appeared in 49 feature films and was one of the leading actresses of her time. ...
was nominated. In the opinion of veteran cinematographer
Archie Stout Archibald Job Stout (March 30, 1886 – March 10, 1973), ASC was an American cinematographer whose career spanned from 1914 to 1954. He enjoyed a long and fruitful association with John Ford, working as the principal cinematographer on '' Fort A ...
, of all the directors he worked with Fleming was the most knowledgeable when it came to camera angles and appropriate lenses.Donati, William (1996)
''Ida Lupino A Biography''
University press of Kentucky.
He was remembered by
Van Johnson Charles Van Dell Johnson (August 25, 1916 – December 12, 2008) was an American film, television, theatre and radio actor. He was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during and after World War II. Johnson was described as the embodiment ...
as a being a masterful director but a “tough man” to work for.


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

In 1932, Fleming joined MGM and directed some of the studio's most prestigious films. '' Red Dust'' (1932), '' Bombshell'' (1933), and '' Reckless'' (1935) showcasing Jean Harlow, while '' Treasure Island'' (1934) starring Wallace Beery and ''
Captains Courageous ''Captains Courageous: A Story of the Grand Banks'' is an 1897 novel by Rudyard Kipling that follows the adventures of fifteen-year-old Harvey Cheyne Jr., the spoiled son of a railroad tycoon, after he is saved from drowning by a Portuguese f ...
'' (1937) with
Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the first actor to win two cons ...
brought a touch of literary distinction to boy's-own adventure stories. His two most famous films came in 1939, when '' The Wizard of Oz'' was closely followed by '' Gone with the Wind''. Fleming's version of '' Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1941), with
Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the first actor to win two cons ...
, was generally rated below
Rouben Mamoulian Rouben Zachary Mamoulian ( ; hy, Ռուբէն Մամուլեան; October 8, 1897 – December 4, 1987) was an American film and theatre director. Early life Mamoulian was born in Tiflis, Russian Empire, to a family of Armenian descent. ...
's 1931 pre-code version, which had starred Fredric March. Fleming's 1942 film version of
John Steinbeck John Ernst Steinbeck Jr. (; February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer and the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature winner "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social ...
's ''
Tortilla Flat ''Tortilla Flat'' (1935) is an early John Steinbeck novel set in Monterey, California. The novel was the author's first clear critical and commercial success. The book portrays a group of 'paisanos'—literally, countrymen—a small band of er ...
'' starred Tracy,
John Garfield John Garfield (born Jacob Julius Garfinkle, March 4, 1913 – May 21, 1952) was an American actor who played brooding, rebellious, working-class characters. He grew up in poverty in New York City. In the early 1930s, he became a member of ...
, Hedy Lamarr, and Frank Morgan. Other films that Fleming made with Tracy include ''Captains Courageous'' (for which Tracy won his first Oscar), ''A Guy Named Joe'', and ''Test Pilot''. He directed
Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades ...
in a total of five films – ''Red Dust'', ''The White Sister'', ''Test Pilot'', ''Gone with the Wind'', and ''Adventure''.


Personal life

He owned the
Moraga Estate Moraga Estate is an American estate, vineyard and winery in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California. As of 2013, it was owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Overview The estate included a 7,500-square-foot, nine-fireplace Mediterranean Revival–style m ...
in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, then a horse ranch. Frequent guests to his estate included
Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades ...
, Vivien Leigh,
Ingrid Bergman Ingrid Bergman (29 August 191529 August 1982) was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films, television movies, and plays.Obituary '' Variety'', 1 September 1982. With a career spanning five decades, she is ofte ...
, and
Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the first actor to win two cons ...
. He died en route to a hospital in Cottonwood, Arizona after suffering a
heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...
on January 6, 1949. His death occurred shortly after completing ''
Joan of Arc Joan of Arc (french: link=yes, Jeanne d'Arc, translit= �an daʁk} ; 1412 – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the coronat ...
'' (1948) with Ingrid Bergman, one of the few films that he did not make for MGM. Despite mixed reviews, Fleming's film version of the life of
Joan Joan may refer to: People and fictional characters * Joan (given name), including a list of women, men and fictional characters *: Joan of Arc, a French military heroine *Joan (surname) Weather events *Tropical Storm Joan (disambiguation), multip ...
received seven Oscar nominations, winning two.


Political beliefs

It was reported in James Curtis' book ''Spencer Tracy: A Biography'' that
Anne Revere Anne Revere (June 25, 1903 – December 18, 1990) was an American actress and a progressive member of the board of the Screen Actors' Guild. She was best known for her work on Broadway and her film portrayals of mothers in a series of critical ...
once said Fleming was "violently pro-
Nazi 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) in ...
" and strongly opposed to the United States entering
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. According to the Fleming biography ''Victor Fleming: An American Movie Master'', by author
Michael Sragow Michael Sragow (born June 26, 1952 in New York) is a film critic and columnist who has written for the ''Orange County Register'', ''The Baltimore Sun'', ''Film Comment'', ''The San Francisco Examiner'', ''The New Times'', ''The New Yorker'' (whe ...
, Fleming had once mocked the UK at the outset of World War II by taking a bet as to how long the country could withstand an attack by Germany. The accuracy of Revere's characterization of Fleming has been disputed, however. According to ''Victor Fleming: An American Movie Master'', Revere had made her comment because she felt she had been cast in the film '' The Yearling'' over Flora Robson because Robson was British. However, at the time of the casting, Fleming was working on the film ''Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'', which featured a British producer and a cast largely composed of British or British Commonwealth actors. Furthermore, Revere did not know Fleming beyond their professional relationship.


Filmography

*'' The Half-Breed'' (1916) *'' When the Clouds Roll By'' (1919) (directorial debut) *'' The Mollycoddle'' (1920) *'' Mama's Affair'' (1921) *'' Woman's Place'' (1921) *''
The Lane That Had No Turning ''The Lane That Had No Turning'' is a lost 1922 American silent drama film that was directed by Victor Fleming. It was produced by Famous Players-Lasky and released through Paramount Pictures. It is based on the short novel with the same title b ...
'' (1922) *''
Red Hot Romance ''Red Hot Romance'' is a 1922 American silent comedy film directed by Victor Fleming. A fragmentary print survives in the Library of Congress. Plot As described in a film magazine, young American Rowland Stone (Sydney) receives $50 per week fro ...
'' (1922) *'' Anna Ascends'' (1922) *'' Dark Secrets'' (1923) *'' Law of the Lawless'' (1923) *'' To the Last Man'' (1923) *''
The Call of the Canyon ''The Call of the Canyon'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Victor Fleming and starring Richard Dix, Lois Wilson, and Marjorie Daw. Based on the novel ''The Call of the Canyon'' by Zane Grey, the film is about a returning wa ...
'' (1923) *''
Empty Hands ''Empty Hands'' is a 1924 American silent romantic drama film directed by Victor Fleming, and starring Jack Holt and Norma Shearer. The film was produced by the Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Cast Preservation ...
'' (1924) *'' Code of the Sea'' (1924) *'' Adventure'' (1925) *''
The Devil's Cargo ''The Devil's Cargo'' is a 1925 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Victor Fleming and starred Wallace Beery and Pauline Starke. It is based on an original st ...
'' (1925) *''
A Son of His Father ''A Son of His Father'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Victor Fleming. The screenplay, by Anthony Coldeway, was based on Harold Bell Wright's novel. The film stars Bessie Love, Warner Baxter, Raymond Hatton, and Walter ...
'' (1925) *''
Lord Jim ''Lord Jim'' is a novel by Joseph Conrad originally published as a serial in ''Blackwood's Magazine'' from October 1899 to November 1900. An early and primary event in the story is the abandonment of a passenger ship in distress by its crew, i ...
'' (1925) *'' The Blind Goddess'' (1926) *'' Mantrap'' (1926) *'' The Way of All Flesh'' (1927) *'' Hula'' (1927) *'' The Rough Riders'' (1927) *'' The Awakening'' (1928) *'' Abie's Irish Rose'' (1928) *'' Wolf Song'' (1929) *'' The Virginian'' (1929) *'' Common Clay'' (1930) *'' Renegades'' (1930) *'' Around the World in 80 Minutes with Douglas Fairbanks'' (1931) *''
The Wet Parade ''The Wet Parade'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Victor Fleming and starring Robert Young, Myrna Loy, Walter Huston, Lewis Stone and Jimmy Durante. It is based on the 1931 novel by Upton Sinclair. The film shows how two fa ...
'' (1932) *'' Red Dust'' (1932) *'' The White Sister'' (1933) *'' Bombshell'' (1933) *'' Treasure Island'' (1934) *'' Reckless'' (1935) *''
The Farmer Takes a Wife ''The Farmer Takes a Wife'' is a 1934 play by Frank B. Elser and Marc Connelly based on the 1929 novel '' Rome Haul'' by Walter D. Edmonds. It was well-received upon its opening night on Broadway on October 30, 1934, at the 46th Street Theatre ...
'' (1935) *''
Captains Courageous ''Captains Courageous: A Story of the Grand Banks'' is an 1897 novel by Rudyard Kipling that follows the adventures of fifteen-year-old Harvey Cheyne Jr., the spoiled son of a railroad tycoon, after he is saved from drowning by a Portuguese f ...
'' (1937) *''
Test Pilot A test pilot is an aircraft pilot with additional training to fly and evaluate experimental, newly produced and modified aircraft with specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques.Stinton, Darrol. ''Flying Qualities and Flight Testin ...
'' (1938) *'' The Wizard of Oz'' (1939) *'' Gone with the Wind'' (1939) *'' Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1941) *''
Tortilla Flat ''Tortilla Flat'' (1935) is an early John Steinbeck novel set in Monterey, California. The novel was the author's first clear critical and commercial success. The book portrays a group of 'paisanos'—literally, countrymen—a small band of er ...
'' (1942) *'' A Guy Named Joe'' (1943) *'' Adventure'' (1945) *''
Joan of Arc Joan of Arc (french: link=yes, Jeanne d'Arc, translit= �an daʁk} ; 1412 – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the coronat ...
'' (1948) (final film)


References


External links

* * *
The Real Rhett Butler
– David Denby on Victor Fleming (''The New Yorker'') * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fleming, Victor American cinematographers Film producers from California 1889 births 1949 deaths Film directors from Los Angeles Best Directing Academy Award winners Silent film directors Columbia University faculty Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery People from Bel Air, Los Angeles People from Greater Los Angeles United States Army personnel of World War I