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Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; ; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)
BFI Screenonline. was a Hungarian–born British film director, producer, and screenwriter, who founded his own film production studios and film distribution company. Born in
Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
, where he began his career, he worked briefly in the Austrian and German film industries during the era of
silent film A silent film is a film without 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, w ...
s, before being based in
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...
from 1926 to 1930 for the first of his two brief periods there (the other was during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
). The change led to a
divorce Divorce (also known as dissolution of marriage) is the process of terminating a marriage or marital union. Divorce usually entails the canceling or reorganising of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage, thus dissolving the M ...
from his first wife, the Hungarian film actress María Corda, who was unable to make the transition from silent films to "
talkies A sound film is a Film, motion picture with synchronization, synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, bu ...
" because of her Hungarian accent. From 1930, Korda was active in the British film industry, and soon became one of its leading figures. He was the founder of
London Films London Films Productions is a British film and television production company founded in 1932 by Alexander Korda and from 1936 based at Denham Film Studios in Buckinghamshire, near London. The company's productions included '' The Private Li ...
and, post-war, the owner of
British Lion Films British Lion Films is a film production and distribution company active under several forms since 1919. Originally known as British Lion Film Corporation Ltd, it entered receivership on 1 June 1954. From 29 January 1955 to 1976, the company was k ...
, a film distribution company. Korda produced many outstanding classics of the British film industry, including ''
The Private Life of Henry VIII ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' is a 1933 British biographical drama film directed and co-produced by Alexander Korda and starring Charles Laughton, Robert Donat, Merle Oberon and Elsa Lanchester. It was written by Lajos Bíró and Arthur ...
'', ''
Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...
'', ''
Things To Come ''Things to Come'' is a 1936 British science fiction film produced by Alexander Korda, directed by William Cameron Menzies, and written by H. G. Wells. It is a loose adaptation of Wells' book '' The Shape of Things to Come''. The film stars Ra ...
'', '' The Thief of Baghdad'' and ''
The Third Man ''The Third Man'' is a 1949 film noir directed by Carol Reed, written by Graham Greene, and starring Joseph Cotten as Holly Martins, Alida Valli as Anna Schmidt, Orson Welles as Harry Lime and Trevor Howard as Major Calloway. Set in post-Worl ...
''. In 1942, Korda became the first filmmaker to receive a
knighthood A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...
.


Personal background

Korda was born Sándor László Kellner into a
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
family in Pusztatúrpásztó,
Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...
. His parents were Henrik Kellner and Ernesztina Weisz. He had two younger brothers, Zoltan and
Vincent Vincent (Latin: ''Vincentius'') is a masculine given name originating from the Roman name ''Vincentius'', which itself comes from the Latin verb ''vincere'', meaning "to conquer." People with the given name Artists *Vincent Apap (1909–2003) ...
, who also had careers in the film industry, often working with Alexander.


Early career in European silent film


Films in Hungary

After the death of his father, Korda began writing film reviews to support his family. He also changed the family name, deriving the new name Korda from the Latin phrase "
sursum corda The ''Sursum corda'' (Latin for "Lift up your hearts" or literally, "Upwards hearts") is the opening dialogue to the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer or Anaphora in Christian liturgies, dating back at least to the third century and the Ana ...
" ("lift up your hearts"). Having been excused from military service in the Austro-Hungarian Army in the First World War, because he was short-sighted, Korda became an important figure in the Hungarian film industry, initially through his magazines ''Pesti Mozi'', ''Mozihét'' and ''Világ''. This led to invitations to write screenplays. His first script was for '' Watchhouse in the Carpathians'' (1914), which he also helped to direct. He also made a film with
Gyula Zilahy Gyula Zilahy (22 January 1859, Zilah – 16 May 1938, Budapest) was a Hungarians, Hungarian stage actor, stage and film actor. He co-directed several films with Alexander Korda in 1914-1915 including Korda's first film ''Watchhouse in the Ca ...
, '' The Duped Journalist'' (1914), and directed ''
Tutyu and Totyo ''Tutyu and Totyo'' (Hungarian: ''Tutyu és Totyó'') is a 1915 Hungarian silent film directed by Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; ; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)The Officer's Swordknot'' (1915) and '' Lyon Lea'' (1915). In 1916, Korda established his own production company, Corvin Film. Its first film was ''
White Nights White night, White Night, or White Nights may refer to: * White night (astronomy), a night in which it never gets completely dark, at high latitudes outside the Arctic and Antarctic Circles * White Night festivals, all-night arts festivals held in ...
'' (1916), which was a big success. Korda went on to build Corvin into one of the largest film companies in Hungary with such productions as '' The Grandmother'' (1916), '' Tales of the Typewriter'' (1916), '' The Man with Two Hearts'' (1916), '' The One Million Pound Note'' (1916), ''
Cyclamen ''Cyclamen'' ( or ) is a genus of 23 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. In English, it is known by the common names sowbread or swinebread. ''Cyclamen'' species are native to Europe and the Mediterranean Basin ea ...
'' (1916), '' Struggling Hearts'' (1916), '' The Laughing Saskia'' (1916), '' Miska the Magnate'' (1916), '' St. Peter's Umbrella'' (1917), '' The Stork Caliph'' (1917) (from the novel by
Mihály Babits Mihály Babits (; 26 November 1883 – 4 August 1941) was a Hungarian poet, writer, essayist, and translator. His poems are well known for their intense religious themes. His novels such as “The Children of Death” (1927) explore psychol ...
), and '' Magic'' (1917). Korda later regarded ''
Harrison and Barrison ''Harrison and Barrison'' (Hungarian: ''Harrison és Barrison'') is a 1917 Hungarian silent comedy film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Márton Rátkai, Dezsõ Gyárfás and Nusi Somogyi. Korda broke from his previous practice of adap ...
'' (1917) as his best film. He also made ''
Faun The faun (, ; , ) is a half-human and half-goat mythological creature appearing in Greek and Roman mythology. Originally fauns of Roman mythology were ghosts ( genii) of rustic places, lesser versions of their chief, the god Faunus. Before t ...
'' (1918), '' Man of Gold'' (1918), and '' Mary Ann'' (1918). Under the shortlived
Hungarian Soviet Republic The Hungarian Soviet Republic, also known as the Socialist Federative Soviet Republic of Hungary was a short-lived communist state that existed from 21 March 1919 to 1 August 1919 (133 days), succeeding the First Hungarian Republic. The Hungari ...
Korda made '' Ave Caesar!'' (1919), ''
White Rose The White Rose (, ) was a Nonviolence, non-violent, intellectual German resistance to Nazism, resistance group in Nazi Germany which was led by five students and one professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, University of Munich ...
'' (1919), '' Yamata'' (1919) and '' Neither at Home or Abroad'' (1919). His final Hungarian film was '' Number 111'' (1919). In October 1919 Korda was arrested during the White Terror that followed the overthrow of the Communist government, but was soon released. He then left Hungary for Austria. He never returned to his country of birth.


Films in Vienna

After leaving Hungary, Korda accepted an invitation from Count Alexander Kolowrat to work for his company
Sascha-Film Sascha-Film, in full Sascha-Filmindustrie AG and from 1933 Tobis-Sascha-Filmindustrie AG, was the largest Austrian film production company of the silent film and early sound film period. History The business was established in 1910 by Alexander ...
in the Austrian capital Vienna. Korda worked alongside Kolowrat, who had attracted several leading Hungarian and German directors into his employment, on the historical
epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film defined by the spectacular presentation of human drama on a grandiose scale Epic(s) ...
''
The Prince and the Pauper ''The Prince and the Pauper'' is a novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada, before its 1882 publication in the United States. The novel represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. The plot conce ...
'' (1920). The film was a major international success and inspired Korda with the idea of making "international films" with global box office appeal. Korda's next two films, '' Masters of the Sea'' (1922) and '' A Vanished World'' (1922), were both
nautical Seamanship is the art, competence, and knowledge of operating a ship, boat or other craft on water. The'' Oxford Dictionary'' states that seamanship is "The skill, techniques, or practice of handling a ship or boat at sea." It involves topic ...
-set adventures based on Hungarian novels. By that stage, Korda had grown irritated with Kolowrat's interference with his work and left Sascha to make an independent film, '' Samson and Delilah'' (1922), set in the world of opera. The film was made on a lavish scale, with large crowd scenes. The lengthy
shooting schedule A shooting schedule is a project plan of each day's shooting for a film production. It is normally created and managed by the assistant director, who reports to the production manager managing the production schedule and production board. Both ...
lasted 160 working days. The film was unsuccessful.


Films in Berlin

Korda left Vienna and travelled to Germany. He had frequent problems with money, and often had to receive support from friends and business associates, but in Berlin he raised funding for the
melodrama A melodrama is a Drama, dramatic work in which plot, typically sensationalized for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodrama is "an exaggerated version of drama". Melodramas typically concentrate on ...
''
The Unknown Tomorrow ''The Unknown Tomorrow'' (German: ''Das unbekannte Morgen'') is a 1923 German silent drama film directed by Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; ; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)UFA, Korda returned to Vienna to make '' Everybody's Woman'' (1924). While he was there he began work on his next film, the historical '' Tragedy in the House of Habsburg'' (1924), which portrayed the
Mayerling Incident The Mayerling incident is the series of events surrounding the apparent murder–suicide suicide pact, pact of Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria, and his mistress, baroness Mary Vetsera. They were found dead on 30 January 1889 in an imperial ...
. It earned back around half of its production costs. He followed this with '' Dancing Mad'' (1925), another melodrama. Korda cast his wife Maria Corda as the female lead in all his German-language films. To a large degree the success of his productions depended on her star power. Korda cast her again in ''
A Modern Dubarry ''A Modern Dubarry'' (German: ''Eine Dubarry von heute'') is a 1927 German silent drama film directed by Alexander Korda and starring María Corda, Alfred Abel and Friedrich Kayßler. Chandler, Charlotte. ''Marlene: Marlene Dietrich, A Person ...
'' (1927), an update of the life of
Madame Du Barry Jeanne Bécu, comtesse du Barry (; 28 August 1744 – 8 December 1793) was the last ''maîtresse-en-titre'' of King Louis XV of France. She was executed by guillotine during the French Revolution on accusations of treason—particularly being ...
based on an original screenplay by
Lajos Bíró Lajos Bíró (; born Lajos Blau; 22 August 1880 – 9 September 1948) was a Hungarian novelist, playwright, and screenwriter who wrote many films from the early 1920s through the late 1940s. Life He was born in Nagyvárad, Kingdom of Hunga ...
. The film may have been intended to showcase Maria Corda's star potential to producers in Hollywood. Korda made his final German film, '' Madame Wants No Children'' (1926), for the Berlin-based subsidiary of the American studio
Fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...
. Although made later, it was released before ''A Modern Dubarry''.


In Hollywood and France

In December 1926 Korda and his wife sailed for the United States on board the steamer ''Olympic'', with a view to Korda taking up a contract with the American studio First National. In Hollywood both struggled to adapt to the
studio system A studio system is a method of filmmaking wherein the production and distribution of films is dominated by a small number of large movie studios. It is most often used in reference to Hollywood motion picture studios during the early years of th ...
. Korda had to wait some time before gaining his first directorial assignment, '' The Stolen Bride'' (1927), a Hungarian-themed romance about a peasant's love for a countess. The film starred the American actress
Billie Dove Lillian Bohny (born Bertha Eugenie Bohny; May 14, 1903 – December 31, 1997), known professionally as Billie Dove, was an American actress. Early life and career Dove was born Bertha Eugenie Bohny in New York City in 1903 to Charles and Ber ...
rather than Korda's wife. Following the moderate success of ''The Stolen Bride'' Korda worked on the comedy '' The Private Life of Helen of Troy'' (1927), replacing the previous director,
George Fitzmaurice George Fitzmaurice (13 February 1885 – 13 June 1940) was a French-born film director and Film producer, producer. Career Fitzmaurice's career first started as a set designer on stage. Beginning in 1914, and continuing until his death in 1940 ...
. The film retells the story of
Helen of Troy Helen (), also known as Helen of Troy, or Helen of Sparta, and in Latin as Helena, was a figure in Greek mythology said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world. She was believed to have been the daughter of Zeus and Leda (mythology), ...
, parodying the historical epics of the era by transforming the classical characters into everyday people with modern problems. The film was a significant success for Korda, with his wife playing the role of Helen. The film was his most satisfying work in the United States and provided the template for his later success in Britain. After this film, however, Korda became pigeonholed as a director of female stars and exotic foreign locations. He was generally given similar assignments for the remainder of his first period in Hollywood. His next few films were disappointments as his career lost its momentum: '' Yellow Lily'' (1928), '' Night Watch'' (1928) both with Dove, and '' Love and the Devil'' (1929) with Maria Korda (who now spelled her name with a K). The latter two, though still
Silent films A silent film is a film without 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, wh ...
, had
sound effects A sound effect (or audio effect) is an artificially created or enhanced sound, or sound process used to emphasize artistic or other content of films, television shows, live performance, animation, video games, music, or other media. In m ...
and music added to their soundtracks during Hollywood's transition to fully synchronized
Sound film A sound film is a Film, motion picture with synchronization, synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, bu ...
s. Korda's next film ''
The Squall ''The Squall'' is a 1929 American sound ( All-Talking) pre-Code drama film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Myrna Loy, Richard Tucker, Alice Joyce and Loretta Young, and based on the 1926 play '' The Squall'' by Jean Bart. Plot In Hu ...
'' (1929), with a young
Myrna Loy Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. As a performer, she was known for her ability to adapt to her screen partner's acting style. Born in Helena, Monta ...
, was his first talkie and featured a Hungarian setting. Although, like many other directors, Korda had misgivings about the new technology, he quickly adapted to making sound films. Korda's marriage was strained in Hollywood. The arrival of sound films wrecked his wife's career, as her heavy accent made her unemployable for most American films. ''Love and the Devil'' was the last of Korda's films she appeared in, and she made only two more films. She became increasingly resentful of the switch in their relationship, as her career was now over while Korda, who had once relied on her for the success of his films, was relatively flourishing. Their marriage collapsed, and they divorced in 1930. Korda made two more sound films at First National: ''
Her Private Life ''Her Private Life'' is a surviving 1929 American sound ( All-Talking) pre-Code drama film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Billie Dove, Walter Pidgeon and Holmes Herbert. The plot concerns an English aristocrat who causes a scandal ...
'' (1929) and '' Lilies of the Field'' (1930), both of which were remakes of earlier silent films. Korda grew more frustrated in Hollywood as he came to strongly dislike the studio system. He hoped to save up enough money to return to Europe and begin producing on a large scale there, but his lavish personal spending and the large amounts he lost in the Wall Street crash prevented this. When his producer, Ned Marin, moved from First National to the
Fox Film Corporation The Fox Film Corporation (also known as Fox Studios) was an American independent company that produced motion pictures and was formed in 1914 by the theater "chain" pioneer William Fox (producer), William Fox. It was the corporate successor to ...
Korda followed him. Korda's new contract gave him $100,000 a year.


Fox

His first film for Fox, '' Women Everywhere'' (1930), cost slightly more than some of the
programmers A programmer, computer programmer or coder is an author of computer source code someone with skill in computer programming. The professional titles ''software developer'' and ''software engineer'' are used for jobs that require a program ...
he had previously directed in the United States. He collaborated with several figures who would contribute to his future success in Britain. Korda was offered a series of scripts, all of which he disliked, before he finally agreed to make '' The Princess and the Plumber'' (1930). Korda's reluctance to make the film led to his conflict with studio bosses, which brought to an end his first period in Hollywood.


Films in France

Korda went to France where he made '' The Men Around Lucy'' (1931) for Paramount. He also made ''
Rive gauche The Rive Gauche (; Left Bank) is the southern bank of the river Seine in Paris. Here the river flows roughly westward, cutting the city in two parts. When facing downstream, the southern bank is to the left, whereas the northern bank (or Rive Dr ...
'' (1931). Korda had a success with '' Marius'' (1931) starring
Raimu Jules Auguste Muraire (18 December 1883 – 20 September 1946), whose stage name was Raimu, was a French actor. He is most famous for playing César in the 'Marseilles trilogy' ('' Marius'', '' Fanny'' and '' César''). Life and career Born in T ...
from the play by
Marcel Pagnol Marcel Paul Pagnol (, also ; ; 28 February 1895 – 18 April 1974) was a French novelist, playwright, and filmmaker. Regarded as an auteur, in 1946, he became the first filmmaker elected to the . Pagnol is generally regarded as one of France's ...
. He followed it with the Swedish and German versions of Marius, respectively '' Longing for the Sea'' (1931), and '' The Golden Anchor'' (1932).


In Britain

Korda relocated to London where he made '' Service for Ladies'' (1932) for Paramount. He produced ''
Women Who Play ''Women Who Play'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Mary Newcomb, Benita Hume and George Barraud. It was produced by Walter Morosco and Alexander Korda and has a screenplay by Basil Mason and Gilbert Wake ...
'' (1932) for them.


London Films

Korda then decided to form his own company. In 1932 he founded
London Films London Films Productions is a British film and television production company founded in 1932 by Alexander Korda and from 1936 based at Denham Film Studios in Buckinghamshire, near London. The company's productions included '' The Private Li ...
. Its first production was '' Wedding Rehearsal'' (1932). He then produced '' Men of Tomorrow'' (1932), co-directed by his brother
Zoltan Korda Zoltan Korda (May 3, 1895 – October 13, 1961) was a Hungary, Hungarian-born motion picture screenwriter, film director, director and film producer, producer. He made his first film in Hungary in 1918 and worked with his brother Alexander Korda ...
, '' That Night in London'' (1932) starring
Robert Donat Friedrich Robert Donat ( ; 18 March 1905 – 9 June 1958) was an English actor. Making his breakthrough film role in Alexander Korda's ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' (1933), today he is best remembered for his roles in ''The Count of Monte C ...
, '' Strange Evidence'' (1933), ''
Counsel's Opinion ''Counsel's Opinion'' is a 1933 British romantic comedy film starring Henry Kendall and Binnie Barnes. It was one of three films directed in Britain in the early 1930s by Canadian-American Allan Dwan and was an early production from Alexander ...
'' (1933), and ''
Cash In economics, cash is money in the physical form of currency, such as banknotes and coins. In book-keeping and financial accounting, cash is current assets comprising currency or currency equivalents that can be accessed immediately or near-i ...
'' (1933).


''The Private Life of Henry VIII''

Korda had a huge hit with ''
The Private Life of Henry VIII ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' is a 1933 British biographical drama film directed and co-produced by Alexander Korda and starring Charles Laughton, Robert Donat, Merle Oberon and Elsa Lanchester. It was written by Lajos Bíró and Arthur ...
'' (1933), which he directed. It was nominated for the
Academy Award for Best Picture The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards (also known as Oscars) presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since the awards debuted in 1929. This award goes to the producers of the film a ...
, established Korda internationally and made a star of
Charles Laughton Charles Laughton (; 1 July 1899 – 15 December 1962) was a British and American actor. He was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and first appeared professionally on the stage in 1926. In 1927, he was cast in a play wi ...
.


After ''The Private Life of Henry VIII''

Korda followed it with ''
The Girl from Maxim's ''The Girl from Maxim's'' is a 1933 British musical comedy film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Frances Day, Leslie Henson, Lady Tree and Stanley Holloway. It was an adaptation of the 1899 play '' La Dame de chez Maxim'' by George ...
'' (1933), which he shot in English and French. He tried to repeat the success of ''Henry'' with ''
The Private Life of Don Juan ''The Private Life of Don Juan'' is a 1934 British comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Douglas Fairbanks, Merle Oberon and Benita Hume. At the age of 51, it was the final role of Fairbanks, who died five years later. Th ...
'' (1934) starring
Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor and filmmaker best known for being the first actor to play the masked Vigilante Zorro and other swashbuckler film, swashbu ...
, which he directed, and ''
The Rise of Catherine the Great ''The Rise of Catherine the Great'' (also titled ''Catherine the Great'') is a 1934 British historical film about the rise to power of Catherine the Great. It was directed by Paul Czinner, and stars Elisabeth Bergner as Catherine, Douglas Fair ...
'' (1934) which he did not. Neither did as well as ''Henry''. Korda produced a well-respected short, '' The Private Life of the Gannets'' (1934), and enjoyed a big success as producer of ''
The Scarlet Pimpernel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title (co-authored with her husband Montague Barstow) enjoyed a long run in Lo ...
'' (1934). Also popular was ''
Sanders of the River ''Sanders of the River'' is a 1935 British film directed by the Hungarian-British director, Zoltán Korda, based on the stories of Edgar Wallace. It is set in Colonial Nigeria. The lead Nigerian characters were played by African Americans Paul Ro ...
'' (1935) starring
Paul Robeson Paul Leroy Robeson ( ; April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American bass-baritone concert artist, actor, professional American football, football player, and activist who became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for h ...
and directed by his brother, and '' The Ghost Goes West'' (1936) starring Donat. His other credits as producer include ''
Moscow Nights "Moscow Nights", originally titled "Leningrad Nights", is a Soviet patriotic song written by Mikhail Matusovsky and composed by Vasily Solovyov-Sedoy. It was later covered as "Midnight in Moscow" by Kenny Ball. Composition and initial succ ...
'' (1936) with
Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...
, ''
Men Are Not Gods ''Men Are Not Gods'' is a 1936 British film starring Miriam Hopkins and co-starring Gertrude Lawrence, Sebastian Shaw and Rex Harrison. It was a success in the UK when released largely due to the popularity of the two female stars Hopkins and ...
'' (1936), and '' Forget Me Not'' (1936). Korda directed ''
Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...
'' (1936) with Laughton, which was a critical rather than a commercial success. ''
Things to Come ''Things to Come'' is a 1936 British science fiction film produced by Alexander Korda, directed by William Cameron Menzies, and written by H. G. Wells. It is a loose adaptation of Wells' book '' The Shape of Things to Come''. The film stars Ra ...
'' (1936), directed by
William Cameron Menzies William Cameron Menzies (July 29, 1896 – March 5, 1957) was an American filmmaker who pioneered the discipline of production design, a job title he invented. His career spanned five decades, during which time he also worked as an art director, ...
, has come to be regarded as a classic. It was written by
H. G. Wells Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer, prolific in many genres. He wrote more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories. His non-fiction output included works of social commentary, politics, hist ...
and Korda's '' The Man Who Could Work Miracles'' (1936) is based on a Wells short story. Korda also commissioned and financed the documentary '' Conquest of the Air'' (1936).


Denham

Korda bought property in
Denham, Buckinghamshire Denham is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Buckinghamshire, England, approximately 17 mi from central London, 2 mi northwest of Uxbridge and just north of junction 1 of the M40 motorway. The name is derived from the Old En ...
, including Hills House, and built film studios on the property. London Film's
Denham Film Studios Denham Film Studios (''later dubbed Anvil Studios)'' was a British Film studio, film production studio operating from 1936 to 1952, founded by Alexander Korda, in Buckinghamshire. Notable films made at Denham include ''Brief Encounter'' and D ...
was financed by the Prudential and opened in 1936. On 21 June 1936, Thurston Macauley, London correspondent to
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
, filed a story headlined "The Korda Workshop at Denham" describing the facility, located on 165 acres of woodland, field and river scenery suitable for filming, with 28 acres of buildings and a planned total of fifteen 250-foot by 130-foot sound stages (state of the art at the time). It was "not only the most up-to-date of all the world's studios" but a "complete community in itself" from foundry and blacksmith's shops to projection theatres, with "unusually good dressing and bathroom accommodations" and able to easily manage crowds of 500. Macauley pointed to the special construction designed to ensure that even dense fog would not penetrate the buildings and interfere with filming, a serious problem in Britain in the winter months. He concluded: "Hollywood, as well as the rest of the world, will be watching with interest what Korda does at Denham". Korda was naturalised as a
British subject The term "British subject" has several different meanings depending on the time period. Before 1949, it referred to almost all subjects of the British Empire (including the United Kingdom, Dominions, and colonies, but excluding protectorates ...
on 28 October 1936. That same year Korda was an important contributor to the Moyne Commission, formed to protect British film production from competition, mainly from the United States. Korda said: "If American interests obtained control of British production companies, they may make British pictures here, but the pictures made would be just as American as those made in Hollywood. We are now on the verge of forming a British school of film-making in this country." Korda produced '' Fire Over England'' (1937) with Olivier and
Vivien Leigh Vivien Leigh ( ; born Vivian Mary Hartley; 5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967), styled as Lady Olivier after 1947, was a British actress. After completing her drama school education, Leigh appeared in small roles in four films in 1935 and progress ...
. He also attempted a version of '' I, Claudius'' with Laughton and
Merle Oberon Merle Oberon (born Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson; 19 February 191123 November 1979) was a British actress. She began her acting career in British cinema in the early 1930s, with a breakout role in ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' (1933). She ...
, but it was abandoned with only a few scenes shot. Korda made '' Dark Journey'' (1937) with
Conrad Veidt Hans Walter Conrad Veidt ( , ; 22 January 1893 – 3 April 1943) was a German and British actor. He attracted early attention for his roles in the films ''Different from the Others'' (1919), ''The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'' (1920), and ''The Man ...
and Leigh, and had a big hit with '' Elephant Boy'' (1937) directed by his brother from a
Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English journalist, novelist, poet, and short-story writer. He was born in British Raj, British India, which inspired much ...
story; it made a star of Sabu. Korda also made some cheaper films: '' Farewell Again'' (1938), '' Storm in a Teacup'' (1938) with Leigh and
Rex Harrison Sir Reginald Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 – 2 June 1990) was an English actor. Harrison began his career on the stage at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1924. He made his West End debut in 1936 appearing in the Terence Rattigan play '' French W ...
, '' The Squeaker'' (1937), ''
Action for Slander ''Action for Slander'' is a 1937 British drama film directed by Tim Whelan and starring Clive Brook, Ann Todd and Googie Withers. The plot is about an army officer who is falsely accused at cheating at cards by a man whose wife he had an affa ...
'' (1937), ''
Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel ''The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel'' is a 1937 British film directed by Hanns Schwarz and starring Barry K. Barnes, Sophie Stewart, Margaretta Scott and James Mason. It is a sequel to the 1934 film ''Scarlet Pimpernel (1934 film), The Scarlet ...
'' (1937) and '' Paradise for Two'' (1937). '' Knight Without Armour'' (1937) with Donat and
Marlene Dietrich Marie Magdalene "Marlene" DietrichBorn as Maria Magdalena, not Marie Magdalene, according to Dietrich's biography by her daughter, Maria Riva ; however, Dietrich's biography by Charlotte Chandler cites "Marie Magdalene" as her birth name . (, ; ...
was an expensive epic that failed to recoup its money. ''
The Divorce of Lady X ''The Divorce of Lady X'' is a 1938 British Technicolor romantic comedy film produced by London Films; it stars Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson and Binnie Barnes. It was film director, directed by Tim Whelan and produced by Alex ...
'' (1938) was a comedy with Olivier and Merle Oberon. Korda had a big success with '' The Drum'' (1938), directed by Zoltan and starring Sabu. He produced '' South Riding'' (1938), '' The Challenge'' (1938), '' The Rebel Son'' (1939) and '' Prison Without Bars'' (1938). During the Second World War Korda made more propaganda films, including ''
Q Planes ''Q Planes'' (known as ''Clouds Over Europe'' in the United States) is a 1939 British comedy film, comedy spy film starring Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier and Valerie Hobson. Olivier and Richardson were a decade into their fifty-year friends ...
'' (1939), with Olivier, and ''
The Lion Has Wings ''The Lion Has Wings'' is a 1939 British, black-and-white, documentary-style, propaganda film, propaganda war film that was directed by Adrian Brunel, Brian Desmond Hurst, Alexander Korda and Michael Powell. The film was produced by London Film ...
'' (1939). Korda had a massive hit with another adventure film directed by Zoltan, '' The Four Feathers'' (1939). By 1939
Michael Powell Michael Latham Powell (30 September 1905 – 19 February 1990) was an English filmmaker, celebrated for his partnership with Emeric Pressburger. Through their production company Powell and Pressburger, The Archers, they together wrote, produced ...
had been hired as a contract director by Korda on the strength of '' The Edge of the World'' (1937). Korda set him to work on some projects such as ''Burmese Silver'' that were subsequently cancelled. Nonetheless, Powell was brought in to save a film that was being made as a vehicle for two of Korda's star players,
Conrad Veidt Hans Walter Conrad Veidt ( , ; 22 January 1893 – 3 April 1943) was a German and British actor. He attracted early attention for his roles in the films ''Different from the Others'' (1919), ''The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'' (1920), and ''The Man ...
and Valerie Hobson. The film was ''
The Spy in Black ''The Spy in Black'' (US: ''U-boat 29'') is a 1939 British spy film, and the first collaboration between the British filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. They were brought together by Alexander Korda to make the World War I spy th ...
'' (1939), where Powell first met
Emeric Pressburger Emeric Pressburger (born Imre József Pressburger; 5 December 19025 February 1988) was a Hungarian-British screenwriter, film director, and producer. He is best known for his series of film collaborations with Michael Powell, in a collaborat ...
. Korda also produced the comedy '' Over the Moon'' (1939) and the drama ''
21 Days ''21 Days'' (also known as ''21 Days Together'', ''The First and the Last'' and ''Three Weeks Together'') is a 1940 British drama film based on the short 1919 play ''The First and the Last (play), The First and the Last'' by John Galsworthy. It ...
'' (1939). Korda soon ran into financial difficulties, and management of the Denham complex was merged with Pinewood in 1939, becoming part of the
Rank Organisation The Rank Organisation (founded as the J. Arthur Rank Organisation) is a British entertainment conglomerate founded in 1937 by industrialist J. Arthur Rank. It quickly became the largest and most vertically integrated film company in the Uni ...
.


Sojourn in Hollywood

The outbreak of the Second World War in Europe meant that '' The Thief of Bagdad'' had to be completed in Hollywood, where Korda was based again for a few years. While he was in the United States he produced and directed ''
That Hamilton Woman ''That Hamilton Woman'', also known as ''Lady Hamilton'', is a 1941 black-and-white historical film drama produced and directed by Alexander Korda for his British company during his exile in the United States. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, th ...
'' (UK title: Lady Hamilton) (1941) with
Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...
and
Vivien Leigh Vivien Leigh ( ; born Vivian Mary Hartley; 5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967), styled as Lady Olivier after 1947, was a British actress. After completing her drama school education, Leigh appeared in small roles in four films in 1935 and progress ...
, and produced ''
Lydia Lydia (; ) was an Iron Age Monarchy, kingdom situated in western Anatolia, in modern-day Turkey. Later, it became an important province of the Achaemenid Empire and then the Roman Empire. Its capital was Sardis. At some point before 800 BC, ...
'' (1941) with Oberon. He also supervised ''
Jungle Book ''The Jungle Book'' is an 1894 collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling. Most of the characters are animals such as Shere Khan the tiger and Baloo the bear, though a principal character is the boy or "man-cub" Mowgli, who ...
'' (1942), a live-action version of
Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English journalist, novelist, poet, and short-story writer. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work. ...
's stories, directed by Zoltán Korda. He also had minor involvement in '' To Be or Not to Be'' (1942).


Return to Britain

Korda was appointed a
Knight Bachelor The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised Order of chivalry, orders of chivalry; it is a part of the Orders, decorations, and medals ...
, for his contribution to the war effort, in the 1942 Birthday Honours. On 22 September 1942 he was knighted at an investiture ceremony at
Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a royal official residence, residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and r ...
by
George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until Death and state funeral of George VI, his death in 1952 ...
. He was the first film director to receive the honour. He returned to Britain in 1943 as production chief of MGM-London films, with a £35 million ten-year programme. The scheme ended after one year, one film and a £1 million loss to MGM. The only film to come out of the deal was '' Perfect Strangers'' (1945), directed by Korda, and starring
Robert Donat Friedrich Robert Donat ( ; 18 March 1905 – 9 June 1958) was an English actor. Making his breakthrough film role in Alexander Korda's ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' (1933), today he is best remembered for his roles in ''The Count of Monte C ...
and
Deborah Kerr Deborah Jane Trimmer CBE (30 September 192116 October 2007), known professionally as Deborah Kerr (), was a Scottish actress. She was nominated six times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the first person from Scotland to be no ...
.


British Lion Films

Via London Films Korda bought a controlling interest in
British Lion Films British Lion Films is a film production and distribution company active under several forms since 1919. Originally known as British Lion Film Corporation Ltd, it entered receivership on 1 June 1954. From 29 January 1955 to 1976, the company was k ...
. He produced '' A Man About the House'' (1947). In 1948 London Films received an advance payment of £375,000, the largest single payment received by a British film company, for three films, ''
An Ideal Husband ''An Ideal Husband'' is a four-act play by Oscar Wilde that revolves around blackmail and political corruption, and touches on the themes of public and private honour. It was first produced at the Haymarket Theatre, London in 1895 and ran for ...
'' (1947) (which Korda directed), ''
Anna Karenina ''Anna Karenina'' ( rus, Анна Каренина, p=ˈanːə kɐˈrʲenʲɪnə) is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. Tolstoy called it his first true novel. It was initially released in serial in ...
'' (1948) and ''
Mine Own Executioner ''Mine Own Executioner'' is a 1947 British psychological thriller drama film starring Burgess Meredith and directed by Anthony Kimmins, and based on the novel of the same name by Nigel Balchin. It was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival ...
'' (1948). The company released three other films, ''
Bonnie Prince Charlie Charles Edward Louis John Sylvester Maria Casimir Stuart (31 December 1720 – 30 January 1788) was the elder son of James Francis Edward Stuart, making him the grandson of James VII and II, and the Stuart claimant to the thrones of England, ...
'' (1948), ''
The Winslow Boy ''The Winslow Boy'' is an English play from 1946 by Terence Rattigan based on an incident involving George Archer-Shee in the Edwardian era. The incident took place at the Royal Naval College, Osborne. Background Set against the strict cod ...
'' (1948) and '' The Fallen Idol'' (1948). ''The Winslow Boy'' and ''Fallen Idol'' were hits. ''An Ideal Husband'' and ''Anna Karenina'' had some acclaim, but lost money at the box office. ''Bonnie Prince Charlie'' was a fiasco. Korda was also badly hurt by the trade war between the British and American film industries in the late 1940s. Korda did recover, in part due to a £3 million loan British Lion received from the National Film Finance Corporation. In 1948 Korda signed a co-production deal with
David O. Selznick David O. Selznick (born David Selznick; May 10, 1902June 22, 1965) was an American film producer, screenwriter and film studio executive who produced ''Gone with the Wind (film), Gone with the Wind'' (1939) and ''Rebecca (1940 film), Rebecca'' (1 ...
. This resulted in ''
The Third Man ''The Third Man'' is a 1949 film noir directed by Carol Reed, written by Graham Greene, and starring Joseph Cotten as Holly Martins, Alida Valli as Anna Schmidt, Orson Welles as Harry Lime and Trevor Howard as Major Calloway. Set in post-Worl ...
'' (1949) which was a success both critically and financially. London Films made several films with smaller budgets: '' The Cure for Love'' (1949), '' The Happiest Days of Your Life'' (1950), '' The Angel with the Trumpet'' (1950), '' My Daughter Joy'' (1950),'' State Secret'' (1950), '' The Wooden Horse'' (1950), ''
Seven Days to Noon ''Seven Days to Noon'' (also known as ''Ultimatum'') is a 1950 British political thriller film directed and produced by John and Roy Boulting and starring Barry Jones, Olive Sloane and André Morell. It was written by Frank Harvey and Roy Bou ...
'' (1951), '' Lady Godiva Rides Again'' (1951), '' The Wonder Kid'' (1951), and '' Mr. Denning Drives North'' (1951). Korda also helped to finance ''
Outcast of the Islands ''Outcast of the Islands'' is a 1951 British adventure drama film directed by Carol Reed and starring Trevor Howard, Ralph Richardson, Robert Morley and Wendy Hiller. The screenplay was by William Fairchild by based on Joseph Conrad's 18 ...
'' (1952), '' Home at Seven'' (1952), ''
Who Goes There! ''Who Goes There!'' I (U.S. title: ''The Passionate Sentry'' )is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring Nigel Patrick, Valerie Hobson and George Cole. It was written by John Dighton based on his 1950 play ''Who ...
'' (1952), '' The Holly and the Ivy'' (1952), '' The Ringer'' (1952), ''
Folly to Be Wise ''Folly to Be Wise'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Frank Launder and starring Alastair Sim, Elizabeth Allan, Roland Culver, Colin Gordon, Martita Hunt and Edward Chapman. It was written by James Bridie, John Dighton and Launder ...
'' (1953), '' Twice Upon a Time'' (1953), '' The Captain's Paradise'' (1953), and '' The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan'' (1953). ''
Cry, the Beloved Country ''Cry, the Beloved Country'' is a 1948 novel by South African writer Alan Paton. Set in the prelude to apartheid in South Africa, it follows a black village priest and a white farmer who must deal with news of a murder. American publisher B ...
'' (1951), directed by Zoltan, was acclaimed. '' The Sound Barrier'' (1952) from
David Lean Sir David Lean (25 March 190816 April 1991) was an English film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor, widely considered one of the most important figures of Cinema of the United Kingdom, British cinema. He directed the large-scale epi ...
was a hit. ''
The Man Between ''The Man Between'' (also known as ''Berlin Story'') is a 1953 British thriller film directed by Carol Reed and starring James Mason, Claire Bloom and Hildegard Knef. The screenplay concerns a British woman on a visit to post-war Berlin, who is ...
'' (1953) was an attempt to repeat the success of ''The Third Man''. Korda then helped to make '' The Heart of the Matter'' (1954), ''
Hobson's Choice A Hobson's choice is a free choice in which only one thing is actually offered. The term is often used to describe an illusion that choices are available. The best known example is "I'll give you a choice: Take it or leave it", wherein "leaving ...
'' (1954), ''
The Belles of St. Trinian's ''The Belles of St Trinian's'' is a 1954 British comedy film, directed by Frank Launder, co-written by Launder and Sidney Gilliat, and starring Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell, George Cole, Hermione Baddeley. Inspired by British cartoonist Ron ...
'' (1954), and '' The Teckman Mystery'' (1954). A draft screenplay of what became '' The Red Shoes'' was written by
Emeric Pressburger Emeric Pressburger (born Imre József Pressburger; 5 December 19025 February 1988) was a Hungarian-British screenwriter, film director, and producer. He is best known for his series of film collaborations with Michael Powell, in a collaborat ...
in the 1930s for Korda and intended as a vehicle for
Merle Oberon Merle Oberon (born Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson; 19 February 191123 November 1979) was a British actress. She began her acting career in British cinema in the early 1930s, with a breakout role in ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' (1933). She ...
, whom Korda later married. The screenplay was bought by
Michael Powell Michael Latham Powell (30 September 1905 – 19 February 1990) was an English filmmaker, celebrated for his partnership with Emeric Pressburger. Through their production company Powell and Pressburger, The Archers, they together wrote, produced ...
and Pressburger, who made it for J. Arthur Rank. During the 1950s Korda reportedly expressed interest in producing a
James Bond The ''James Bond'' franchise focuses on James Bond (literary character), the titular character, a fictional Secret Intelligence Service, British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels ...
film based upon
Ian Fleming Ian Lancaster Fleming (28 May 1908 – 12 August 1964) was a British writer, best known for his postwar ''James Bond'' series of spy novels. Fleming came from a wealthy family connected to the merchant bank Robert Fleming & Co., and his ...
's novel '' Live and Let Die'', but no agreement was ever reached.


Final Films

In 1954 Korda received £5 million from the City Investing Corporation of New York, enabling him to continue producing films until his death. His final films included '' The Man Who Loved Redheads'' (1955), '' Three Cases of Murder'' (1955), '' A Kid for Two Farthings'' (1955), '' The Deep Blue Sea'' (1955), '' Summertime'' (1955), and ''
Storm Over the Nile ''Storm Over the Nile'' is a 1955 British adventure film adaptation of the 1902 novel '' The Four Feathers'', directed by Terence Young and Zoltan Korda. The film not only extensively used footage of the action scenes from the 1939 film ver ...
'' (1955) a remake of ''The Four Feathers''. His last films were
Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...
's adaptation of ''
Richard III Richard III (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485) was King of England from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the Plantagenet dynasty and its cadet branch the House of York. His defeat and death at the Battle of Boswor ...
'' (1955) and ''
Smiley A smiley, sometimes called a smiley face, is a basic ideogram representing a Smile, smiling face. Since the 1950s, it has become part of popular culture worldwide, used either as a standalone ideogram or as a form of communication, such as em ...
'' (1956).


Personal life

Korda was married three times, first to the Hungarian actress María Corda in 1919. They had one son, Peter Vincent Korda, and divorced in 1930. In 1939 he married the film star
Merle Oberon Merle Oberon (born Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson; 19 February 191123 November 1979) was a British actress. She began her acting career in British cinema in the early 1930s, with a breakout role in ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' (1933). She ...
. They divorced six years later. He married, lastly, on 8 June 1953, Alexandra Boycun (1928–1966).


Death

Korda died of a heart attack at the age of 62 at his home in London in 1956. He was cremated at
Golders Green Crematorium Golders Green Crematorium and Mausoleum was the first crematorium to be opened in London, and is one of the oldest crematoria in Britain. The land for the crematorium was purchased in 1900, costing £6,000 (the equivalent of £136,000 in 2021), ...
in London, his ashes finally being interred in February 1959 at Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens in Buckinghamshire.


Legacy

Michael Korda Michael Korda (born 8 October 1933) is an English-born writer and novelist who was editor-in-chief of Simon & Schuster in New York City. Early years Born in London, Michael Korda is the son of English actress Gertrude Musgrove and the Hungarian ...
, son of Vincent and thus nephew of Alexander, wrote a ''
roman à clef A ''roman à clef'' ( ; ; ) is a novel about real-life events that is overlaid with a façade of fiction. The fictitious names in the novel represent real people and the "key" is the relationship between the non-fiction and the fiction. This m ...
'' about Merle Oberon, published after her death. It was entitled '' Queenie.'' He also wrote a memoir, ''Charmed Lives'' (1979), about his father, his two uncles and the rest of their large extended family. The Alexander Korda Award for "Outstanding British Film of the Year" is given by the
British Academy of Film and Television Arts The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA, ) is an independent trade association and charity that supports, develops, and promotes the arts of film, television and video games in the United Kingdom. In addition to its annual awa ...
.


Filmography

The following films were directed by Korda. -B.F.I. Accessed 2016-01-10 * 1914 '' The Duped Journalist'' * 1914 '' Watchhouse in the Carpathians'' (as Korda Sándor) * 1915 '' Lyon Lea'' (as Korda Sándor) * 1915 '' The Officer's Swordknot'' (as Korda Sándor) * 1915 ''
Tutyu and Totyo ''Tutyu and Totyo'' (Hungarian: ''Tutyu és Totyó'') is a 1915 Hungarian silent film directed by Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; ; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)A Dolovai nábob leánya'' * 1916 ''
Cyclamen ''Cyclamen'' ( or ) is a genus of 23 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. In English, it is known by the common names sowbread or swinebread. ''Cyclamen'' species are native to Europe and the Mediterranean Basin ea ...
'' * 1916 '' Miska the Magnate'' (as Korda Sándor) * 1916 '' Struggling Hearts'' (uncredited; also co-wrote) * 1916 '' Tales of the Typewriter'' (as Korda Sándor; also wrote) * 1916 ''The Grandmother'' (as Korda Sándor: also wrote) * 1916 '' The Laughing Saskia'' * 1916 '' The Man With Two Hearts'' (as Korda Sándor) * 1916 '' The One Million Pound Note'' (also wrote) * 1916 ''
White Nights White night, White Night, or White Nights may refer to: * White night (astronomy), a night in which it never gets completely dark, at high latitudes outside the Arctic and Antarctic Circles * White Night festivals, all-night arts festivals held in ...
'' (a.k.a. Fédora; also co-wrote) * 1917 '' Magic'' (as Korda Sándor) * 1917 '' St. Peter's Umbrella'' * 1917 '' Harrison és Barrison'' (also produced)* 1917 '' The Stork Caliph'' (as Korda Sándor; also produced) * 1918 ''
Faun The faun (, ; , ) is a half-human and half-goat mythological creature appearing in Greek and Roman mythology. Originally fauns of Roman mythology were ghosts ( genii) of rustic places, lesser versions of their chief, the god Faunus. Before t ...
'' (as Korda Sándor; also produced) * 1919 '' Neither at Home or Abroad'' (as Korda Sándor; also produced) * 1919 '' Ave Caesar!'' (as Korda Sándor) * 1919 ''Man of Gold'' (as Korda Sándor) * 1918 '' Mary Ann'' * 1919 '' Number 111'' (as Sándor Korda; also produced) * 1919 ''
White Rose The White Rose (, ) was a Nonviolence, non-violent, intellectual German resistance to Nazism, resistance group in Nazi Germany which was led by five students and one professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, University of Munich ...
'' (as Korda Sándor) * 1919 '' Yamata'' (as Korda Sándor; also produced) * 1920 ''
The Prince and the Pauper ''The Prince and the Pauper'' is a novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada, before its 1882 publication in the United States. The novel represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. The plot conce ...
'' * 1922 '' A Vanished World'' * 1922 '' Masters of the Sea'' * 1922 '' Samson and Delilah'' (also produced and co-wrote) * 1923 ''
The Unknown Tomorrow ''The Unknown Tomorrow'' (German: ''Das unbekannte Morgen'') is a 1923 German silent drama film directed by Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; ; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)Everybody's Woman'' (a.k.a. ''Folly of Doubt'') * 1924 '' Tragedy in the House of Habsburg'' (also produced) * 1925 '' Dancing Mad'' (also wrote) * 1926 '' Madame Doesn't Want Children'' * 1927 ''
A Modern Dubarry ''A Modern Dubarry'' (German: ''Eine Dubarry von heute'') is a 1927 German silent drama film directed by Alexander Korda and starring María Corda, Alfred Abel and Friedrich Kayßler. Chandler, Charlotte. ''Marlene: Marlene Dietrich, A Person ...
'' * 1927 '' The Private Life of Helen of Troy'' * 1927 '' The Stolen Bride'' * 1928 '' Yellow Lily'' * 1928 '' Night Watch'' * 1929 ''
Her Private Life ''Her Private Life'' is a surviving 1929 American sound ( All-Talking) pre-Code drama film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Billie Dove, Walter Pidgeon and Holmes Herbert. The plot concerns an English aristocrat who causes a scandal ...
'' * 1929 '' Love and the Devil'' * 1929 ''
The Squall ''The Squall'' is a 1929 American sound ( All-Talking) pre-Code drama film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Myrna Loy, Richard Tucker, Alice Joyce and Loretta Young, and based on the 1926 play '' The Squall'' by Jean Bart. Plot In Hu ...
'' * 1930 '' Lilies of the Field'' * 1930 '' The Princess and the Plumber'' * 1930 '' Women Everywhere'' * 1931 '' Längtan till havet'' * 1931 '' Marius'' (as Alexandre Korda) * 1931 ''Rive Gauche'' * 1931 '' The Men Around Lucy'' (aka'' Die Männer um Lucie''; also produced) * 1932 '' Service for Ladies'' (also produced) * 1932 '' The Golden Anchor'' * 1932 '' Wedding Rehearsal'' (also produced) * 1933 '' La dame de chez Maxim's'' (also produced) * 1933 ''
The Girl from Maxim's ''The Girl from Maxim's'' is a 1933 British musical comedy film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Frances Day, Leslie Henson, Lady Tree and Stanley Holloway. It was an adaptation of the 1899 play '' La Dame de chez Maxim'' by George ...
'' (also produced) * 1933 ''
The Private Life of Henry VIII ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' is a 1933 British biographical drama film directed and co-produced by Alexander Korda and starring Charles Laughton, Robert Donat, Merle Oberon and Elsa Lanchester. It was written by Lajos Bíró and Arthur ...
'' (also produced) * 1934 ''
The Rise of Catherine the Great ''The Rise of Catherine the Great'' (also titled ''Catherine the Great'') is a 1934 British historical film about the rise to power of Catherine the Great. It was directed by Paul Czinner, and stars Elisabeth Bergner as Catherine, Douglas Fair ...
'' (uncredited; also produced) * 1934 ''
The Private Life of Don Juan ''The Private Life of Don Juan'' is a 1934 British comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Douglas Fairbanks, Merle Oberon and Benita Hume. At the age of 51, it was the final role of Fairbanks, who died five years later. Th ...
'' (also produced) * 1936 ''
Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...
'' (also produced) * 1936 '' The Man Who Could Work Miracles'' (director: some scenes – uncredited; also produced) * 1939 ''
The Lion Has Wings ''The Lion Has Wings'' is a 1939 British, black-and-white, documentary-style, propaganda film, propaganda war film that was directed by Adrian Brunel, Brian Desmond Hurst, Alexander Korda and Michael Powell. The film was produced by London Film ...
'' (uncredited; also produced) * 1941 ''
That Hamilton Woman ''That Hamilton Woman'', also known as ''Lady Hamilton'', is a 1941 black-and-white historical film drama produced and directed by Alexander Korda for his British company during his exile in the United States. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, th ...
'' (also produced) * 1945 '' Perfect Strangers'' (a.k.a. ''Vacation From Marriage''; also produced) * 1947 ''
An Ideal Husband ''An Ideal Husband'' is a four-act play by Oscar Wilde that revolves around blackmail and political corruption, and touches on the themes of public and private honour. It was first produced at the Haymarket Theatre, London in 1895 and ran for ...
'' (also produced) * 1947 ''
Mine Own Executioner ''Mine Own Executioner'' is a 1947 British psychological thriller drama film starring Burgess Meredith and directed by Anthony Kimmins, and based on the novel of the same name by Nigel Balchin. It was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival ...
'' (producer, uncredited co-director) The following additional films were produced by Alexander Korda but not directed by him: * 1919 ''Kutató Sámuel'' * 1932 '' Men of Tomorrow'' * 1932 '' That Night in London'' * 1932 ''
Women Who Play ''Women Who Play'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Mary Newcomb, Benita Hume and George Barraud. It was produced by Walter Morosco and Alexander Korda and has a screenplay by Basil Mason and Gilbert Wake ...
'' * 1933 ''
Cash In economics, cash is money in the physical form of currency, such as banknotes and coins. In book-keeping and financial accounting, cash is current assets comprising currency or currency equivalents that can be accessed immediately or near-i ...
'' * 1933 ''
Counsel's Opinion ''Counsel's Opinion'' is a 1933 British romantic comedy film starring Henry Kendall and Binnie Barnes. It was one of three films directed in Britain in the early 1930s by Canadian-American Allan Dwan and was an early production from Alexander ...
'' * 1933 '' Strange Evidence'' * 1934 '' The Private Life of the Gannets'' (documentary short) * 1934 ''
The Scarlet Pimpernel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title (co-authored with her husband Montague Barstow) enjoyed a long run in Lo ...
'' (also co-wrote) * 1935 ''
Moscow Nights "Moscow Nights", originally titled "Leningrad Nights", is a Soviet patriotic song written by Mikhail Matusovsky and composed by Vasily Solovyov-Sedoy. It was later covered as "Midnight in Moscow" by Kenny Ball. Composition and initial succ ...
'' (a.k.a. ''I Stand Condemned''; uncredited) * 1935 ''
Sanders of the River ''Sanders of the River'' is a 1935 British film directed by the Hungarian-British director, Zoltán Korda, based on the stories of Edgar Wallace. It is set in Colonial Nigeria. The lead Nigerian characters were played by African Americans Paul Ro ...
'' * 1935 '' The Ghost Goes West'' * 1935 '' Things Are Looking Up'' (uncredited)- Open University. Accessed 2015-12-29 * 1935 ''Wharves and Strays'' * 1936 '' Conquest of the Air'' (updated for a 1940 re-release) * 1936 '' Forget Me Not'' (uncredited) * 1936 ''
Men Are Not Gods ''Men Are Not Gods'' is a 1936 British film starring Miriam Hopkins and co-starring Gertrude Lawrence, Sebastian Shaw and Rex Harrison. It was a success in the UK when released largely due to the popularity of the two female stars Hopkins and ...
'' * 1936 ''Miss Bracegirdle Does her Duty'' (short) * 1936 ''The Fox Hunt'' * 1936 ''
Things to Come ''Things to Come'' is a 1936 British science fiction film produced by Alexander Korda, directed by William Cameron Menzies, and written by H. G. Wells. It is a loose adaptation of Wells' book '' The Shape of Things to Come''. The film stars Ra ...
'' * 1937 ''
Action for Slander ''Action for Slander'' is a 1937 British drama film directed by Tim Whelan and starring Clive Brook, Ann Todd and Googie Withers. The plot is about an army officer who is falsely accused at cheating at cards by a man whose wife he had an affa ...
'' (executive producer) * 1937 '' Dark Journey'' (uncredited) * 1937 '' Elephant Boy'' * 1937 '' Farewell Again ''(a.k.a. ''Troopship''; uncredited) * 1937 '' Fire Over England'' (uncredited) * 1937 '' I, Claudius'' (incomplete) * 1937 '' Knight Without Armour'' * 1937 '' Paradise for Two'' * 1937 ''
Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel ''The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel'' is a 1937 British film directed by Hanns Schwarz and starring Barry K. Barnes, Sophie Stewart, Margaretta Scott and James Mason. It is a sequel to the 1934 film ''Scarlet Pimpernel (1934 film), The Scarlet ...
''(executive producer) * 1937 '' Storm in a Teacup'' (uncredited) * 1937 '' The Squeaker'' (a.k.a. ''Murder on Diamond Row'') * 1938 '' Prison Without Bars'' * 1938 '' South Riding'' * 1938 '' The Challenge'' (uncredited) * 1938 ''
The Divorce of Lady X ''The Divorce of Lady X'' is a 1938 British Technicolor romantic comedy film produced by London Films; it stars Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson and Binnie Barnes. It was film director, directed by Tim Whelan and produced by Alex ...
'' (uncredited) * 1938 '' The Drum'' (a.k.a. ''Drums''; executive producer uncredited) * 1939 '' The Four Feathers'' * 1939 '' Over the Moon'' * 1939 ''
Q Planes ''Q Planes'' (known as ''Clouds Over Europe'' in the United States) is a 1939 British comedy film, comedy spy film starring Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier and Valerie Hobson. Olivier and Richardson were a decade into their fifty-year friends ...
'' (a.k.a. ''Clouds over Europe'') * 1939 ''
The Spy in Black ''The Spy in Black'' (US: ''U-boat 29'') is a 1939 British spy film, and the first collaboration between the British filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. They were brought together by Alexander Korda to make the World War I spy th ...
'' (a.k.a. ''U-Boat 29'') * 1940 ''
21 Days ''21 Days'' (also known as ''21 Days Together'', ''The First and the Last'' and ''Three Weeks Together'') is a 1940 British drama film based on the short 1919 play ''The First and the Last (play), The First and the Last'' by John Galsworthy. It ...
'' (a.k.a. ''21 Days Together'') * 1940 '' The Thief of Bagdad'' * 1941 ''
Lydia Lydia (; ) was an Iron Age Monarchy, kingdom situated in western Anatolia, in modern-day Turkey. Later, it became an important province of the Achaemenid Empire and then the Roman Empire. Its capital was Sardis. At some point before 800 BC, ...
'' (a.k.a. ''Illusions'') * 1941 '' Old Bill and Son'' (uncredited) * 1941 '' The Great Awakening ''(a.k.a. ''New Wine''; exec.producer uncredited) * 1942 ''
Jungle Book ''The Jungle Book'' is an 1894 collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling. Most of the characters are animals such as Shere Khan the tiger and Baloo the bear, though a principal character is the boy or "man-cub" Mowgli, who ...
'' * 1942 '' To Be or Not to Be'' (uncredited) * 1943 ''The Biter Bit'' (short) * 1948 ''
Anna Karenina ''Anna Karenina'' ( rus, Анна Каренина, p=ˈanːə kɐˈrʲenʲɪnə) is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. Tolstoy called it his first true novel. It was initially released in serial in ...
'' * 1948 ''
Bonnie Prince Charlie Charles Edward Louis John Sylvester Maria Casimir Stuart (31 December 1720 – 30 January 1788) was the elder son of James Francis Edward Stuart, making him the grandson of James VII and II, and the Stuart claimant to the thrones of England, ...
'' * 1949 ''
The Third Man ''The Third Man'' is a 1949 film noir directed by Carol Reed, written by Graham Greene, and starring Joseph Cotten as Holly Martins, Alida Valli as Anna Schmidt, Orson Welles as Harry Lime and Trevor Howard as Major Calloway. Set in post-Worl ...
'' (also co-wrote; uncredited) * 1950 '' Gone to Earth'' (U.S. version ''The Wild Heart''; uncredited) * 1951 ''
Outcast of the Islands ''Outcast of the Islands'' is a 1951 British adventure drama film directed by Carol Reed and starring Trevor Howard, Ralph Richardson, Robert Morley and Wendy Hiller. The screenplay was by William Fairchild by based on Joseph Conrad's 18 ...
'' (exec.producer; uncredited) * 1953 ''
The Man Between ''The Man Between'' (also known as ''Berlin Story'') is a 1953 British thriller film directed by Carol Reed and starring James Mason, Claire Bloom and Hildegard Knef. The screenplay concerns a British woman on a visit to post-war Berlin, who is ...
'' (a.k.a. ''Berlin Story''; exec.producer uncredited) * 1955 '' A Kid for Two Farthings'' (uncredited) * 1955 ''
Richard III Richard III (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485) was King of England from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the Plantagenet dynasty and its cadet branch the House of York. His defeat and death at the Battle of Boswor ...
'' (uncredited) * 1955 ''
Storm Over the Nile ''Storm Over the Nile'' is a 1955 British adventure film adaptation of the 1902 novel '' The Four Feathers'', directed by Terence Young and Zoltan Korda. The film not only extensively used footage of the action scenes from the 1939 film ver ...
'' (uncredited) * 1955 '' The Deep Blue Sea'' * 1956 ''
Smiley A smiley, sometimes called a smiley face, is a basic ideogram representing a Smile, smiling face. Since the 1950s, it has become part of popular culture worldwide, used either as a standalone ideogram or as a form of communication, such as em ...
'' (uncredited)


Unmade projects

Korda announced a number of projects which were never made, including: *the life of
T. E. Lawrence Thomas Edward Lawrence (16 August 1888 – 19 May 1935) was a British Army officer, archaeologist, diplomat and writer known for his role during the Arab Revolt and Sinai and Palestine campaign against the Ottoman Empire in the First W ...
with
Leslie Howard Leslie Howard Steiner (3 April 18931 June 1943) was an English actor, director, producer and writer.Obituary, '' Variety'', 9 June 1943. He wrote many stories and articles for ''The New York Times'', ''The New Yorker'', and '' Vanity Fair'' an ...
later to be directed by
Brian Desmond Hurst Brian Desmond Hurst (12 February 1895 – 26 September 1986) was an Irish people, Irish film director. With over thirty films in his filmography, Hurst was hailed as Northern Ireland's best film director by BBC film critic Mike Catto.Scree ...
. *the life of Nijinsky (1930s) *''
Cyrano de Bergerac Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac ( , ; 6 March 1619 – 28 July 1655) was a French novelist, playwright, epistolarian, and duelist. A bold and innovative author, his work was part of the libertine literature of the first half of the 17th ce ...
'' with
Charles Laughton Charles Laughton (; 1 July 1899 – 15 December 1962) was a British and American actor. He was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and first appeared professionally on the stage in 1926. In 1927, he was cast in a play wi ...
(1930s–1940s) *''Precious Bane'' with Robert Donat *''Burmese Silver'' with
Conrad Veidt Hans Walter Conrad Veidt ( , ; 22 January 1893 – 3 April 1943) was a German and British actor. He attracted early attention for his roles in the films ''Different from the Others'' (1919), ''The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'' (1920), and ''The Man ...
(1930s) *the story of
Pocahontas Pocahontas (, ; born Amonute, also known as Matoaka and Rebecca Rolfe; 1596 – March 1617) was a Native American woman belonging to the Powhatan people, notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. S ...
starring
Merle Oberon Merle Oberon (born Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson; 19 February 191123 November 1979) was a British actress. She began her acting career in British cinema in the early 1930s, with a breakout role in ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' (1933). She ...
(1939) *adaptation of ''Manon Lescaut'' for
Merle Oberon Merle Oberon (born Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson; 19 February 191123 November 1979) was a British actress. She began her acting career in British cinema in the early 1930s, with a breakout role in ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' (1933). She ...
*an adaptation of ''
War and Peace ''War and Peace'' (; pre-reform Russian: ; ) is a literary work by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, the work comprises both a fictional narrative and chapters in which Tolstoy discusses history and philosophy. An ...
'' by
Leo Tolstoy Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy Tolstoy pronounced his first name as , which corresponds to the romanization ''Lyov''. () (; ,Throughout Tolstoy's whole life, his name was written as using Reforms of Russian orthography#The post-revolution re ...
to star
Merle Oberon Merle Oberon (born Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson; 19 February 191123 November 1979) was a British actress. She began her acting career in British cinema in the early 1930s, with a breakout role in ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' (1933). She ...
(1940s) *''Velvet Coat'', the life of
Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as ''Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll ...
with Oberon and Robert Donat *an adaptation of ''Greenmantle'' by
John Buchan John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (; 26 August 1875 – 11 February 1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian, British Army officer, and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation. As a ...
*''Lottie Dundass'' starring
Vivien Leigh Vivien Leigh ( ; born Vivian Mary Hartley; 5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967), styled as Lady Olivier after 1947, was a British actress. After completing her drama school education, Leigh appeared in small roles in four films in 1935 and progress ...
from the play by
Enid Bagnold Enid Algerine Bagnold, Lady Jones, (27 October 1889 – 31 March 1981) was a British writer and playwright best known for the 1935 story '' National Velvet''. Early life Enid Algerine Bagnold was born on 27 October 1889 in Rochester, Kent, ...
*an adaptation of ''The Wrecker'' by
Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as ''Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll ...
*''Habitation Enforced'' from the story by
Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English journalist, novelist, poet, and short-story writer. He was born in British Raj, British India, which inspired much ...
*an adaptation of ''The King's General'' by
Daphne du Maurier Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning, (; 13 May 1907 – 19 April 1989) was an English novelist, biographer and playwright. Her parents were actor-manager Gerald du Maurier, Sir Gerald du Maurier and his wife, actress Muriel Beaumont. Her gra ...
(late 1940s) *''The Promotion of the Admiral'' from the novel by
C. S. Forester Cecil Louis Troughton Smith (27 August 1899 – 2 April 1966), known by his pen name Cecil Scott "C. S." Forester, was an English novelist known for writing tales of naval warfare, such as the 12-book Horatio Hornblower series depicting a Royal ...
starring
Ralph Richardson Sir Ralph David Richardson (19 December 1902 – 10 October 1983) was an English actor who, with John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier, was one of the trinity of male actors who dominated the British stage for much of the 20th century. He wo ...
directed by
Powell and Pressburger The British film-making partnership of Michael Powell (1905–1990) and Emeric Pressburger (1902–1988)—together often known as The Archers, the name of their production company—made a series of influential films in the 1940s and 1950s. T ...
(1940s) *''
A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by English author 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 impr ...
'' with
Gregory Peck Eldred Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an American actor and one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, 12th-greatest male ...
*''
Tess of the d'Urbervilles ''Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman'' is the twelfth published novel by English author Thomas Hardy. It initially appeared in a Book censorship, censored and Serialized novel, serialised version, published by the British illustrated newsp ...
'' with
Jennifer Jones Jennifer Jones (born Phylis Lee Isley; March 2, 1919 – December 17, 2009), also known as Jennifer Jones Simon, was an American actress and mental-health advocate. Over the course of her career that spanned more than five decades, she was nomin ...
as Tess *''
Around the World in Eighty Days ''Around the World in Eighty Days'' () is an adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne, first published in French in 1872. In the story, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employed French valet Passepartout attempt to circumnavigate ...
'' *''
The Magic Mountain ''The Magic Mountain'' (, ) is a novel by Thomas Mann. It was first published in Germany in November 1924. Since then, it has gone through numerous editions and been translated into many languages. It is widely considered a seminal work of 20t ...
'' by
Thomas Mann Paul Thomas Mann ( , ; ; 6 June 1875 – 12 August 1955) was a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, and the 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. His highly symbolic and ironic epic novels and novell ...
*'' Point Counter Point'' by
Aldous Huxley Aldous Leonard Huxley ( ; 26 July 1894 – 22 November 1963) was an English writer and philosopher. His bibliography spans nearly 50 books, including non-fiction novel, non-fiction works, as well as essays, narratives, and poems. Born into the ...


References


Bibliography

* Drazin, Charles. ''Korda: Britain's Only Movie Mogul''. Sidgwick & Jackson, 2002. * Kulik, Karol. ''Alexander Korda: The Man Who Could Work Miracles''. Virgin Books, 1990. * Korda, Michael. ''Another Life: A Memoir of Other People.'' Random House Publishing Group, 1999. * Korda, Michael. ''Charmed Lives: A Family Romance''. Random House, 1979. * Tabori, Paul. ''Alexander Korda''. Oldbourne, 1959.


External links

* *
Alexander Korda
at Virtual History {{DEFAULTSORT:Korda, Alexander 1893 births 1956 deaths British film producers British people of Hungarian-Jewish descent Film directors from London German-language film directors Golders Green Crematorium Hungarian emigrants to the United Kingdom Hungarian film directors Hungarian film producers Hungarian Jews Knights Bachelor Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom People from Túrkeve People from the Kingdom of Hungary 20th-century British businesspeople Korda family British film studio executives