Russian-born Anatole Litvak was a former Leningrad stagehand who became a leading Hollywood film director in a career spanning six decades.
Litvak helped return Ingrid Bergman to popularity with American audiences in 1956 with "Anastasia," which won an Oscar for the Swedish star. And he directed Olivia de Havilland to her Academy Award in "The Snake Pit."
It was Litvak who directed Jean Gabin in his screen debut, "Coeur de Lilas," and Charles Boyer and Danielle Darrieux in "Mayerling" in 1936.
"Mayerling" launched Litvak on an international career. He left for Hollywood in 1937.
His first Hollywood movie, "The Woman I Love," starred Paul Muni and Miriam Hopkins. Litvak and Hopkins were later married and then divorced.
In 1948 came two of his greatest successes — "Snake Pit" and "Sorry, Wrong Number," a thriller starring Barbara Stanwyck.
Litvak made his last film in 1970 — "The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun."
|
Year | Category | Work | |
---|---|---|---|
1948 | Best Director | The Snake Pit | Nomination |
1951 | Best Picture | Decision Before Dawn | Nomination* |
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