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William Wyler

Director

William Wyler

Born July 1, 1902 in Mülhausen, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire [now Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, France]Died July 27, 198158 films

William Wyler (July 1, 1902 – July 27, 1981) was a German-born film director, producer, and screenwriter. Notable works include Ben-Hur (1959), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), and Mrs. Miniver (1942), all which won Wyler Academy Awards for Best Director, and also won Best Picture. He earned his first Oscar nomination for directing Dodsworth in 1936, sparking a 20-year run of almost unbroken greatness.

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Film historian Ian Freer calls Wyler a "bona fide perfectionist," whose penchant for retakes and an attempt to hone every last nuance "became the stuff of legend." His ability to direct a string of classic literary adaptations into huge box office and critical successes made him one of Hollywood's most bankable moviemakers during the 1930s and 1940s.

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The best way into William Wyler's work
Roman Holiday posterFirst watchRoman Holiday19537.9Overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, touring European princess Ann takes off for a night while in Rome. When a sedative she took from her doctor kicks in, however, she falls asleep on…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Ben-Hur poster7.9Ben-Hur1959The Best Years of Our Lives poster7.7The Best Years of Our Lives1946How to Steal a Million poster7.5How to Steal a Million1966The Children's Hour poster7.7The Children's Hour1961The Big Country poster7.6The Big Country1958The Heiress poster7.8The Heiress1949Funny Girl poster7.1Funny Girl1968Wuthering Heights poster7.2Wuthering Heights1939

Filmography

58 films as director
  1. 2011History Rediscovered: The Memphis BelleDirector
  2. 1970The Liberation of L.B. JonesDirector
  3. 1968Funny GirlDirector
  4. 1966How to Steal a MillionDirector
  5. 1965The CollectorDirector
  6. 1961The Children's HourDirector
  7. 1959Ben-HurDirector
  8. 1958The Big CountryDirector
  9. 1956Friendly PersuasionDirector
  10. 1956The LetterDirector
  11. 1955The Desperate HoursDirector
  12. 1953Roman HolidayDirector
  13. 1952CarrieDirector
  14. 1951Detective StoryDirector
  15. 1949The HeiressDirector
  16. 1947ThunderboltDirector
  17. 1946The Best Years of Our LivesDirector
  18. 1944The Fighting LadyDirector
  19. 1944The Memphis BelleDirector
  20. 1942Mrs. MiniverDirector
  21. 1941The Little FoxesDirector
  22. 1940The LetterDirector
  23. 1940The WesternerDirector
  24. 1939Wuthering HeightsDirector
  25. 1938JezebelDirector
  26. 1937Dead EndDirector
  27. 1936Come and Get ItDirector
  28. 1936DodsworthDirector
  29. 1936These ThreeDirector
  30. 1935The Gay DeceptionDirector
  31. 1935The Good FairyDirector
  32. 1934GlamourDirector
  33. 1933Counsellor at LawDirector
  34. 1933Her First MateDirector
  35. 1932Tom Brown of CulverDirector
  36. 1931A House DividedDirector
  37. 1930The StormDirector
  38. 1929Hell's HeroesDirector
  39. 1929The Love TrapDirector
  40. 1929The ShakedownDirector
  41. 1928Anybody Here Seen Kelly?Director
  42. 1928Thunder RidersDirector
  43. 1927Desert DustDirector
  44. 1927The Border CavalierDirector
  45. 1927The Horse TraderDirector
  46. 1927The Ore RaidersDirector
  47. 1927Hard FistsDirector
  48. 1927Straight Shootin'Director
  49. 1927Blazing DaysDirector
  50. 1927The Two FisterDirector
  51. 1926The Stolen RanchDirector
  52. 1926Lazy LightningDirector
  53. 1926Martin of the MountedDirector
  54. 1926Don't ShootDirector
  55. 1926The Fire BarrierDirector
  56. 1926Ridin' for LoveDirector
  57. 1926The Gunless Bad ManDirector
  58. 1925The Crook BusterDirector