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William A. Wellman

Director

William A. Wellman

Born February 29, 1896 in Brookline, Massachusetts, USADied December 9, 197576 films

William Augustus Wellman was an American film director. Although Wellman began his film career as an actor, he worked on over 80 films, as director, producer and consultant but most often as a director, notable for his work in crime, adventure and action genre films, often focusing on aviation themes, a particular passion. He also directed several well regarded satirical comedies.

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Wellman directed the 1927 film Wings, which became the first film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture at the 1st Academy Awards ceremony.

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The best way into William A. Wellman's work
The Ox-Bow Incident posterFirst watchThe Ox-Bow Incident19437.7A posse discovers a trio of men they suspect of murder and cow theft and are split between handing them over to the law or lynching them on the spot.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Public Enemy poster7.2The Public Enemy1931Wings poster7.2Wings1927A Star Is Born poster7.2A Star Is Born1937Yellow Sky poster7.0Yellow Sky1948Beau Geste poster7.0Beau Geste1939Westward the Women poster7.1Westward the Women1951Battleground poster6.7Battleground1949Night Nurse poster6.8Night Nurse1931

Filmography

76 films as director
  1. 1958Lafayette EscadrilleDirector
  2. 1958Darby's RangersDirector
  3. 1956Good-bye, My LadyDirector
  4. 1955Blood AlleyDirector
  5. 1954Track of the CatDirector
  6. 1954The High and the MightyDirector
  7. 1953Island in the SkyDirector
  8. 1952My Man and IDirector
  9. 1951Westward the WomenDirector
  10. 1951It's a Big CountryDirector
  11. 1951Across the Wide MissouriDirector
  12. 1950The Happy YearsDirector
  13. 1950The Next Voice You Hear...Director
  14. 1949BattlegroundDirector
  15. 1948Yellow SkyDirector
  16. 1948The Iron CurtainDirector
  17. 1947Magic TownDirector
  18. 1946Gallant JourneyDirector
  19. 1945Story of G.I. JoeDirector
  20. 1945This Man's NavyDirector
  21. 1944Buffalo BillDirector
  22. 1943Lady of BurlesqueDirector
  23. 1943The Ox-Bow IncidentDirector
  24. 1942Thunder BirdsDirector
  25. 1942Roxie HartDirector
  26. 1941The Great Man's LadyDirector
  27. 1941Reaching for the SunDirector
  28. 1939The Light That FailedDirector
  29. 1939Beau GesteDirector
  30. 1938Men with WingsDirector
  31. 1937Nothing SacredDirector
  32. 1937A Star Is BornDirector
  33. 1936Small Town GirlDirector
  34. 1936Robin Hood of El DoradoDirector
  35. 1935Call of the WildDirector
  36. 1934The President VanishesDirector
  37. 1934StingareeDirector
  38. 1934Looking for TroubleDirector
  39. 1933College CoachDirector
  40. 1933Wild Boys of the RoadDirector
  41. 1933Midnight MaryDirector
  42. 1933Heroes for SaleDirector
  43. 1933Lilly TurnerDirector
  44. 1933Central AirportDirector
  45. 1933Frisco JennyDirector
  46. 1932The ConquerorsDirector
  47. 1932The Purchase PriceDirector
  48. 1932Love is a RacketDirector
  49. 1932So Big!Director
  50. 1932The Hatchet ManDirector
  51. 1931Safe in HellDirector
  52. 1931The Star WitnessDirector
  53. 1931Night NurseDirector
  54. 1931The Public EnemyDirector
  55. 1931Other Men's WomenDirector
  56. 1930Maybe It's LoveDirector
  57. 1930Young EaglesDirector
  58. 1930Dangerous ParadiseDirector
  59. 1929Woman TrapDirector
  60. 1929The Man I LoveDirector
  61. 1929Chinatown NightsDirector
  62. 1928Beggars of LifeDirector
  63. 1928Ladies of the MobDirector
  64. 1928The Legion of the CondemnedDirector
  65. 1927WingsDirector
  66. 1926You Never Know WomenDirector
  67. 1926The Cat's PajamasDirector
  68. 1926The BoobDirector
  69. 1925When Husbands FlirtDirector
  70. 1924The Circus CowboyDirector
  71. 1924The Vagabond TrailDirector
  72. 1924Not a Drum Was HeardDirector
  73. 1923Cupid's FiremanDirector
  74. 1923Big DanDirector
  75. 1923The Man Who WonDirector
  76. 1923Second Hand LoveDirector