Walter Lang, He made movies too!
Mar 20, 2020 23:03:14 GMT
mattgarth, spiderwort, and 1 more like this
Post by teleadm on Mar 20, 2020 23:03:14 GMT
Before becoming a house director at 20th Century Fox between 1937 and 1961, he was a respected director during the silent era, but with the advent of sound , something he passed, he wanted to try another dream, to become an artist in Paris, painting motives. Well that plan didn't work so well for this guy born in Tennessee, so he returned directing movies, but once he was given splashy musicals by Fox, he knew how to colour them, though not without fighting with Technicolor Czarinna Natalie Kalmus.
Walter Lang's expertise was splashy musicals and comedies. the kind of movies when you hear a tune, and hum and whistle a melody that you liked all the way from the cinema, and what's wrong with that...
When you are good at something why change too much, though before his long term contract with Fox, he did a little of everything.
Escapism in trying times that might look corny today, but pleased the masses once, and that is nothing to frown about.
The Red Kimona 1925 was Lang's debut as director.
A very fragile copy exist and is hold by US Library of Congress.
When Clark Gable lost the Oscar for Gone with the Wind, he gave the statue he had won earlier for It Happened One Night to Walter's son Richard and told him to used it as a hammer (stories differ), Gable was a Godfather to Walter's son. Walter's son did indeed use it as a hammer, but in later years had it restored and gave the statuette to Gable's son
Here comes a trip down memory lane:
pre-Fox years, Whom the Gods Destroy 1934, a drama about a Broadway producer who's ship sinks between New York and London.
Said to have a man in woman's clothing for the first time in a sound movie, for a dramatic situation. and not for comedy
The Little Princess 1939 starring Shirley Temple
Moon Over Miami 1941 with the stars of the day, Don Ameche, Betty Grable and Robert Cummings in the lead.
The Magnificent Dope 1942, Don Ameche and Edward Everett Horton had a plan....once they find a dope.
"it Might as Well be Spring", State Fair 1945, a cozy musical with songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein the Second.
It also has a very early product placement by something called Coca-Cola.
Mother Wore Tights 1947, one of Betty Grable's most popular movies.
According to Betty Grable, Walter Lang was the only true gentleman she ever met in Hollywood, including her husbands
Sitting Pretty 1948, popular comedy about a male nursie.
Cheaper By the Dozen 1950, comedy about a family with many children, remade as a Steve Martin vehicle nearly 40 years later.
The Jackpot 1950, was a very popular comedy vehicle for James Stewart once, that somehow got forgotten over the years.
Lately it has been re-discovered by many Stewart fans.
Jane Froman was more or less forgotten, but then came With a Song in My Heart 1952, a very Hollywood biopic starring Susan Hayward that was very popular.
Call Me Madam 1953 with tunes by Irving Berlin. Based on real events, and gave George Sanders the rare opportunity to be on the Hit Parades with "Marry for Love"
Cinemascope needs six stars standing side by side, and that is what you got, with Irving Berlin song, in There's No Bussiness Like Show Bussiness 1954
The King and I 1956, Lang's only Oscar nomination, a lavish and expensive production that thrilled a world. "Shall We Dance?"
Desk Set 1957, Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepurn and what computers used to look like back then
Can Can 1960, the one Nikita Crustchov visited on the set and disliked, but liked Shirley Maclaine.
The first soundtrack album that outsold the incomes of a movie itself?
Walter Lang's very odd screen farewell came with Snow White and the Three Stooges 1961. It started as a cheap movie idea, but along the way was turned into a very lavish and expensive production that concentrated too little on the the comedians that was supposed to be the stars in the first place. It has both Likers and Haters.
After a career as director since 1925, he was offered the chance to direct one more move after he retired, and that was The Sound of Music, at what time that offer came isn't clear. Lang declined the offer since once he retired he retired, unlike others trying a few TV-episodes, but No! retired is retired.
Since 1937 he was married to Madalynne (a former Sennett Bathing Beauty), a marriage that lasted until 1972 when Walter Lang passed away, she survived him by two years.
Thanks for watching!
Walter Lang 1896 - 1972
When you are good at something why change too much, though before his long term contract with Fox, he did a little of everything.
Escapism in trying times that might look corny today, but pleased the masses once, and that is nothing to frown about.
The Red Kimona 1925 was Lang's debut as director.
A very fragile copy exist and is hold by US Library of Congress.
When Clark Gable lost the Oscar for Gone with the Wind, he gave the statue he had won earlier for It Happened One Night to Walter's son Richard and told him to used it as a hammer (stories differ), Gable was a Godfather to Walter's son. Walter's son did indeed use it as a hammer, but in later years had it restored and gave the statuette to Gable's son
Here comes a trip down memory lane:
pre-Fox years, Whom the Gods Destroy 1934, a drama about a Broadway producer who's ship sinks between New York and London.
Said to have a man in woman's clothing for the first time in a sound movie, for a dramatic situation. and not for comedy
The Little Princess 1939 starring Shirley Temple
Moon Over Miami 1941 with the stars of the day, Don Ameche, Betty Grable and Robert Cummings in the lead.
The Magnificent Dope 1942, Don Ameche and Edward Everett Horton had a plan....once they find a dope.
"it Might as Well be Spring", State Fair 1945, a cozy musical with songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein the Second.
It also has a very early product placement by something called Coca-Cola.
Mother Wore Tights 1947, one of Betty Grable's most popular movies.
According to Betty Grable, Walter Lang was the only true gentleman she ever met in Hollywood, including her husbands
Sitting Pretty 1948, popular comedy about a male nursie.
Cheaper By the Dozen 1950, comedy about a family with many children, remade as a Steve Martin vehicle nearly 40 years later.
The Jackpot 1950, was a very popular comedy vehicle for James Stewart once, that somehow got forgotten over the years.
Lately it has been re-discovered by many Stewart fans.
Jane Froman was more or less forgotten, but then came With a Song in My Heart 1952, a very Hollywood biopic starring Susan Hayward that was very popular.
Call Me Madam 1953 with tunes by Irving Berlin. Based on real events, and gave George Sanders the rare opportunity to be on the Hit Parades with "Marry for Love"
Cinemascope needs six stars standing side by side, and that is what you got, with Irving Berlin song, in There's No Bussiness Like Show Bussiness 1954
The King and I 1956, Lang's only Oscar nomination, a lavish and expensive production that thrilled a world. "Shall We Dance?"
Desk Set 1957, Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepurn and what computers used to look like back then
Can Can 1960, the one Nikita Crustchov visited on the set and disliked, but liked Shirley Maclaine.
The first soundtrack album that outsold the incomes of a movie itself?
Walter Lang's very odd screen farewell came with Snow White and the Three Stooges 1961. It started as a cheap movie idea, but along the way was turned into a very lavish and expensive production that concentrated too little on the the comedians that was supposed to be the stars in the first place. It has both Likers and Haters.
After a career as director since 1925, he was offered the chance to direct one more move after he retired, and that was The Sound of Music, at what time that offer came isn't clear. Lang declined the offer since once he retired he retired, unlike others trying a few TV-episodes, but No! retired is retired.
Since 1937 he was married to Madalynne (a former Sennett Bathing Beauty), a marriage that lasted until 1972 when Walter Lang passed away, she survived him by two years.
Thanks for watching!