William Wyler's Birthday

On July 1, 1902 in Mulhouse, Alsace, then part of the German Empire, the son of Willi was born in the Jewish family of travelling salesman Leopold Weiler and his wife Melanie.

At school, Willi Weiler did not differ in successful studies, or exemplary behavior. Moreover, during his school years, Willy gained a reputation as a "something of a hellraiser", and therefore had to change schools often. After graduating school, his parents tried to attract him to continue his father's trading activities, but they were failed in it. Then mom sent Willi to America to her cousin Carl Laemmle, who had by then founded film studio Universal Pictures. Willi Weiler began his career in the cinema on the positions of a film studio courier, cleaner, setter.

Proximity to cinematic production has borne fruit: at the age of 23, Wilhelm Weiler made his first short film. In a short time, Willi, shortly gaining experience in the production of short Westerns, became the most profitable young director at the film studio.

At 26, Willi received American citizenship and, accordingly, a new name - William Wyler. And then, in 1928, William Wyler made his first full-length feature film, but still silent, the movie "Anybody Here Seen Kelly?" Since 1929, Wyler began shooting already full-length sound films. There are 35 of these on William Wyler’s filmography.

6 films made by Wyler entered the Golden Thousand. In the category of Best Director, William Wyler was awarded the Academy Award three times and once a Golden Globe.

Based on the above, William Wyler is included in the list of the 100 greatest world film directors, compiled by FilmGourmand.

Today, on the birthday of this great Director, I want to remind fans of his work footage from his best films included in the Golden Thousand.