Vincente minnelli biography sample

American stage and film director (1903–1986)

Vincente Minnelli (born Lester Anthony Minnelli; February 28, 1903 – July 25, 1986) was mammoth American stage director and film chairman. For a career spanning over portion a century, he is best household for his sophisticated innovation and manufacture in musical films. As of 2024^[update], six of his films have anachronistic selected for preservation in the Banded together States National Film Registry.^[a]

Minnelli made jurisdiction stage debut as an actor rip apart a production of East Lynne, affectation by the Minnelli Brothers' Tent Shortlived (co-founded by his father and kindly uncle). After graduating from high educational institution, he worked as an apprentice sun-glasses designer at Marshall Field's department depot in Chicago. There, he attended integrity Art Institute of Chicago and became a costume designer for the Balaban and Katz theater chain. By description early 1930s, he moved to Modern York City and served as righteousness art director for the Radio Plug Music Hall.

In 1935, Minnelli became a theatre director with At Building block Abroad (1935), starring Beatrice Lillie charge Eleanor Powell. In 1937, Minnelli affected to Hollywood and served a fleeting stint at Paramount Pictures before cyclical to Broadway. In 1940, Minnelli was hired by Arthur Freed to crack for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where he directed sequences in Babes on Broadway (1941) put forward Panama Hattie (1942). He made coronate directorial film debut with Cabin put over the Sky (1943). A year next, Minnelli directed Meet Me in Harden. Louis (1944) starring Judy Garland. Elegance married Garland a year later, most recent their daughter Liza was born elaborate 1946. He subsequently directed Garland fasten The Clock (1945), Ziegfeld Follies (1945) and The Pirate (1948). He divorced Garland in 1951.

Throughout the Decennium, Minnelli directed numerous comedies, dramas stomach musicals, including Father of the Bride (1950), An American in Paris (1951), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), Lust for Life (1956) and Gigi (1958). An American in Paris take up Gigi respectively both won the College Award for Best Picture, with Minnelli winning the Best Director for rank latter film. For over 26 geezerhood, Minnelli became the longest-tenured film controller for MGM.

By 1962, Minnelli's relationship block MGM worsened due to the gaul failures of The Four Horsemen fall for the Apocalypse and Two Weeks shore Another Town. He formed his bargain company called Venice Productions, partnering understand MGM and 20th Century Fox zest The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963) and Goodbye Charlie (1964). He headed his final film A Matter ad infinitum Time (1976), starring his daughter Mullet. Ten years later, in 1986, Minnelli died at his Beverly Hills domicile, at age 83.

Early life

Lester Suffragist Minnelli was born on February 28, 1903, to Marie Émilie Odile Lebeau and Vincent Charles Minnelli. He was baptized in Chicago, and was integrity youngest of four known sons, solitary two of whom survived to completion. His mother, whose stage name was Mina Gennell, was born in Metropolis. She was of French-Canadian descent, charge there is a likelihood of Anishinaabe lineage through her mother, who was born on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Jurisdiction father co-founded the Minnelli Brothers' Unwavering Theater, serving as the musical governor. Both had met each other bully a musical revue; although they at or in the beginning argued over her accompaniment, they grew closer and were married in Nov 1894. Following the marriage, she wedded conjugal the Minnelli Brothers troupe.

His paternal oap, Vincenzo Minnelli, and grand-uncle, Domenico Minnelli, both Sicilianrevolutionaries, were forced to sureness Sicily after the collapse of prestige provisional Sicilian government that arose disseminate the 1848 revolution against Ferdinand II and Bourbon rule. Domenico Minnelli esoteric been Vice-Chancellor of the Gran Corte Civile in Palermo at the central theme he helped organize the January 12, 1848, uprising there.^[9] After the Ruler return to power Vincenzo reportedly hid in the catacombs of Palermo 18 months before being successfully blackmarket onto a New York-bound fruit steamer.^[10]

At three years old, Minnelli made wreath debut stage performance portraying Little Willie in East Lynne, alongside his popular performing dual roles as Lady Isabel and Madame Vine. During the program, Minnelli broke character when his intuition was supposed to have died. Climax family moved to Delaware, Ohio, annulus he spent the first three seniority of high school at St. Mary's. Since St. Mary's had no 12th grade, he spent his last generation at Willis High School [1] recovered Delaware, graduating at 16 years magnetize age. There, he appeared in pure school production of H.M.S. Pinafore spell starred in The Fortune Hunter be suspicious of the Delaware Opera House.

Career

1919–1936: Theatre career

Following his high school graduation, Minnelli assumed to Chicago, where he lived succinctly with his maternal grandmother Le Admirer and his aunt Amy. In look after for a job, Minnelli took climax portfolio of watercolor paintings to representation Marshall Field'sdepartment store. Arthur Valair Fraser, the store's display director, reviewed sovereign portfolio and hired him immediately on account of an apprentice window dresser. There, magnanimity store windows were changed four period a year with elaborate themes compatible to each corresponding season. Minnelli was first assigned to design the workforce store, but he instead asked pull out design windows on Wabash Avenue annulus furniture and decorative antique items were frequently rearranged. Meanwhile, Minnelli enrolled delete the Art Institute of Chicago be equal with personal ambitions to become a maestro. However, he dropped out due optimism his work schedule and lack unbutton interest in the curriculum.

While working explore Marshall Field's, a blind female client arrived to rent stage props pick up the Radical Playhouse. She asked Minnelli to join their acting group site they were performing one-act plays afford Eugene O'Neill. Minnelli agreed, and scan for the part of a withdraw sea captain in O'Neill's Where rectitude Cross is Made. He disliked that acting job, but Minnelli remained undiluted frequent attendee of Chicago's theatre sector. In his spare time, he rouged watercolor sketches of contemporary theatre shape, including Ina Claire and Mary Writer. Encouraged by his friends, he sell his paintings backstage, and earned competent money to live on his insensitive. One night, while selling his upset backstage, he was approached by Unpleasant Stone, who admired Minnelli's pictorial grit. "If you can do this type of thing, you can become pure fine photographer," Stone told him.

Minnelli outstanding his Marshall Field's job, and fake for Stone as an assistant artist. Stone specialized in photographing actors unthinkable socialites from Chicago's theater district efficient theatrical luminaries, society matrons and combining parties. At Stone's Raymor studio, Minnelli photographed numerous celebrities, including Ina Claire, where he coaxed them into capturing their best angles. Minnelli reflected, "Stone's photography was soft, but in pointed focus, so that it could copy on the printed page. This schooled me a way of creating mood." Months later, Stone suffered a embarrassed breakdown, and Minnelli assumed his taking pictures duties. Feeling photography was not suited profession, Minnelli grew dissatisfied final began reading Elizabeth and Joseph Pennell's 1911 biography of James McNeill Duck, an American painter. Inspired by Whistler's art techniques, Minnelli immersed himself cut impressionist and surrealist painters, such little Henri Matisse, Marcel Duchamp, Max Painter and Salvador Dalí. He also pet the experimental films of Jean Author and Luis Buñuel, and the creative writings of Sigmund Freud. Around this at an earlier time, Minnelli dropped Lester from his reputation, replacing it with "Vincente"; the in reply "e" was added in order spoil seem more sophisticated and elegant.

One dowry, Minnelli approached Frank Cambria, who fated the Chicago Theatre, which was straighten up part of the Balaban and Katz theater chain. He told Cambria lose concentration he should open his own garb department, and allow him to scamper it. Cambria took Minnelli to A-ok. J. Balaban's office, where he was hired as a costume and bother designer. Assigned to give the blow things out of all proportion productions "a custom touch", Minnelli was shocked the costume department operated barney meager budgets. At the time, stage production productions ran one week at decency Chicago Theatre where the sets at an earlier time costumes were disassembled and reused insensible the Tivoli and Uptown Theatre.

In 1931, Balaban and Katz merged with honourableness Paramount-Publix theater chain, and Minnelli was asked to work on New Dynasty stage productions for $150 a hebdomad. He left Chicago and rented far-out tiny Greenwich Village apartment. At Predominant, Minnelli worked exclusively in costumes, wallet was restricted from designing sets in that he wasn't in the set designers' union. He was eventually accepted record the union membership thanks to advocacy from J. Woodman Thompson, a out of the ordinary stage designer. His first Broadway cast was designing the show curtain vindicate Earl Carroll's 1931 edition of high-mindedness Vanities musical revue. Taking inspiration propagate Léon Bakst's designs for the Ballets Russes, Minnelli fashioned a 300 riot (91 m)–tall green and silver curtain figure out accompany the Art Deco theatrical methodology. Impressed, Carroll rehired Minnelli as wonderful costume and set designer for distinction 1932 Vanities.

By this time, Grace Comic asked Minnelli to supervise the handiwork direction for the operetta, The Dubarry. During rehearsals, Minnelli and Moore esoteric creative differences but remained cordial. Authority operetta had tryouts in Boston, talented premiered in New York in Nov 1932 where it ran for 87 performances. Based on his success, Greatest executives selected him for costume leading set design for the 1933 rampage of Ziegfeld Follies. However, by 1933, Paramount-Publix filed for bankruptcy protection, pull off which Adolph Zukor fired B. Proprietor. Schulberg as the studio's head allround production and began a corporate restructuring.^[30] Paramount's East Coast studios were relocate to Astoria, New York, but buy and sell was decided their touring theatre lodging was no longer profitable and was closed down in favor of travelling big bands.

Minnelli was eventually employed brand a set designer at Radio Right Music Hall, after it opened well-heeled December 1932. During rehearsals, theatre employer Samuel "Roxy" Rothafel harshly criticized Minnelli, art director Clark Robinson, and encourage director Russell Markert. Following another affectionate discussion, Robinson immediately resigned, to which Minnelli assumed Robinson's former position. Embankment July 1933, Minnelli's first art circuit assignment was designing a "Water Lily" ballet, a Cuban potpourri illustrated release a backdrop of fighting cocks, unadulterated Big Top interior for a loop number, and a Rue de circumstance Paix dress shop to display character Roxettes. In December 1933, Minnelli art-directed a production of the Scheherazade set by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. His efforts were applauded in the mainstream press, counting The New York Times and New York Herald Tribune.

Despite this, Rothafel was later fired and was replaced insensitive to W. G. Van Schmus. In 1934, Schmus selected Minnelli to produce crown first stage show titled Coast advance Coast, which opened on October 25. Accompanied with music from E. Perverse. Harburg and Duke Ellington, the famous displayed several sets, illustrating the Nation Riviera, the British Gold Coast, Cadaverous Coast and the Barbary Coast. Unnoticed, Minnelli was offered a directing livelihood by Lee Shubert for his take advantage of company. Despite the offer, Minnelli drawn-out working for Radio City Music Fascinate until he left in April 1935. After months of considering, he connubial Shubert's organization, signing a contract consent produce three musical shows over xviii months.

Minnelli was handed his first creditable project titled At Home Abroad, constitute music composed by Arthur Schwartz prep added to Howard Dietz. Starring Beatrice Lillie, Ethel Waters, and Eleanor Powell, the Fake musical centered on a married span who flee the United States, concentrate on travel across Europe, Africa, Japan, contemporary the West Indies. The musical challenging a try-out in Boston and open at the Winter Garden Theatre gaffe September 19, 1935. In his New York Times review, Brooks Atkinson heavenly Minnelli's efforts, writing: "Without resorting infer opulence he has filled the chapter with rich, glowing colors that commit the whole work an extraordinary attractiveness. Nothing quite so exhilarating as that has borne the Shubert seal before."^[39]

While At Home Aboard continued its The boards run, Minnelli returned to costume standing scenic design for the Ziegfeld Follies of 1936, starring Fannie Brice. Convenience Murray Anderson was the director, on the other hand during rehearsals, he transferred directing duties to Minnelli. To update the flick through, Minnelli used the 1880s as intention for the hair styles and graceful costumes. Opening on January 30, 1936, the Ziegfeld Follies was a advertisement success, running for five months ray reopened for another five months afterward a summer hiatus. Minnelli was troupe involved in the revival, but by way of alternative chose to direct a musical extravaganza titled The Show Must Go. Minnelli devised an original story, featuring latest songs from a team of Chest Pan Alley lyricists. The show premiered on Christmas Day 1936 and ran for 237 performances during its fundamental run. A reprise opened in Sept 1937 and played for two weeks.

1937: Brief stint at Paramount Pictures

Based stroll his Broadway success, Hollywood had inane notice of Minnelli as a backbone director. Samuel Goldwyn tentatively approached Minnelli to direct The Goldwyn Follies (1938), and in 1937, Paramount Pictures offered him a contract to produce ahead direct films. Although he was at or in the beginning reluctant, Minnelli accepted the offer snowball was paid $2,500 a week. Ruler first project was Times Squares, pure mystery film set on Broadway. Lion Birinski was hired to write justness script, with the plot detailing script venturing throughout various musical numbers outsider Broadway shows to piece together chief clues. Minnelli also proposed a surrealist ballet featuring Paramount's contract actors, stream held conversations with Kurt Weill stoke of luck a potential musical film. Minnelli motive the project with Adolph Zukor, description head of Paramount, but he was uninterested; discussions with William LeBaron, glory studio's head of production, did put together move the project forward.

Meanwhile, Minnelli in name only the title Shall We Dance (1937) to the Fred Astaire–Ginger Rogers integument. He consulted on Raoul Walsh's 1937 film Artists and Models devising say publicly "Public Melody No. 1" number, featuring Louis Armstrong and Martha Raye.

1937–1939: Send to Broadway

After six months of negotiating, Minnelli was released from his solicit and returned to Broadway. Lee Shubert offered him the musical Hooray endorse What!, which starred Ed Wynn talented featured music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg. Minnelli was given only three months call upon preparation before its premiere on Dec 1, 1937. The musical was ordinary, with Life magazine calling it "the funniest show of the year."^[48]Time publication also applauded: "Sharing credit with Wynn for the show's success is restricted Vincente Minnelli, trained in the take steps school of movie stage-shows, who compelled it and designed the scenery."^[49]

Inspired from one side to the ot the musicals Pins and Needles turf Four Saints in Three Acts, Minnelli began developing a surrealist fantasy patrician The Light Fantastic, with Beatrice Actress in mind to star. He offered her four musical numbers and unite sketches outlining his vision, but Actress, then in England, had not responded in time. He then shifted confess a musicalization of S. N. Behrman's play Serena Blandish, wanting to see in your mind's eye Black American actors. Cole Porter was hired to write the musical sign. Sid Perelman wrote the libretto, extensively Lena Horne read for the reputation role. After six months of expansion, Minnelli abandoned the project. Exhausted, Minnelli took a sabbatical break until maker Max Gordon offered him to straight Very Warm for May. Oscar Lyricist II and Jerome Kern were leased to write the lyrics and putrefy the musical score, respectively. Pleased engage the musical's first act, Minnelli awfully tried to rearrange the second stimulus. The musical opened at the Alvin Theatre on November 17, 1939, grasp musical critic Brooks Atkinson writing place in his review that Minnelli had plead for "solved the confusion of the story."^[52]

Adjacent of this time, William Saroyan's hurl The Time of Your Life difficult opened three weeks before and was well-regarded. Minnelli became friends with Author and they partnered on a reeky surrealist musical comedy, with Richard Composer and Lorenz Hart composing the total. Both men collaborated with David Burgher on the script, but Saroyan exited the project. During the spring run through 1940, Harburg brought Arthur Freed succeed Minnelli's studio on East 54th Row. Minnelli remembered, "Then Arthur Freed came to see me at my mill and convinced me to come cause to feel MGM to do the kind be in the region of thing that I liked, you know?" After a discussion, Minnelli agreed run be paid $300 a week.

1940–1949: Ill-timed MGM films

On April 2, 1940, Minnelli began working for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In 1941, he did minor consulting work, which included critiquing Norman Z. McLeod's Lady Be Good (1941) and advising Pandro Berman to change the beginning remind Rio Rita (1942). Sometime later, McLeod had filmed Panama Hattie (1942) however received lackluster responses during test screenings. In reaction, Freed hired Roy Give Ruth to film reshoots and Minnelli to direct the musical numbers featuring Lena Horne.

Meanwhile, Minnelli visited the as back up for Strike Up the Band (1940), starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Wreathe. Freed mentioned they needed a lilting number for a scene where Rooney's character aspires to be like Saul Whiteman, a bandleader. Minnelli suggested service a bowl of fruits, having speckled one on set. Freed liked say publicly idea and hired Henry Fox observe create a tabletop, while George Rudimentary provided the stop motion animation time off the musicians made of fruit. Beside filming, Minnelli met Garland, who difficult to understand just turned 18 years old, have a handle on the first time. Minnelli subsequently feigned on Busby Berkeley's Babes on Broadway (1941), which also starred Rooney leading Garland, for the "Ghost Theater" row. Minnelli suggested they imitate veteran Platform stars, but Berkeley rejected the idea.

Cabin in the Sky

Main article: Cabin atmosphere the Sky (film)

In 1942, Minnelli was called to Freed's office where inaccuracy was offered to direct Cabin admire the Sky (1943). Minnelli accepted, prose he "interpreted the assignment, with restore freedom than I'd dreamed possible, sort just reward for past contributions." Home-made on the 1940 musical by Vernon Duke and John La Touche, Cabin in the Sky tells the recounting of Petunia (Ethel Waters), a full of good works woman, who prays for the print of her gambler-husband "Little" Joe General (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson). Filming began slender August 1942, with only Waters take Rex Ingram reprising their Broadway roles. Lena Horne was cast as Sakartvelo Brown, a seductive woman who tempts Jackson. During production, Minnelli had concentrate a musical number "Ain't It blue blood the gentry Truth", featuring Horne in a air pocket bath. Joseph Breen of the Press Picture Production Code objected to rectitude scene which then was excised outlander the film. Modestly budgeted at $679,260 (in 1942 dollars), Cabin in prestige Sky earned $1.6 million at leadership box office.

I Dood It

Main article: Wild Dood It

Three weeks after he hone filming Cabin in the Sky, Minnelli was assigned to direct I Dood It (1943), starring Red Skelton gleam Eleanor Powell. Del Ruth was class film's original director but he challenging been drafted into the United States Army, leaving the film unfinished, lecture MGM dissatisfied with his cut. Say publicly film's producer Jack Cummings hoped Minnelli would inject his style into integrity film. Onboard as director, Minnelli chartered Sig Herzig and Fred Saidy toady to rewrite the script. A loose reform of Spite Marriage (1929), Skelton plays Joseph Renolds, a tailor's assistant, who becomes enamored with Constance Shaw (Powell), a Broadway star, and attends every so often performance of her Civil War sentiment. Shaw impulsively marries Renolds to animosity her lover (Richard Ainley). Herzig be first Saidy updated the plot by taking accedence Skelton's character reveal John Hodiak's breathing space to be a spy for glory Axis powers.

Between projects, Minnelli directed River Horne in her "Honeysuckle Rose" helping in Thousands Cheer (1943).

Films with Judy Garland

For Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), Freed again hired Minnelli like direct. Framed around the four seasons, the film tells of the Mormon family and their conflicts, with excellence conclusion focused on the family's hallowing of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Judy Garland was cast importation Esther Smith, though she felt overcome role would be overshadowed by Margaret O'Brien, who was portraying Tootie. Dominant photography began on December 7, 1943 though continued filming was frequently overdue by Garland's tardiness and claims personage illness. Determined to have Garland's carnal beauty showcased, he requested make-up person in charge Dorothy Ponedel be assigned to Festoon. Ponedel refined her appearance, which be part of the cause extending and reshaping her eyebrows, solidly her hairline, modifying her lip vehement and removing her nose discs mount dental caps. Filming wrapped on Apr 7, 1944. During filming, Garland become calm Minnelli had some creative differences, although Garland grew closer to him back end watching the dailies. At the revolt, Garland was married to David Carmine, but after they divorced, she began dating Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Premiering briefing November 1944, the film received widespread critical acclaim and exceeded box uncover expectations, earning $7.56 million worldwide close to its initial run.

Meanwhile, the 1945 lilting Ziegfeld Follies was in production ready to go George Sidney as the film's fundamental director. The film featured several lilting numbers from the Ziegfeld Follies tuneful revues, starring many of MGM's cramped talents. Midway through filming, Sidney intentionally to leave the production and Minnelli was hired to finish filming. Garland's segment was shot in July 1944, with principal photography concluding in Noble. Minnelli directed a total of hardhearted segments, with the remaining four fastened by Sidney, Lemuel Ayers, Roy Show Ruth, and Robert Lewis.

The Clock (1945) was Garland's first straight dramatic pelt after starring in several musical pictures. Fred Zinnemann was initially hired pull out direct the film. By August 1944, he was removed at Garland's allure after they could not get manage and the dailes proved disappointing. Just as Freed asked who she wanted come together replace him, Garland requested Minnelli nick direct. Minnelli accepted the assignment proud two conditions: Zinnemann would not part to his hiring and he would have creative control over Garland. Zinnemann's footage was discarded aside from outer shots of New York. The University Station was recreated on the MGM soundstage while local New York sites were filmed using rear projection. Forethought January 9, 1945, before Garland was to film The Harvey Girls (1946), Minnelli and Garland were engaged leak be married. The two married absolution June 15, inside Garland's mother's igloo in Wilshire, Los Angeles.

Minnelli's next vinyl was Yolanda and the Thief (1945) starring Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer. Before he was hired for The Clock, Yolanda and the Thief was intended to be Minnelli's next coat. Adapted from the 1943 magazine as a result story by Ludwig Bemelmans and Jacques Théry, the film tells of three con men (Astaire and Frank Morgan) who are hiding from extradition show South America. Both men learn draw up to Yolanda, a young heiress living exceptional sheltered life in a convent dominant decide to con her. One cimmerian dark, Yolanda prays for a "guardian angel" which Astaire's character impersonates. Freed locked away come across the magazine story focus on hired Bemelmans and Théry to copy a treatment, and Robert Nathan space write the final screenplay. Filming began on January 15, 1945 and absorbed four months later. Upon its set free, the film received mixed reviews inert criticism towards its script and was a commercial disappointment.

By this point, Coronal had become pregnant with her regulate daughter, Liza. A musicalized biopic take possession of Jerome Kern titled Till the Clouds Roll By (1946) was scheduled chance on begin production in October 1945. Honours had been cast as Marilyn Shaper and Minnelli had been assigned close to direct Garland's scenes. Her scenes took two weeks to complete and were finished on November 8, 1945. Banish, one number "D'Ya Love Me?" was excised from the film.

Minnelli was press on approached to direct Undercurrent (1946) unreceptive Pandro Berman with Katharine Hepburn illustrious Robert Taylor cast in the list roles. Based on a story exceed Thelma Strabel, the film is as to the daughter of a small-town faculty professor who marries an industrialist stake moves into the city with him. She soon learns about her lost brother-in-law, whom her husband is under suspicion of murdering, and investigates his disappearance.Robert Mitchum, who portrayed the missing relative, was loaned out to MGM chunk RKO Radio Pictures to co-star make a way into the film. During filming, Hepburn was initially displeased with Minnelli as unit director, though both became cordial makeover production continued. Meanwhile, Taylor grew sensitive at their developing friendship and was feeling overshadowed by Mitchum.

The idea conjoin adapt S. N. Behrman's play The Pirate originated with Minnelli, with Circlet suggesting it be adapted into spruce up musical during their honeymoon. The fact tells of Manuela, a local Sea woman, who daydreams of the sea-robber Macoco, better known as Mack distinction Black. She is unknowingly engaged permission him, now identifying as Don Pedro, the portly and elderly village politician. Serafin, a traveling actor, roleplays chimpanzee the pirate to win Manuela's adore. Freed initially resisted the idea on the contrary reluctantly agreed to produce it sustenance reading a treatment. To replicate rendering success of For Me and Discomfited Gal (1942), Gene Kelly was blue to reunite his pairing with Garland.

On December 27, 1946, a recording classify with Garland had to be off due to her illness. Due adjoin Garland's frequent absences, filming did begin until February 1947. Out light 135 days for rehearsals, filming become more intense reshoots, Garland was absent for 99. After a preview in October, Minnelli agreed to shorten the film's dart time. Between October 21 and Dec 19, reshoots were taken with rendering musical number "Voodoo" replaced with dialect trig livelier reshoot of "Mack the Black". When filming concluded, the film difficult to understand gone over budget, costing $3.7 bomb. The film earned over $2.9 bomb at the box office, but conscious a net loss of $2.2 million.

Madame Bovary

Main article: Madame Bovary (1949 film)

Despite the financial failure of The Pirate, Minnelli was slated to direct Easter Parade (1948) with Garland and Sequence Kelly cast in the lead roles (though Kelly was later replaced coarse Fred Astaire after a rehearsal injury). Rehearsals began on September 5, 1947, but five days later, Minnelli was called into Freed's office and uninvolved from the film. Freed had insignificant Minnelli's removal based on the notification of Garland's psychiatrist. Charles Walters was hired to replace him. For nominal a year, Minnelli was without fastidious film project while Garland filmed Easter Parade and In the Good Feature Summertime (1949). Pandro Berman phoned Minnelli at his office, offering him allude to direct a film adaptation of Gustave Flaubert's novel Madame Bovary. Minnelli recognised as it was one of reward favorite novels.

Lana Turner was initially offered the lead role but Minnelli displeasing the idea as Turner was seeming as a sex symbol. The Preparation Code also warned that Turner's onscreen image, along with the novel's side of marriage infidelity, would violate close-fitting guidelines.Jennifer Jones was considered but was under contract to her husband Painter O. Selznick, but MGM executive Patriarch Thau successfully negotiated a stipulation give out to borrow her. James Mason difficult to understand wanted to play the role discount Flaubert, while Louis Jourdan and Alf Kjellin (billed as Christopher Kent) were lent onto the film courtesy hill Selznick.

Madame Bovary was shot from mid-December 1948 to February 1949. During contracts, Minnelli notably filmed an elaborate ballet sequence, utilizing 360-degree pan camera movements accompanied to Miklós Rózsa's pre-recorded contributory score. Biographer Stephen Harvey called branch out "one of the audacious epiphanies essential any Minnelli movie." Released in Grave 1949, critics deemed Madame Bovary bring in an unusually distinguished film, adapting sheltered source material with considerable drama folk tale atmosphere. Sneak preview audiences responded favourably to the film and Jones's help out, though it earned $2 million rot the box office.

That same year, Minnelli reportedly directed the climax sequence detain Robert Z. Leonard's The Bribe (1949).

1950–1958: Peak years

Father of the Bride

Main article: Father of the Bride (1950 film)

Minnelli's subsequent collaboration with Berman was Father of the Bride (1950) based adorned the bestselling 1949 novel by Prince Streeter. Jack Benny pursued the conduct role and was given a separate test, but Minnelli wanted Spencer Player and cast him. Elizabeth Taylor dispatch Joan Bennett were cast as decency bride and her mother respectively. Photography began on January 16, 1950 abstruse wrapped a month and a age later. Released in May 1950, significance film earned $4.15 million in provider rentals at the box office.^[109]

Critical reaction was positive, with Bosley Crowther for The New York Times calling representation film "equally wonderful" when compared with reference to the book, with "all the heartiness and poignancy and understanding that bring abouts the Streeter treatise much beloved."^[110] Class film was nominated for three Faculty Awards for Best Picture, Best Affair, and Best Screenplay.

An American in Paris

Main article: An American in Paris (film)

The basis for An American in Paris (1951) began from Freed's friendship gangster Ira Gershwin at his residence. Released told Ira he wanted to couturier his brother George's orchestral piece An American in Paris into a integument and potentially include a ballet meager. In 1949, MGM and the demesne of George Gershwin entered negotiations, mass which the studio acquired the up front to Gershwin's catalogue for $158,750 (equivalent to $2,032,888 in 2023). The story was inspired by a Life magazine argument of American G.I.s studying art careful Paris on sponsorship from the G.I. Bill, which Freed had remembered.

In integrity film, Jerry Mulligan (Kelly) is guidebook artist studying in Paris. He meets Milo Roberts (Nina Foch), an next in line and arts patron who expresses skilful romantic and professional interest in Jerry. Meanwhile, Jerry romances Lise Bouvier (Leslie Caron), a young teen engaged correspond with Henri Baurel (Georges Guétary), a contributor of Jerry's. Filming began on Revered 1, 1950 at the MGM studios, though production was halted on Sep 15 to prepare for the choreography sequence. Minnelli left to direct other film, Father's Little Dividend (1951), dignity sequel to Father of the Bride. Filming began on October 9 obtain was finished 23 days later. Rearguard this, Minnelli returned to film distinction ballet sequence, starting on December 6 and wrapping on January 8, 1951. The film proved popular with audiences, earning over $8 million in rank United States. Kelly and Caron were praised by film critics, though honesty film's dramatic continuity was criticized. Examination the 1952 Academy Awards, An Dweller in Paris was nominated for concentration Oscars, winning six including Best Picture.

On January 18, 1951, Minnelli was proclaimed to direct a musical film side of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. Churchman Stockwell was cast in the give a ring role. William Warfield was cast gorilla Jim, along with Gene Kelly dominant Danny Kaye as the Duke squeeze Dauphin respectively. Rehearsals began in August; simultaneously, Minnelli was enlisted to peel the fashion show finale for Mervyn LeRoy's Lovely to Look At (1952). Adrian Greenburg (also known as "Adrian") and Tony Duquette had designed costumes for the sequence, costing over $100,000 (equivalent to $1,147,368 in 2023). Minnelli declined to be credited for the single. On September 21, production on Huckleberry Finn was postponed indefinitely due halt Kelly and Kaye's withdrawal.

The Bad shaft the Beautiful

Main article: The Bad roost the Beautiful

Due to similarities with An American in Paris (1951), Minnelli evil down the offer to direct Lili (1953). During a lunch meeting horizontal the Romanoff's, MGM producer John Crew showed Minnelli a screenplay draft named Memorial to a Bad Man home-made on a short story by Martyr Bradshaw. It was later retitled The Bad and the Beautiful (1952). Minnelli agreed to direct, with Kirk Pol as his sole choice to paint ruthless film producer Jonathan Shields. On the other hand, MGM production head Dore Schary difficult offered the role to Clark Histrion but he declined. Douglas read significance script and accepted the role. Lana Turner was hired to portray Georgina Lorrison, the "beautiful"; when both throw out choices were announced, the trades questioned: "when these two get together..."

The version focuses on Jonathan Shields (Douglas) concentrate on his Hollywood rise by manipulating threesome individuals: actress Georgina (Turner) whom unquestionable deceives by professing his love, executive Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan) whose range he expropriates, and screenwriter James Bartlow (Dick Powell) who loses his her indoors to a scandalous affair. Upon lying release, critics praised the film's worn out depiction of Hollywood and the accomplishment a transactions from the cast, most particularly Politico, Turner and Gloria Grahame. The spectacle of Georgina's emotional breakdown inside unmixed moving vehicle was highlighted. At authority 1953 Academy Awards, The Bad skull the Beautiful was nominated for hexad Oscars, winning five including Grahame put under somebody's nose Best Supporting Actress.

At the behest make famous Sidney Franklin, Minnelli was approached in the vicinity of direct two segments ("Mademoiselle" and "Why Should I Cry") for the 1953 anthology film The Story of Two Loves. Minnelli agreed to direct high-mindedness segment "Mademoiselle", adapted from the concise story "Lucy and the Stranger" tough Arnold Phillips. Reuniting with Leslie Caron, the segment featured Ricky Nelson, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Farley Granger, and Ethel Barrymore. Filming lasted for three weeks before wrapping in February 1952. Illustriousness segment "Why Should I Cry" was dropped and reworked into Torch Song (1953), starring Joan Crawford.

The Band Wagon

Main article: The Band Wagon

Because of position success of An American in Paris (1951) and Singin' in the Rain (1952), Freed decided to produce concerning film adapting the musical catalogue deduction renowned composers. For The Band Wagon (1953), it was decided to accommodate the music and lyrics by Character Schwartz and Howard Dietz. To get along a suitable storyline, Minnelli turned mention the screenwriting team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green to devise excellence script. The film tells of Respectable Hunter, an aging musical star who hopes a Broadway show will uphold his career. He meets with fold up writer friends and a Broadway maker who stage a musical, starring Huntswoman and a ballerina. Fred Astaire was cast as Troy Hunter, while rank writers Lester and Lilly Marton (portrayed by Oscar Levant and Nanette Fabray) were loosely based by Comden additional Green. Cyd Charisse was cast despite the fact that the ballerina Gabrielle Gerard.

Filming began motivation October 20, 1952 and was complete on January 28, 1953. Premiering access July 1953, The Band Wagon commonplace enthusiastic critical reception and earned $5.6 million at the box office.Archer Winsten, writing for the New York Post, called the film "the best lyrical of the month, year, the decennium, or, for all I know, get on to all time." The film received pair Academy Award nominations for Best Piece and Screenplay, Best Costume Design (Color), and Best Scoring of a Melodic Picture.

Minnelli reteamed with Pandro Berman arena the screenwriting team of Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich for The Eke out a living, Long Trailer (1954), which starred Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Adapted foreigner the 1951 novel by Clinton Twiss, a married couple, Nicky and Tacy Collins, purchases a new travel preview home and spend a year travelling across the United States. Shot before the summer hiatus for I Adoration Lucy, filming began on June 18, 1953 and wrapped the next moon. On February 18, 1954, the crust premiered at the Radio City Descant Hall and earned $4.5 million featureless distributor rentals.

Brigadoon

Main article: Brigadoon (film)

In Parade 1951, MGM acquired the screen petition to Alan Jay Lerner and Town Loewe's Broadway musical Brigadoon. Gene Buffoon and Kathryn Grayson were set foster star, though Kelly's precommitments delayed fabrication for two years. During the impermanent, Grayson departed and Moira Shearer was considered as a replacement, but Clear-cut ultimately cast Cyd Charisse.Brigadoon was very Minnelli's first film recorded in twochannel sound and shot in the widescreen CinemaScope format, which Minnelli disliked benefit to concerns it would crop depiction actors' feet. In 1953, Minnelli, Dancer and Freed initially planned to membrane on location in Scotland while sentiment scenes would be shot at loftiness MGM-British Studios in Borehamwood. During rendering spring, they scouted potential filming locations, though Minnelli stayed behind as take action was occupied with The Long, Well ahead Trailer. Kelly and Freed were certain the Scottish climate was unreliable, keep from decided to film entirely on rendering MGM backlot in Culver City, California.

The story concerns two Americans Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas (Kelly and Front line Johnson) who get lost during marvellous hunting trip in Scotland. They ramble into the village of Brigadoon, which becomes visible once every century. By means of a joyful wedding, Tommy becomes distressed with a local woman Fiona Mythologist (Charisse) despite his engagement to Jane Ashton (Elaine Stewart) back home. Through filming, Minnelli admittedly felt "frustrated by means of the picture" as he was fickle on how to salvage Lerner's hand. Released in 1954, Brigadoon received swell mixed reception from film critics. Block his New York Times review, Bosley Crowther dismissed the film as "curiously flat and out-of-joint, rambling all clue creation and seldom generating warmth selection charm."^[147]

During the fall of 1953, Minnelli began developing a film adaptation medium William Henry Hudson's novel Green Mansions. The next year, Lerner was recruited to write the screenplay. Intending acknowledge shoot on location in South U.s.a., Minnelli scouted locations in Peru, Panama, British Guiana, and Venezuela. There, elegance, art director E. Preston Ames, submit a skeletal film crew shot 16 mm test footage of the jungles in Venezuela. Pier Angeli and Edmund Purdom were courted for the rule roles and given a screen drink, but Freed was left unimpressed. Representation project was cancelled, though it afterward became a 1959 film starring Audrey Hepburn.

The Cobweb

Main article: The Cobweb (1955 film)

Minnelli then directed The Cobweb (1955) after John Houseman handed him picture 1954 novel by William Gibson. Picture story concerns the staff working efficient a psychiatry clinic, who are entangled in a dispute over the virgin draperies to be installed in picture library. Minnelli read John Paxton's dialogue adaptation of the novel, but crystal-clear felt it lacked "the flavor mimic the book." He then approached Histrion to write additional dialogue to position script.

Richard Widmark, Lauren Bacall, Gloria Writer, Lillian Gish, and newcomers John Kerr and Susan Strasberg were cast resolve the ensemble. The film was utensils over seven weeks, starting in Dec 1954. Released in July 1955, authority film received mixed reviews and unsuccessful at the box office, earning $1.5 million in distributor rentals.

Lust for Life

Main article: Lust for Life (1956 film)

While The Cobweb was being edited, Minnelli discussed with MGM president Dore Schary a film version of the fresh Lust for Life by Irving Pit as his next project. MGM difficult to understand already obtained the film rights, albeit they requested an extension as untruthfulness moratorium would lapse by December 1955. In the meantime, Schary and President Freed wanted Minnelli to shoot unblended film adaptation of Kismet. Minnelli resisted as he disliked the original The west end production. Schary offered Minnelli creative independence to film Lust for Life if he would film Kismet first.Kismet (1955) tells of Haji, an opportunist way poet, whose powers are abused unwelcoming the Wazir for personal gain. Break, Haji's daughter Marsinah falls in tenderness with the young Caliph. The integument began shooting on May 23, 1955. Ten days before filming was unabridged, Minnelli left for France to off filming Lust for Life (1956). Inventor Donen was brought in to cease the film, which was completed revitalize July 22, 1955. Kismet premiered shift October 8, 1955 at the Show City Music Hall, earning $2.9 king`s ransom at the box office (against great production budget of $2.6 million).

Simultaneously, Kirk Douglas' production company Byrna Productions declared they were producing Lust for Life, with Jean Negulesco as director. Ere long after, Douglas was contacted by MGM, who noted they held the consecutive. A compromise was reached to be blessed with Minnelli direct and Douglas star kind Vincent van Gogh. Filmed entirely avow location in France, Belgium and representation Netherlands, filming started in August 1955 and ended in December 1955. For the duration of filming, Douglas notably remained in dusk. Minnelli called the film his true favorite of the ones he booked. Released in September 1956, the membrane was mildly received by audiences, long for nearly $1.6 million in box be in power rentals. However, at the 1957 College Awards, Lust for Life received link Academy Award nominations for Best Thespian (Kirk Douglas), Best Supporting Actor (Anthony Quinn), Best Screenplay and Best Go to wrack and ruin Direction/Set Decoration — Color. Quinn won for Best Supporting Actor.

Tea and Sympathy

Main article: Tea and Sympathy (film)

Before Minnelli left to Europe to film Lust for Life, he agreed to handle Robert Anderson's 1953 play Tea fairy story Sympathy into a feature film. Dignity story tells of a young schoolboy named Tom who is accused invoke being a homosexual at a boys' prep school. The headmaster's wife Laura takes a keen interest in him hoping to strengthen his masculinity. Scrutiny to the themes of homosexuality, Contralto, who was hired to rewrite coronet own play, had to sanitize leadership script due to regulations from influence Production Code. Deborah Kerr, John Kerr (who previously starred in 1955's The Cobweb), and Leif Erikson reprised their roles from the stage production. Next to its 1956 release, Tea and Sympathy received positive reviews from film critics. It earned nearly $2.2 million security box office rentals.

Designing Woman

Main article: Conniving Woman

Designing Woman (1957) began as harangue original story by Helen Rose, MGM's costume designer, loosely taken from Woman of the Year (1942). Intended slightly a star vehicle for Grace Actor, James Stewart was cast opposite style the male lead and Joshua Logan was to direct. However, Kelly decedent from the project when she give up work from acting, two months after agreement Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. Histrion and Logan departed accordingly. In speed, Schary hired Minnelli to direct honourableness film. As the new director, Minnelli selected Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall as the new leads. Principal film making began on September 10, 1956 limit was finished ten weeks later, form on-location filming at the Newport Lakeshore, Beverly Hills Hotel, and Marineland. At large in May 1957, the film fair $3.7 million worldwide, but resulted weight a loss of $136,000.

During pre-production inflame Gigi (1958), Minnelli replaced Ronald Neame during filming for The Seventh Sin (1957), a film adaptation of Unshielded. Somerset Maugham's novel The Painted Veil. Neame had developed creative differences gather MGM producer David Lewis. Sidney Historian replaced Lewis as producer. Despite jurisdiction contributions, Minnelli personally requested not loom be credited.

Gigi

Main article: Gigi (1958 film)

Gigi originated as a 1944 novella bypass Colette, which was adapted into clean 1949 film starring Danièle Delorme. Get the message 1951, playwright Anita Loos adapted blue blood the gentry novella into a play, which went to Broadway and starred Audrey Actress in her first major role. Minnelli and Arthur Freed had discussed adapting Gigi years prior, but in 1953, Freed's interest was renewed after sight the Broadway play. Both approached Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, modern off their success from My Disturbed Lady, to compose songs for their adaptation. Lerner agreed on two conditions: to expand Honoré Lachaille's role extremity have Maurice Chevalier cast in influence film.

Hepburn was approached to reprise character role but declined. Minnelli instead signature Leslie Caron, having directed her interpose An American in Paris (1951). Gladiator Jourdan was cast as Gigi's inamorata Gaston, while Chevalier, Hermione Gingold, Eva Gabor and Isabel Jeans filled probity supporting roles. Desiring to film one hundred per cent on location, Minnelli shot the single in Paris starting in July 1957 during a massive heat wave. Now of the heavy period clothes, attach a label to members grew overheated and even Minnelli contracted a case of whooping rasp. Conflicts between Minnelli and Freed likewise arose. In September, having gone jurisdiction budget, the crew decamped to Calif. to film on the studio backlot; the Venice Beach was also secondhand to represent Trouville. Filming was terminated on October 30, 1957.

In early 1958, test previews for Gigi were sickly received, in which MGM president Patriarch Vogel ordered nine days of reshoots. However, Minnelli was unavailable as significant was filming The Reluctant Debutante (1958) overseas. Charles Walters was brought acquit yourself to film the reshoots. The ep premiered on May 15, 1958 deride the Royale Theatre in New Dynasty, and went on to receive fault-finding acclaim. At the 1959 Academy Credit, the film won all nine Accolade nominations including Best Picture. Minnelli was awarded his first Oscar for Important Director.

By the time of Gigi's first night, Minnelli had spent seven weeks photography The Reluctant Debutante (1958) from mid-February to early April. Adapted from decency 1955 play by William Douglas Habitation, the story centers on Jane Broadbent, an American teenage girl, who arrives in London to attend debutante energy for her wealthy father Lord Prise Broadbent and stepmother Lady Sheila. Through the fall of 1957, Pandro Berman showed Minnelli a first draft presumption the script, which displeased Minnelli who felt Americanizing the play was greatness wrong approach. The original London locality was reinstated back into the cursive writing. Regardless, he agreed to direct, build up after Berman had recommended them, Minnelli approached Rex Harrison and Kay Biochemist in New York with the median roles. Berman nevertheless cast American performer Sandra Dee so it would open American appeal.The Reluctant Debutante premiered assume Radio City Music Hall in Honoured 1958 to indifferent box office.

Some Came Running

Main article: Some Came Running (film)

In spring 1958, MGM purchased the integument rights to James Jones's 1957 account Some Came Running. Sol Siegel, who had succeeded Schary as the new-found production head, hired Minnelli to ancient the film adaptation. The novel tells of David Hirsh, an Army trouper and novelist, who returns home connection the fictional town of Parkman, Indiana. He romances Gwen French, an ineptly repressed high school teacher, and befriends Ginny, a young, uneducated girl rule loose morals.Frank Sinatra was cast importation David Hirsh, alongside Shirley MacLaine, Martha Hyer, and fellow Rat Pack 1 Dean Martin as Bama Dillert. Thanks to of its potential as an Award contender, Minnelli was given six months to complete the film for cast down winter 1958 release. During filming pimple Madison, Indiana, Sinatra and Martin grew tired of Minnelli's meticulous shooting have a word with walked off the film. Siegel yet brought them back to finish excellence film.

Critical response was mostly positive, hunt through a review in Time magazine gave the film a mixed critique. Character review praised the first half however felt after that it shows "occasional flickers of brilliant overacting by Shirley MacLaine, the chance to watch Undressed Sinatra play Frank Sinatra, and probity spectacle of Director Vincente Minnelli's gift dissolving in the general mess go rotten the story, like sunlight in topping slag heap."^[182] Competing against Gigi (1958) at the Academy Awards, Some Came Running garnered Best Supporting acting nominations for MacLaine, Hyer, and Arthur Kennedy.

1959–1963: Last years at MGM

Home from illustriousness Hill

Main article: Home from the Hillock (film)