Thumbnail Bio: William Wellman
Born: 1896 Brookline, MA
Died: 1975
Quintessential American director William Wellman was credited with directing more than 70 feature films, but he assisted and directed uncredited on perhaps as many as 50 more. His professional career began as an actor, but he didn't really take orders very well, so he quit. Eventually he found his way to the director's chair, helming films from every genre & directing the first Academy Award winning film with Wings in 1927. In all he directed more than 10 features that had flying at their core, many based on his experiences flying for France in the First World War, where he earned great distinction. Working for various studios, including MGM, Fox & Warner Bros, among others, his 32+ year career was punctuated by several high notes, including Public Enemy ('31, Night Nurse ('31) & Safe in Hell ('31) during the Pre-Code era and The Ox Bow Incident('43) & Lady of Burlesque ('43) during the war years. It was A Star is Born in 1937, however, that brought him his only Academy Award, for Best Original Story, even though he was nominated 3 times for Best Director (Star is Born, Battleground & The High & The Mighty). Two of his most underrated films, Beau Geste ('39) & Battleground ('49) both deal with war, but from the ground and are a testament to his full understanding of the perils and toll that war takes on men. He retired from directing in the late '50's. His nickname of "Wild Bill" was given to him for his flying style in France and the name persisted when he came to Hollywood.
Born: 1896 Brookline, MA
Died: 1975
Quintessential American director William Wellman was credited with directing more than 70 feature films, but he assisted and directed uncredited on perhaps as many as 50 more. His professional career began as an actor, but he didn't really take orders very well, so he quit. Eventually he found his way to the director's chair, helming films from every genre & directing the first Academy Award winning film with Wings in 1927. In all he directed more than 10 features that had flying at their core, many based on his experiences flying for France in the First World War, where he earned great distinction. Working for various studios, including MGM, Fox & Warner Bros, among others, his 32+ year career was punctuated by several high notes, including Public Enemy ('31, Night Nurse ('31) & Safe in Hell ('31) during the Pre-Code era and The Ox Bow Incident('43) & Lady of Burlesque ('43) during the war years. It was A Star is Born in 1937, however, that brought him his only Academy Award, for Best Original Story, even though he was nominated 3 times for Best Director (Star is Born, Battleground & The High & The Mighty). Two of his most underrated films, Beau Geste ('39) & Battleground ('49) both deal with war, but from the ground and are a testament to his full understanding of the perils and toll that war takes on men. He retired from directing in the late '50's. His nickname of "Wild Bill" was given to him for his flying style in France and the name persisted when he came to Hollywood.
