King Vidor
King Vidor was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter known for directing Audrey Hepburn in War and Peace (1956).
Director | Fiction Writer | Producer
February 8, 1894
November 01, 1982
88
King Vidor was a renowned American film director, recognized for his innovative storytelling techniques and his capacity to encapsulate the American experience. A trailblazer of the Hollywood silent era, Vidor continued directing into the sound era, with his most famous works being the 1928 romantic drama “The Crowd” and the 1946 epic western “Duel in the Sun.” Other notable films in his repertoire include “The Big Parade,” “Hallelujah,” and “War and Peace.” Vidor was nominated for three Academy Awards and received an Honorary Oscar in 1979.
Apart from his film career, Vidor made significant contributions to the industry, such as taking over directing duties on “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) when producer David O. Selznick chose Victor Fleming to direct “Gone with the Wind” (1939). In 1953, he published his autobiography, “A Tree Is a Tree.”
Vidor was not only successful in film but also a skilled artist, creating numerous paintings throughout his life. His artwork was exhibited in various galleries during his later years, and he claimed that painting allowed him to “relax and escape from the pressures of [his] work in the film industry.”
King Vidor’s contributions to cinema and his ability to portray the human experience make him an influential figure in American film history. An interesting fact about Vidor is that he directed Audrey Hepburn in “War and Peace” (1956).
