Anatole Litvak: A Cinematic Odyssey
Delving into the remarkable career of a Russian-American filmmaker who shaped narratives from European romance to wartime realities.
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Overview
A Visionary Filmmaker
Anatoly Mikhailovich Litvak, widely known as Anatole Litvak, was a distinguished Russian-American filmmaker, born on June 3, 1902, in Kiev, Russian Empire. His career spanned several decades, marked by a unique ability to elicit powerful performances from actors and a keen eye for cinematic storytelling. He passed away on December 15, 1974, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, leaving behind a significant legacy in both European and Hollywood cinema.[1]
Crafting Stars and Narratives
Litvak possessed a remarkable talent for elevating the careers of actors, often guiding lesser-known foreign talents to international acclaim. He is credited with contributing to several Academy Award-winning performances. For instance, he directed Charles Boyer and Danielle Darrieux to international stardom with his 1936 film Mayerling. Later, he revitalized Ingrid Bergman's career with Anastasia (1956), which earned her a second Oscar, and secured an Academy Award nomination for Olivia de Havilland in The Snake Pit (1948). His early work also included directing Jean Gabin's screen debut and Elia Kazan's first acting role in City for Conquest.[2]
Wartime Contributions
Beyond his narrative features, Litvak made profound contributions during World War II. As a refugee from Nazi Germany, he was one of the few Hollywood directors who actively sought to raise awareness about the Nazi threat. He enlisted in the United States Army and co-directed several impactful documentaries, including the Why We Fight series, alongside Frank Capra. His multilingual abilities proved invaluable, allowing him to supervise critical wartime filming, including the D-Day Normandy landings and aerial warfare. His service earned him numerous accolades from the French, British, and U.S. governments, including the Legion of Honour and the Order of the British Empire.[3]
Early
Roots in the Russian Empire
Anatoly Mikhailovich Litvak was born into a Ukrainian Jewish family in Kiev. His family later relocated to St. Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire, during his childhood. As a teenager, Litvak immersed himself in the theatrical arts, taking acting lessons at the state drama school and eventually graduating from Saint Petersburg State University. He experienced the tumultuous end of the Russian Revolution firsthand, which likely influenced his perspective and later work.[4]
First Steps in Filmmaking
Litvak's journey into filmmaking commenced at Nordkino Studios in Russia during the 1920s. Here, he honed his skills as an assistant director and production designer, contributing to nine silent films. However, the nationalization of Russian theaters by the Soviet government in the 1920s limited artistic freedom. Seeking broader creative opportunities, Litvak made the pivotal decision to leave Russia in 1925, relocating to Berlin, Germany, to pursue his directorial ambitions.[5]
Europe
German Beginnings
In Germany, Litvak launched his directorial career with the musical Dolly Gets Ahead (1930), starring Dolly Haas. He continued with two films featuring Lilian Harvey, No More Love (1931) and Calais-Dover (1931). He also directed The Song of Night (1932), simultaneously shooting an English version titled Tell Me Tonight (1932). His European journey briefly took him to England to direct Sleeping Car (1933), featuring Ivor Novello.[6]
Parisian Flourish
With Adolf Hitler's ascent to power in 1933, Litvak moved to France, making Paris his preferred location for filmmaking. Thirteen of his thirty-seven films were set in the French capital. During this period, he directed films such as The Old Devil (1933) and The Crew (1935). Film historian Ronald Bowers notes Litvak's early mastery of location shooting and realistic documentary effects, a style that would become a hallmark of his work. He was also known for prioritizing sound effects over dialogue and employing dynamic camerawork, including tracking shots, pans, and crane shots, often working closely with his cinematographers to achieve his precise vision.[7]
Mayerling: International Acclaim
His 1936 film, Mayerling, starring French actors Charles Boyer and Danielle Darrieux, was a critical and commercial triumph that solidified Litvak's international reputation. Critics lauded it as "one of the most compelling love stories the cinema has produced" and "a romantic tragedy of the highest order." American writer Lincoln Kirstein recognized it as a benchmark for romantic historical films. The film's cinematography, characterized by extensive camera trackings, pans, and swoops, was noted by critic Jack Edmund Nolan as a precursor to techniques later associated with Max Ophuls, showcasing Litvak's innovative approach to visual storytelling.[8]
Hollywood
Arrival at Warner Bros.
The global success of Mayerling opened doors in Hollywood, leading to a four-year contract with Warner Brothers. Litvak's timely departure from France before the Nazi invasion proved fortunate. By the late 1930s, he had established himself as a leading director in Hollywood, helming films such as The Woman I Love (1937), Tovarich (1937), The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938), and The Sisters (1938), starring Bette Davis and Errol Flynn.[9]
Confessions of a Nazi Spy
In 1939, Litvak directed Confessions of a Nazi Spy, a groundbreaking film starring Edward G. Robinson. This film, released amidst rising tensions in Europe, depicted an FBI agent dismantling a Nazi spy ring in the U.S. Litvak employed newsreel footage from actual U.S. Nazi rallies to enhance its realism, making it a powerful and "thrilling dramatic movie." The film was banned in Germany and its allies, as well as neutral countries like Switzerland and Ireland. Biographer Alexander Walker highlighted Litvak's efforts to awaken Hollywood to the impending threat posed by Germany, challenging the studios' isolationist stance driven by financial interests in the German box office.[10]
Critical Acclaim and Oscar Nominations
Litvak continued to garner critical praise, with films like All This and Heaven Too (1940), starring Bette Davis and Charles Boyer, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. That same year, he co-produced and directed City for Conquest, featuring James Cagney and an early acting role for Elia Kazan. The Hollywood Reporter lauded Litvak's direction, stating, "His fight scenes are terrific; his love scenes give you creeps of joy; his pacing of the yarn... was perfection... Litvak is definitely at the top of the heap with this contribution." He also directed Out of the Fog (1941), Blues in the Night (1941), and This Above All (1942) before the war intensified his contributions.[11]
Postwar
Return to Hollywood
After his distinguished service in World War II, Litvak resumed his filmmaking career. His initial post-war effort, The Long Night (1947), a thriller for RKO, did not achieve significant success. However, he quickly rebounded with critically acclaimed works. He directed Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster in Sorry, Wrong Number (1948), a role that film historian James Robert Parish considers Stanwyck's "greatest screen triumph." Litvak's direction in this film was noted for its "variety of surrealistic and expressionistic devices," and his use of close-ups allowed his actors to deliver some of their most powerful performances, earning Stanwyck a Best Actress Academy Award nomination.[12]
The Snake Pit: A Directorial Triumph
In 1948, Litvak received an Academy Award nomination for Best Director for The Snake Pit, starring Olivia de Havilland. The film itself was also nominated for Best Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Musical Score. To ensure authenticity for de Havilland's role as a mental patient, both she and Litvak dedicated months to observing actual patients in mental hospitals. Litvak had proactively acquired the pre-publication rights to the story, which was based on a fictionalized autobiography, demonstrating his commitment to impactful and realistic storytelling.[13]
European Productions
The 1950s saw Litvak shift his focus back to filming in Europe. His war film Decision Before Dawn (1951), shot on location in Germany, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, with thousands of French admirers petitioning AMPAS for it to win. This film also marked Oskar Werner's American film debut. Other notable European productions included Act of Love (1953) with Kirk Douglas, filmed in Paris, and The Deep Blue Sea (1955) with Vivien Leigh, shot in England.[14]
Anastasia: Bergman's Resurgence
In 1956, Litvak directed Anastasia in Paris, starring Ingrid Bergman, Yul Brynner, and Helen Hayes. This film was particularly significant as it marked Bergman's return to U.S. cinema after a seven-year absence following a public scandal. Despite initial public apprehension, Litvak insisted on Bergman for the lead role, believing in her talent. His conviction was vindicated when Bergman won an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance, a film critic Michael Barson hailed as Litvak's best of the 1950s. He continued with films like the TV adaptation of Mayerling (1957) with Audrey Hepburn, and The Journey (1959) filmed in Austria.[15]
Later Works and Legacy
Litvak's later career included Goodbye Again (1961), also starring Ingrid Bergman, which was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. He reunited with Anthony Perkins for Five Miles to Midnight (1962), both films shot in Paris. In 1967, he directed The Night of the Generals, a film set in France, Germany, and Poland about Nazi generals suspected of murder. Litvak deliberately used subdued tones, stating, "We tried staying away from color as much as we could; color can be bad, particularly with the war; it takes away from reality in the most horrible way." His final film was the thriller The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun (1970).[16]
Life
Personal Relationships
Anatole Litvak's personal life saw two marriages. In 1937, he married American actress Miriam Hopkins, but their union concluded in divorce in 1939. His second marriage was to model Sophie Steur in 1955, a partnership that lasted until his death in 1974.[17]
A Master of Languages
Litvak was a true polyglot, demonstrating fluency in an impressive array of languages. He was proficient in Yiddish, Ukrainian, Russian, English, German, and French. This linguistic versatility not only aided his international filmmaking career but also proved invaluable during his wartime service, allowing him to communicate effectively across diverse cultural and military contexts.[18]
Hollywood Recognition
In recognition of his significant contributions to the motion picture industry, Anatole Litvak was honored with a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 6633 Hollywood Blvd, a lasting tribute to his enduring legacy in cinema.[19]
Works
Selected Filmography
Anatole Litvak's extensive filmography showcases his versatility and impact across various genres and national cinemas. Below is a selection of his directorial credits:
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References
References
- Wakeman, John (ed.) World Film Directors: 1890รขยย1945, H. W. Wilson Co. (1987) pp. 677รขยย683
- Heinze, Andrew R. Jews and the American Soul: Human Nature in the Twentieth Century, Princeton Univ. Press (2004), p. 198
- Bowers, Ronald; Hillstrom, Laurie Collier, ed. International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers: Directors (3rd ed.) St. James Press, 1997 pp. 613รขยย615
- Packer, Sharon. Cinema's Sinister Psychiatrists: From Caligari to Hannibal, McFarland (2012) p. 204
- Robinson, Harlow. Russians in Hollywood, Hollywood's Russians: Biography of an image, Northeastern University Press (2007) pp. 27, 116
- "Sensational Nazi Spy Drama Opens at the Capitol Today", The Evening Standard, 10 July 1939, p. 14
- "'Nazi Spy': A Potboiler Meant to Stir Outrage", The Los Angeles Times, 20 February 1992, p. 154
- Barson, Michael. The Illustrated Who's Who of Hollywood Directors, Noonday Press รขยย HarperCollins (1995) pp. 272รขยย273
- "Anatole Litvakรขยยa Movie Career on Two Continents", Los Angeles Times, 19 February 1967, p. 408
- "Anatole Litvak, Famed Movie Director, Dies", The Bridgeport Post, Paris, 16 December 1974. Retrieved on 7 October 2014.
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