The Resume

(July 10, 1883-September 22, 1949)
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Directed over 80 films including ‘A Night at the Opera’ (1935), ‘A Day at the Races’ (1937), ‘Goodbye Mr. Chips’ (1939), ‘Kitty Foyle’ (1940), ‘Our Town’ (1940), ‘King’s Row’ (1942), ‘The Pride of the Yankees’ (1942), ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ (1943), and ‘Ambush’ (1950)

Why he might be annoying:

Gloria Swanson, whom he directed in ten silent films, said, ‘Sam Wood was all right, but he was a real estate dealer at heart…. There was nothing of the artist about him.’
He directed part of ‘Gone with the Wind’ (1939) after Victor Fleming had a nervous breakdown, but received no onscreen credit.
He was a founding member and the first president of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, which invited the House Un-American Activities Committee to investigate Communist influence on the movies, triggering the Hollywood red scare and blacklist.
His daughter Jeanne said that his anti-Communist crusade ‘transformed Dad into a snarling, unreasoning brute.’
He added a condition to his will that no one, including his children, could receive their inheritance unless they filed a legal affidavit confirming that they had never been Communists.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was an assistant director to Cecil B. DeMille.
He was known for finishing pictures on time and within budget.
He said, ‘I don’t allow scenery chewing while emoting.’
With ‘King’s Row,’ he gave Ronald Reagan a chance to prove he really could act.
Natalie Wood’s stage name was chosen in his honor.
He is the only person to have twice directed two films that competed with each other for the Oscar for Best Picture: ‘Our Town’ and ‘Kitty Foyle’ in 1940, and ‘King’s Row’ and ‘Pride of the Yankees’ in 1942.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Artsy/Fartsy Directors
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 91]
• Cecil B. Demille Films
• Film Pioneers [Silent Era]
• Gone With the Wind [1939]
• I Attended the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gone With the Wind’ [December 28, 1939]
• I Died in 1949 (Ranked: 66)
• I Have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame[U-Z]
• I Named Names
• I'm Buried at Forest Lawn Glendale Cemetery [Calif]
• Look at Me, I'm with Groucho
• Marx Movies
• Profiles 56751-57000 (Ranked: 56838)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying