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Alexander Korda

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Filmmaker

The Resume

    (September 16, 1893-January 23, 1956)
    Born in Pusztaturpaszto, Hungary
    Birth name was Sandor Kellner
    Director and producer
    Founded London Films (1932)
    Acquired British Lion Films and Shepperton Studios (1946)
    Produced and directed 'Tragedy in the House of Hapsburg' (1924), 'The Private Life of Henry VIII' (1933), 'The Private Life of Don Juan' (1934), 'That Hamilton Woman' (1941), 'Vacation from Marriage' (1945) and 'An Ideal Husband' (1947)
    Directed 'St. Peter's Umbrella' (1917), 'The Prince and the Pauper' (1920), 'Samson and Delilah' (1922), 'A Modern DuBarry' (1927), 'The Private Life of Helen of Troy' (1927), 'The Princess and the Plumber' (1930), 'Rembrandt' (1936) and 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' (1948)
    Produced 'Men of Tomorrow' (1932), 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' (1934), 'Sanders of the River' (1935), 'Things to Come' (1936), 'The Man Who Could Work Miracles' (1936), 'Elephant Boy' (1937), 'The Thief of Baghdad' (1940), 'Jungle Book' (1942), 'Anna Karenina' (1948), 'The Fallen Idol' (1948), 'The Third Man' (1949) and 'Richard III' (1955)

Why he might be annoying:

    He chain smoked cigars.
    He divorced actresses Maria Corda and Merle Oberon.
    He disliked a stint in Hollywood working for First National Pictures (1927-30), complaining that making films for an American studio was like working on an assembly line.
    His personal favorite among his films, 'Rembrandt,' was one of his biggest flops, and prompted him to give up directing for four years.
    He said, 'Anyone who gets a raw deal from a film studio is no more deserving of pity than someone who gets beaten up in a brothel. A gentleman has no business in either place.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    As a boy, his eyesight was permanently damaged by improper treatment for an eye infection.
    He had a near-photographic memory.
    He was hailed as the savior of the British film industry after the international success of 'The Private Life of Henry the VIII.'
    Early during WWII, he was asked by Winston Churchill to set up production offices in the US that were used to provide cover for British agents in America (1940).
    He was the first film personality to be knighted (1942).
    The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) named its award for Outstanding British Film of the Year after him.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying