7.9
Movie
Directing
William Wyler
- Born
- Died
- (aged 79)
- Birthplace
- Mülhausen, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire [now Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, France]
- Credits
- 85 titles
Biography
William Wyler (July 1, 1902 – July 27, 1981) was a German-born film director, producer, and screenwriter. Notable works include Ben-Hur (1959), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), and Mrs. Miniver (1942), all which won Wyler Academy Awards for Best Director, and also won Best Picture. He earned his first Oscar nomination for directing Dodsworth in 1936, sparking a 20-year run of almost unbroken greatness.
Film historian Ian Freer calls Wyler a "bona fide perfectionist," whose penchant for retakes and an attempt to hone every last nuance "became the stuff of legend." His ability to direct a string of classic literary adaptations into huge box office and critical successes made him one of Hollywood's most bankable moviemakers during the 1930s and 1940s.
Signature work
Known For
7.9
Movie
7.9
Movie
Roman Holiday
7.7
Movie
The Best Years of Our Lives
7.5
Movie
How to Steal a Million
7.1
Movie
Funny Girl
7.6
Movie
The Big Country
7.7
Movie
The Children's Hour
7.2
Movie
Wuthering Heights
7.1
Movie
Mrs. Miniver
7.8
Movie
The Heiress
7.3
Movie
The Letter
7.4
Movie
The Collector
7.0
Movie
Jezebel
7.5
Movie
The Little Foxes
7.0
Movie
The Desperate Hours
7.0
Movie
Detective Story
7.0
Movie
Dead End
7.1
Movie
Dodsworth
Acting credits 26
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | William Wyler: Forty Takes Willy Film | Himself (Archival) |
| 2019 | Hollywood's Second World War Film | Self (archive footage) |
| 2019 | Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic Film | Self - Filmmaker (archive footage) |
| 2018 | The Cold Blue Film | Himself (archive footage) |
| 2017 | Five Came Back Film | Self (archive footage) |
| 2017 | Five Came Back TV | Self (archive footage) (3 ep) |
| 2006 | Stardust: The Bette Davis Story Film | Self (archive footage) |
| 2005 | Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema Film | Self (archive footage) |
| 2002 | Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film Film | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 2001 | Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies Film | Self |
| 2000 | Backstory: 'How Green Was My Valley' Film | Self (archive footage) |
| 2000 | Vivien Leigh: A Delicate Balance Film | Self (archive footage) |
| 1993 | Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic Film | Self - Director (archive footage) |
| 1986 | Directed by William Wyler Film | Self |
| 1982 | Laurence Olivier: A Life Film | Self |
| 1980 | Hollywood TV | Self (1 ep) |
| 1973 | The American Film Institute Salute to ... TV | Self (2 ep) |
| 1971 | Great Performances TV | Self (1 ep) |
| 1958 | Fun in the Big Country Film | Self |
| 1956 | Cinépanorama TV | Self (1 ep) |
| 1956 | Stars of Cabaret Film | Self (archive footage) |
| 1953 | The Oscars TV | Self (2 ep) |
| 1951 | The Screen Director Film | Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited) |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Show TV | Self (1 ep) |
| 1946 | The Best Years of Our Lives Film | Drug Store customer (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Dodsworth Film | Violin Player in Dance Orchestra (uncredited) |
Crew credits 61
| Year | Title | Job |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Roman Holiday Film | Writer |
| 2011 | History Rediscovered: The Memphis Belle Film | Director |
| 1970 | The Liberation of L.B. Jones Film | Director, Producer |
| 1968 | Funny Girl Film | Director |
| 1966 | How to Steal a Million Film | Director |
| 1965 | The Collector Film | Director |
| 1961 | The Children's Hour Film | Director, Producer |
| 1959 | Ben-Hur Film | Director |
| 1958 | The Big Country Film | Producer, Director |
| 1956 | Friendly Persuasion Film | Director, Producer |
| 1956 | The Letter Film | Director, Producer |
| 1955 | The Desperate Hours Film | Producer, Director |
| 1953 | Roman Holiday Film | Producer, Director |
| 1952 | Carrie Film | Director, Producer |
| 1951 | Detective Story Film | Director, Producer |
| 1949 | The Heiress Film | Director, Producer |
| 1947 | Thunderbolt Film | Director |
| 1946 | The Best Years of Our Lives Film | Director |
| 1944 | The Fighting Lady Film | Director |
| 1944 | The Memphis Belle Film | Director, Writer, Director of Photography |
| 1942 | Mrs. Miniver Film | Director, Producer |
| 1941 | The Little Foxes Film | Director |
| 1940 | The Letter Film | Director, Producer |
| 1940 | The Westerner Film | Director |
| 1939 | Wuthering Heights Film | Director |
| 1938 | The Cowboy and the Lady Film | Co-Director |
| 1938 | Jezebel Film | Producer, Director |
| 1937 | Dead End Film | Director |
| 1936 | Come and Get It Film | Director |
| 1936 | Dodsworth Film | Director |
| 1936 | These Three Film | Director |
| 1935 | The Gay Deception Film | Director |
| 1935 | The Good Fairy Film | Director |
| 1934 | Glamour Film | Director |
| 1933 | Counsellor at Law Film | Director |
| 1933 | Her First Mate Film | Director |
| 1932 | Tom Brown of Culver Film | Director |
| 1931 | A House Divided Film | Director |
| 1930 | The Storm Film | Director |
| 1929 | Hell's Heroes Film | Director |
| 1929 | The Love Trap Film | Director, Producer |
| 1929 | The Shakedown Film | Director |
| 1928 | Anybody Here Seen Kelly? Film | Director |
| 1928 | Thunder Riders Film | Director |
| 1927 | Desert Dust Film | Director |
| 1927 | The Border Cavalier Film | Director |
| 1927 | The Horse Trader Film | Director |
| 1927 | The Ore Raiders Film | Director |
| 1927 | Hard Fists Film | Director |
| 1927 | Straight Shootin' Film | Director |
| 1927 | Blazing Days Film | Director |
| 1927 | The Two Fister Film | Director |
| 1926 | The Stolen Ranch Film | Director |
| 1926 | Lazy Lightning Film | Director |
| 1926 | Martin of the Mounted Film | Director |
| 1926 | Don't Shoot Film | Director |
| 1926 | The Fire Barrier Film | Director |
| 1926 | Ridin' for Love Film | Director, Story |
| 1926 | The Gunless Bad Man Film | Director |
| 1925 | The Crook Buster Film | Director |