William Cameron Menzies

Infobox Actor
name = William Cameron Menzies
birthdate = birth date|1896|7|29
birthplace = New Haven, Connecticut
deathdate = death date and age|1957|3|5|1896|7|29
deathplace = Los Angeles, California
academyawards = Best Art Direction
1928 "The Dove" ; "Tempest"
Academy Honorary Award
1939 "Gone with the Wind"

William Cameron Menzies (July 29, 1896 - March 5, 1957) was an Academy Award-winning American film production designer and art director who also worked as a director, producer, and screenwriter during a career spanning five decades. He earned acclaim for his work in silent movies and later pioneered the use of color in film for dramatic effect.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Menzies established himself in Hollywood with his elaborate settings for "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924), "The Bat" (1926), "The Dove" (1927), "Sadie Thompson" (1928), and "Tempest" (1928)*. His work on "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (1938) prompted David O. Selznick to hire him for "Gone with the Wind" (1939) ["Memo from David O. Selznick", selected and edited by Rudy Behlmer, The Viking Press, 1972, pg. 156 ] . Selznick's faith in Menzies was such that he sent a memo to everyone at Selznick International Pictures involved in the epic film reminding them "Menzies is the final word" on everything related to Technicolor, scenic design, set decoration, and the overal look of the production ["Memo from David O. Selznick", pg. 196 ] .

Shortly after producing "Around the World in Eighty Days", Menzies died of cancer and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

*Side trivia (circa 1928): set designers doubled as estate architects, Menzies is credited with renovating King Vidor's Tower Road house into John Barrymore's "Neverland" like complex "Bella Vista".

Additional art direction credits

*"The Iron Mask" (1929)
*"Alibi" (1929)
*"Condemned" (1929)
*"Puttin' on the Ritz" (1930)
*"Alice in Wonderland" (1933; also co-wrote screenplay)

Additional production design credits

*"Made for Each Other" (1939)
*"Our Town" (1940)
*"The Devil and Miss Jones" (1941)
*"The Pride of the Yankees" (1942)
*"Kings Row (1942)
*"For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1943)
*"Arch of Triumph" (1948)
*"Invaders from Mars" (1953)

elected directing credits

*"Things to Come" (1936)
*"The Thief of Bagdad" (1940, uncredited)
*"Duel in the Sun" (1946, uncredited)
*"The Maze" (1953)
*"Invaders from Mars" (1953)

Awards and nominations

*1929 Academy Award for Best Art Direction for "The Dove" and "Tempest" (winner)
*1930 Academy Award for Best Art Direction for "Bulldog Drummond", "Alibi" and "The Awakening" (nominee)
*1940 Honorary Academy Award for outstanding achievement in the use of color for the enhancement of dramatic mood in "Gone with the Wind" (a plaque rather than an Oscar)

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0580017