Anthony Mann facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anthony Mann
Born	Emil Anton Bundsmann (1906-06-30)June 30, 1906 San Diego, California, U.S.
Died	April 29, 1967(1967-04-29) (aged 60) Berlin, Germany
Years active	1925–1967
Spouse(s)	Mildred Kenyon ​ ​ (m. 1936; div. 1957)​ Sara Montiel ​ ​ (m. 1957; div. 1963)​ Anna Kuzko ​ (m. 1964)​
Children	3

Anthony Mann (born Emil Anton Bundsmann; June 30, 1906 – April 29, 1967) was an American film director and stage actor. He started his career acting in plays. Later, he moved to Hollywood and became a director. He was known for making exciting film noir movies and popular Western films. He often worked with famous actor James Stewart. Mann also directed big historical movies like El Cid.

Who Was Anthony Mann?

Anthony Mann was born Emil Anton Bundsmann in San Diego, California. His father was from Austria and his mother was American. When he was three, his parents moved to Austria. Anthony stayed in California with a community called Lomaland. His mother brought him to New York when he was fourteen. In New York, he became very interested in acting. He acted in school plays and joined youth groups. After his father passed away in 1923, Anthony left high school. He needed to help his family with money.

Anthony Mann's Early Career

Starting in Theater (1925–1937)

Back in New York, Anthony Mann worked as a night watchman. This job let him look for acting roles during the day. Soon, he was acting full-time at the Triangle Theater. He used the name "Anton Bundsmann" for his stage work. He appeared in plays like The Dybbuk and Uncle Vanya.

In 1930, Mann joined the Theatre Guild. He became a production manager and later a director. But he still loved acting and appeared in more plays. He also directed some plays, like Thunder on the Left. In 1934, he even started his own theater company. It was called the Red Barn Playhouse on Long Island.

Moving to Hollywood (1937–1941)

In 1937, Mann moved to Hollywood. He started working for Selznick International Pictures. There, he helped find new actors and actresses. He also directed screen tests for big movies like Gone with the Wind. One of the actors he tested was Jennifer Jones.

After a few months, Mann joined Paramount Pictures. He became an assistant director. He learned a lot from famous directors like Preston Sturges. Sturges encouraged him to direct his own film. Mann spent three years as an assistant director.

During this time, Mann also directed for an early TV station called W2XBS (now WNBC-TV). He directed short versions of plays for television.

Becoming a Film Director

First Films (1942–1946)

Anthony Mann directed his first movie, Dr. Broadway, in 1942. He was told to finish the movie in just eighteen days! Critics had mixed feelings about the film. Some thought it was weak, while others found it entertaining.

He then directed other films like Moonlight in Havana (1943) and Nobody's Darling (1944). In 1944, he directed Strangers in the Night. This movie was important because it showed his unique style. He used dark lighting and shadows to create a suspenseful mood. This style would become famous in his later films. He also directed The Great Flamarion (1945). During this film, he had some disagreements with the main actor, Erich von Stroheim.

Breakthrough with Film Noir (1947–1949)

In 1946, Mann joined a new film studio called Eagle-Lion Films. There, he directed Railroaded! (1947) in just ten days. His next film, T-Men (1947), was a big success. It was about U.S. Treasury agents investigating crimes. Mann worked with cinematographer John Alton on this film. They created a special dark and moody look, which is typical of the film noir style. T-Men earned a lot of money and made Mann a well-known director.

He continued to direct successful film noir movies. These included Desperate (1947) and Raw Deal (1948). His success made him Eagle-Lion's most important director. He also directed Reign of Terror (1949), a historical thriller. Mann and Alton continued to use their low-cost, high-impact style. They used dark lighting and shadows to make scenes look dramatic.

Mann also directed parts of He Walked by Night (1948). He then directed Border Incident (1949) for MGM. This film was about Border Patrol agents.

Western Films and James Stewart

Working with James Stewart (1950–1958)

The 1950s were a big turning point for Anthony Mann. He started directing many Western films. His first Western of the decade was Devil's Doorway (1950). It starred Robert Taylor as a Native American man facing prejudice.

Mann then directed Winchester '73 (1950) with actor James Stewart. Stewart had seen Mann's work and suggested him for the film. This movie was a huge hit and started a famous partnership between Mann and Stewart. They made eight films together.

They continued to make successful Westerns like Bend of the River (1952) and The Naked Spur (1953). These films were known for their exciting stories and beautiful outdoor scenes. Mann and Stewart also made non-Western films together. These included The Glenn Miller Story (1954), a musical biography, and Strategic Air Command (1955), a movie about the U.S. Air Force.

Their last film together was the Western The Man from Laramie (1955). Stewart loved this film the most out of all their collaborations. After this, Mann directed The Last Frontier (1955) with Victor Mature.

In 1956, Mann directed a musical called Serenade. He met actress Sara Montiel on set, and she later became his second wife. He also directed Westerns like The Tin Star (1957) with Henry Fonda. He made war films like Men in War (1957) and God's Little Acre (1958). His Western Man of the West (1958) starring Gary Cooper was highly praised by critics, especially in France.

Big Historical Movies

Large-Scale Productions (1959–1964)

In 1959, Mann was hired to direct Spartacus. However, he left the project early on due to creative differences. Stanley Kubrick took over as director.

Mann then moved on to direct large-scale historical movies. He directed El Cid (1961), a medieval epic. It starred Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren. The film was a big success and received great reviews.

He followed this with The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964). This movie was inspired by a famous history book. It was a huge production with a large budget. Mann was also the head of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1964.

Later Films (1965–1967)

In 1965, Mann directed The Heroes of Telemark. This was a war film about the Norwegian resistance during World War II. It starred Kirk Douglas.

His last film was the spy thriller A Dandy in Aspic (1968). Mann began filming in Austria, Germany, and London. Sadly, he passed away before finishing the movie. The film's star, Laurence Harvey, completed the directing work.

Personal Life and Death

Anthony Mann married Mildred Kenyon in 1936. They had two children, Anthony and Nina. They divorced in 1956. A year later, Mann married actress Sara Montiel. Their marriage ended in 1963. His third wife was Anna Kuzko, a ballerina, with whom he had a son named Nicholas.

Anthony Mann died on April 29, 1967, from a heart attack in Berlin. He was 60 years old. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to movies.

Filmography

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See also

In Spanish: Anthony Mann para niños