Charles Vidor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charles Vidor
Publicity Photo of Charles Vidor
Born	Károly Vidor (1900-07-27)27 July 1900 Budapest, Austria-Hungary (now Hungary)
Died	4 June 1959(1959-06-04) (aged 58) Vienna, Austria
Resting place	Home of Peace Memorial Park
Occupation	Film director
Years active	1929–1959
Spouse(s)	Frances Varone ​ ​ (m. 1925; div. 1932)​ Karen Morley ​ ​ (m. 1932; div. 1943)​ Evelyn Keyes ​ ​ (m. 1944; div. 1945)​ Doris Warner ​ (m. 1945)​
Children	3

Charles Vidor (born Károly Vidor) was a famous Hungarian film director. He was born on July 27, 1900, and passed away on June 4, 1959. He directed many popular movies during his career.

Some of his well-known films include Cover Girl (1944), A Song to Remember (1945), and Gilda (1946). He also directed Love Me or Leave Me (1955) and A Farewell to Arms (1957).

Charles Vidor's Life and Career

Charles Vidor was born Károly Vidor in Budapest, Hungary. He served in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I. He became known in the last years of the silent film era. He worked with famous people like Alex Korda. It's important to know that he was not related to another director named King Vidor.

Starting in Hollywood

In 1922, Vidor moved to the United States. He worked different jobs, including singing in an opera company. He even worked as a longshoreman on Hudson Bay.

Later, Vidor went to Hollywood, the center of the film industry. He started as an assistant to Alex Korda. He gained attention for a short film he made called The Bridge (1929). This film was made with his own money.

Because of The Bridge, he got a job at Universal Pictures. He worked in the editing department there. His first official movie as a director was Sensation Hunters (1933).

Directing for Major Studios

Vidor signed contracts with several big film studios. He worked at RKO Pictures, where he directed films like The Arizonian (1935). Then he moved to Paramount Pictures and directed movies such as A Doctor's Diary (1937).

He later joined Columbia Pictures. There, he directed films like Romance of the Redwoods (1939). These movies had smaller budgets but were well-received. He said he enjoyed making those "little pictures."

Famous director Frank Capra asked Vidor to help with his film Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939). Vidor directed some scenes in Smith's hometown. He later said he had more money to spend on those scenes than on his own full movies.

Vidor started directing more important films at Columbia. These included The Lady in Question (1940) and Ladies in Retirement (1941).

Big Films and Challenges

Vidor directed Columbia's first film made with Technicolor, The Desperadoes (1943). After that, he directed the musical Cover Girl (1944). This movie starred Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly and was a huge success.

He then directed Together Again (1944). Next, he made a movie about the composer Chopin, called A Song to Remember (1945). This film was another big hit and made Cornel Wilde a star.

After Over 21 (1946), Vidor directed another classic film, Gilda (1946). This movie also starred Rita Hayworth, along with Glenn Ford.

Vidor had some disagreements with Harry Cohn, who was the head of Columbia Pictures. These disagreements sometimes caused problems during filming. For example, Vidor was replaced as director on The Guilt of Janet Ames (1947). He was also replaced on The Man from Colorado (1949).

Despite these challenges, Vidor continued to work on major films. He reunited with Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford for The Loves of Carmen (1948).

In 1949, Vidor decided to leave his contract with Columbia Pictures. He paid a large sum of money to do so.

Later Career and Final Films

After leaving Columbia, Vidor signed a contract with MGM. He directed a section of the film It's a Big Country (1951).

He also directed Thunder in the East (1952) for Paramount. Then, he directed Hans Christian Andersen (1952) for Sam Goldwyn, which was very successful.

At MGM, Vidor directed a musical called Rhapsody (1954) starring Elizabeth Taylor. He also directed Love Me or Leave Me (1955), which was a big hit. Vidor directed Grace Kelly's last movie, The Swan (1956).

In his final years, Vidor worked with Frank Sinatra on The Joker Is Wild (1957). He was also hired by David O. Selznick to direct A Farewell to Arms (1957).

Charles Vidor's last film was Song Without End (1960). It was another movie about a composer, Liszt. He sadly passed away from a heart attack three weeks into filming this movie. Another director, George Cukor, finished the film.

Personal Life

Charles Vidor was married four times:

• Frances Varone (1927–1931)
• Actress Karen Morley (1932–1943)
• Actress Evelyn Keyes (1944–1945)
• Doris Warner (1945–1959), who was the daughter of Harry Warner, a president of Warner Bros.

He had three sons named Quentin, Brian, and Michael.

Death

Charles Vidor died at age 58 in Vienna, Austria. He passed away from a heart attack. He was buried at Home of Peace Cemetery in the same mausoleum as Harry Warner.

Recognition

Charles Vidor has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located at 6676 Hollywood Boulevard. This star recognizes his important contributions to motion pictures.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Charles Vidor para niños