George Sidney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids George Sidney
Sidney while filming 1955's Jupiter's Darling
Born	(1916-10-04)October 4, 1916 New York City, U.S.
Died	May 5, 2002(2002-05-05) (aged 85) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Occupation	Film director, producer
Years active	1937–1967
Spouse(s)	Lillian Burns (divorced) Jane Robinson (1973–1991) Corinne Entratter Sidney, known also as Corinne Cole (1991–2002)

George Sidney (October 4, 1916 – May 5, 2002) was an American film director and producer. He worked mostly at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), a famous movie studio. He directed popular movies like Bye Bye Birdie (1963) and Viva Las Vegas (1964).

George Sidney had a lot of experience in acting, directing for the stage, editing films, and music. He made many big musical movies after World War II. Some of these include Annie Get Your Gun (1950), Show Boat (1951), and Kiss Me Kate (1953). He was also the president of the Screen Directors Guild for 16 years.

He was one of the people who helped start the Hanna-Barbera animation studio. Sidney believed in mixing animation with live-action films. A famous example is the dance scene between actor Gene Kelly and Jerry Mouse in Anchors Aweigh (1945). George Sidney was known for his great style and kindness. He loved collecting art, gardening, playing music, painting, and photography. His clothes, original movie scripts, notes, and personal papers are kept at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Biography

Early life and start in movies

George Sidney was born into a family that worked in show business. His father, Louis "L.K." Sidney, was a top boss at the Loew's Incorporated movie theater company. George was an only child. He often went to work with his father at Radio City Music Hall. There, he learned about dance, set design, and directing for the stage. His mother, Hazael Mooney, was a famous Vaudeville performer. She was part of a swimming show team called The Mooney Sisters. Sidney went to Riverdale Country School in New York.

George Sidney learned a lot about New York City theater and art from a young age. When he was five years old, he became a famous child actor. He played the main role in The Littlest Cowboy, a 1921 film with western star, Tom Mix.

At age 15, George was sent to Los Angeles. He went to learn about the movie business from Louis B. Mayer, who was the head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. George Sidney started as a dog walker and errand boy in the early 1930s.

Working at MGM

Sidney quickly learned how to edit films at MGM. He worked with other future filmmakers there. By the time he was 20, Sidney directed many screen tests. These were short films to see how actors would look on screen. He worked with stars like Judy Garland and Ava Gardner. Sidney became very skilled by directing 85 short films. He even won two Academy Awards for his short films "Quicker'n A Wink" (1940) and "Of Pups and Puzzles" (1941).

In 1938, at age 22, Sidney directed the Our Gang short comedies. MGM had bought these from Hal Roach because George suggested it. Sidney later directed the Crime Does Not Pay series. He also directed popular Pete Smith specialty films.

During World War II, George Sidney worked for the Air Force. He helped supervise the Atomic Energy Commission Film Program. For this work, he received special awards from the Department of Defense and the United States Air Force. George Sidney was important in filming nuclear testing projects.

Directing feature films

George Sidney became very well-known for his big musical movie, The Harvey Girls (1946). It starred Judy Garland. This film also introduced Cyd Charisse in her first speaking role. Sidney made many movies based on plays. These include Annie Get Your Gun (1950), Show Boat (1951), and Kiss Me Kate (1953). He also directed Bye Bye Birdie (1963). He cast Frank Sinatra in his film Pal Joey (1957). These large productions brought George Sidney fame around the world.

Sidney also directed romantic comedies like Key to the City (1949). His adventure films, such as The Three Musketeers (1948), were also respected. Sidney's personal favorite movie was Scaramouche (1952). This was a historical film set in France before the revolution. It starred Janet Leigh.

Sidney left MGM to make The Eddy Duchin Story (1956) at Columbia Pictures. He stayed there for the next ten years. During this time, he made films like Jeanne Eagels (1957) and Pepe (1960). He returned to MGM to film A Ticklish Affair (1963) and Elvis Presley's Viva Las Vegas (1964).

George Sidney is considered one of the most celebrated film directors of the 20th century. His skill and artistic ideas made his films visually exciting. This helped create the style for big Hollywood movies. Sidney's last film, Half a Sixpence, was released in 1967.

Animation

Sidney became good friends with MGM animation directors William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Hanna and Barbera's Jerry Mouse appeared with Gene Kelly in Sidney's film Anchors Aweigh (1945). After MGM closed its animation studio in 1957, Sidney helped Hanna and Barbera start their own company. This became the successful television animation studio Hanna-Barbera Productions. George Sidney was also a part-owner of the company.

Sidney later included Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters in his movie Bye Bye Birdie (1963). You can see Fred Flintstone, Barney Rubble, Huckleberry Hound, and Yogi Bear in that film.

In 1961, Sidney appeared as himself in an episode of The Donna Reed Show. The episode was called "The Stones Go to Hollywood." It also featured the famous dog Lassie.

Professional service and awards

Sidney spent much of his later life helping other directors, writers, and teachers. He became the youngest president of the Directors Guild of America. His friend, director John Ford, suggested him for the role. Sidney was always learning new things. He gave many talks about how movies are made.

George Sidney's work has been celebrated at museums and film festivals around the world. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sidney was nominated for the Directors Guild of America Award four times. In 1958, he won a Golden Globe Award for Best World Entertainment through Musical Films. He also received special awards from the Directors Guild of America in 1959, 1986, and 1998.

After he passed away, Sidney's wife, Corinne Entratter Sidney, gave his large collection of professional items to the Smithsonian Institution. This collection includes scripts with his notes, personal letters, and many photographs from his 60-year career. Sidney was known for his love of fashion. His clothing is now in museum collections at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas.

Personal life

George Sidney was married three times. In 1942, he married Lillian "Burnsie" Burns Salzer. Later, in the late 1970s, he married Jane Adler Robinson. In 1991, Sidney married his third wife, actress and journalist Corinne Kegley Entratter, also known as Corinne Cole.

Sidney loved photography and took many pictures. He also collected art and was a very skilled gardener. He was a member of the Royal Horticultural Society. George Sidney passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 5, 2002, at age 85.

Partial filmography

Images for kids

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  George Sidney behind Spencer Tracy and Lana Turner on the set of Cass Timberlane (1947)

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  Esther Williams with George Sidney in a glass bottom boat during filming of "Jupiter's Darling" at Silver Springs.