John Sturges facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Sturges
Born	John Eliot Sturges (1910-01-03)January 3, 1910 Oak Park, Illinois, U.S.
Died	August 18, 1992(1992-08-18) (aged 82) San Luis Obispo, California, U.S.
Occupation	Film director

John Eliot Sturges (born January 3, 1910 – died August 18, 1992) was an American film director. He was known for directing exciting adventure and Western movies. Some of his most famous films include Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), The Magnificent Seven (1960), and The Great Escape (1963).

Two of his films, The Magnificent Seven and Bad Day at Black Rock, are considered very important. They were chosen to be kept safe in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. This means they are seen as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" – basically, they're really important movies!

John Sturges's Film Career

John Sturges began working in Hollywood in 1932. He started as an editor, which means he helped put movie scenes together.

During World War II, he joined the United States Army Air Forces. As a captain, he directed documentaries and training films for the military. These films helped teach soldiers important skills.

After the war, Sturges started directing his own movies. His first major film was The Man Who Dared in 1946. He became known for making exciting movies that also had strong characters. He often directed Westerns and adventure films.

One of his notable films was Bad Day at Black Rock (1955). In this suspense movie, he used the wide CinemaScope screen in a clever way. He showed the main character, played by Spencer Tracy, alone in a huge desert. This helped make the character feel isolated. For this film, Sturges was nominated for an Oscar for Best Director.

Sturges was very proud when he met the famous Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. Kurosawa told him how much he loved The Magnificent Seven. This was special because The Magnificent Seven was actually a remake of Kurosawa's own movie, Seven Samurai. Sturges said this was the best moment of his career.

The Magnificent Seven became very popular. Sturges believed its success was partly because it helped launch the careers of several young actors. It also moved the story from Japan to Mexico, giving it a new feel. The movie's music even became famous, with part of it used in Marlboro cigarette commercials.

In 1992, John Sturges received the Golden Boot Award. This award honored his important contributions to Western films throughout his life.

Awards and Recognition

John Sturges received several awards and nominations for his work:

• Nominee for Best Director at the Academy Awards for Bad Day at Black Rock.
• Nominee for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for Bad Day at Black Rock.
• Nominee for Best Director from the Directors Guild of America for Bad Day at Black Rock.
• Nominee for Best Director from the Directors Guild of America for Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (film).
• Winner of the Best Foreign Language Film at the Blue Ribbon Awards (Japan) for The Old Man and the Sea.
• Nominee for Best Picture at the Hugo Awards for Marooned.
• Nominee for the Grand Prix at the Moscow International Film Festival for The Great Escape.
• Winner of the "Golden Eddie" Filmmaker of the Year from American Cinema Editors in 1970.
• Winner of the Golden Boot Award in 1992.

John Sturges's Films

Here is a list of films directed by John Sturges:

See also

In Spanish: John Sturges para niños