Mervyn LeRoy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mervyn LeRoy
LeRoy in 1958
Born	(1900-10-15)October 15, 1900 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	September 13, 1987(1987-09-13) (aged 86) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
Occupation	Film director producer
Years active	1928–1968
Employer	First National Pictures (1927–1929) Warner Bros. (1929–1938) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1938–1945) (1948–1954) Warner Bros. (1955–1959)
Spouse(s)	Edna Murphy ​ ​ (m. 1927; div. 1932)​ Doris Warner ​ ​ (m. 1934; div. 1942)​ Katherine Spiegel ​ (m. 1946)​
Children	2, including Warner LeRoy

Mervyn LeRoy (October 15, 1900 – September 13, 1987) was an American film director and producer. He made many famous movies. When he was young, he acted in stage shows called vaudeville and in silent comedy films.

In the 1930s, LeRoy was a top director at Warner Brothers studios. He made movies quickly and well. Some of his most famous films from this time include Little Caesar (1931), I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang (1932), Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), and They Won't Forget (1937).

In 1939, LeRoy moved to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios. There, he worked as both a director and a producer. One of his biggest achievements as a producer was the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

Early Life and Childhood

Mervyn LeRoy was born on October 15, 1900, in San Francisco, California. He was the only child of Edna and Harry LeRoy. His father owned a successful department store. His family had lived in the Bay Area for many years.

LeRoy's mother loved going to vaudeville shows. She often met the people who worked at the theaters. When LeRoy was six, she helped him get a small part in a play called The Squaw Man. LeRoy said his mother's love for theater made him interested in it too.

His parents separated in 1905. His father raised LeRoy by himself. His mother moved away, but LeRoy visited her. He thought of her more like a favorite aunt.

Surviving the 1906 Earthquake

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire hit when LeRoy was five years old. He was sleeping when his house collapsed. Luckily, he and his father were not badly hurt. However, his father's store was completely destroyed.

LeRoy remembered the disaster clearly. He later used these memories when he filmed the burning of Rome in his movie Quo Vadis. The earthquake made his family lose almost everything. They lived in a tent city for six months. LeRoy felt proud that he had survived this tough time. He believed it changed his life for the better.

When he was twelve, LeRoy started working as a newsboy. He sold newspapers in famous places like Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf. This job taught him a lot about life in the city.

Early Career in Entertainment

While selling newspapers near a theater, LeRoy was noticed by a stage star. At fourteen, LeRoy was a friendly and good-looking boy. He got a small part in a play in 1914. He loved the feeling of the audience cheering for him. He then acted in other plays, playing lead roles for young characters.

Impersonating Charlie Chaplin

As a teenager, LeRoy watched the famous actor Charlie Chaplin on film sets. LeRoy learned to imitate Chaplin's funny style. In 1915, he won a competition for Chaplin impersonators. This led to him performing in a vaudeville show called "Chinatown by Night."

In 1916, his father passed away. At fifteen, LeRoy had to support himself.

"Two Kids and a Piano"

LeRoy became a professional performer. He teamed up with Clyde Cooper, a pianist, to form a vaudeville act called "LeRoy and Cooper: Two Kids and a Piano." They performed on national tours. LeRoy enjoyed the life of a vaudeville performer. He even shared the stage with famous artists like Sarah Bernhardt and Harry Houdini. After three years, the duo split up.

LeRoy joined other musical comedy groups. But by 1923, he was less excited about stage acting.

Moving to Hollywood

LeRoy took a small acting role in a film being made in New Jersey. He was fascinated by how movies were made. He realized he wanted to work in the film business, not on stage.

In 1919, when he was 19, LeRoy asked his cousin Jesse L. Lasky for help. Lasky was a big name in the movie business. Lasky gave LeRoy a note to get a job at the Hollywood studios. A week later, LeRoy started working in the wardrobe department, folding costumes. He earned $12.50 a week.

LeRoy was very eager and hardworking. He soon got a promotion to a lab technician. He even invented a way to make moonlight shimmer on a lake for a film scene. This impressed the director, and LeRoy became an assistant cameraman.

However, LeRoy made a mistake with the camera settings on another film. This ruined some footage, and he was fired in 1921.

Learning from a Master

LeRoy later worked as an extra in Cecil B. DeMille's huge 1923 movie The Ten Commandments. LeRoy said DeMille inspired him to become a director. He learned many directing tricks from watching DeMille.

LeRoy continued to act in small roles in the early 1920s. Because he was young and small, he often played teenage characters. His last acting role was in The Chorus Lady (1924).

Becoming a Gag Writer

While acting in The Ghost Breaker (1922), LeRoy suggested some funny ideas. The director, Alfred E. Green, used them in the movie. Green then offered LeRoy a job as a "gag man," someone who writes jokes and funny scenes.

LeRoy was thrilled. He said he wanted to be part of the creative side of filmmaking. He stopped acting to focus on writing. He wrote gags for actress Colleen Moore in several films. In 1927, the head of First National Pictures, John McCormick, asked LeRoy to direct a movie. This launched LeRoy's career as a film director at age 27.

Directing Silent and Early Sound Films

LeRoy's first film, No Place to Go (1927), was a success. He then directed many comedies and dramas, which helped him improve his skills. He made popular silent films like Harold Teen and Oh, Kay!.

Warner Brothers bought First National Pictures in 1925. This meant LeRoy started working for Warner Bros. The studio head, Jack Warner, became a mentor and even a family member to LeRoy later on.

LeRoy was excited to direct his first sound film, Naughty Baby (1929). He had experience with spoken words from his vaudeville days. He felt ready to direct "talkies."

His early sound films were mostly comedies. But he also directed dramas like Gentleman's Fate (1931) and Tonight or Never (1931) with Gloria Swanson.

Warner Brothers: A Busy Time

From 1930 to 1939, LeRoy was incredibly busy and creative at Warner Bros. He made some of the best films of the 1930s. He directed 36 movies during this time.

During the Great Depression, people wanted affordable entertainment. Warner Bros. films were known for being direct and realistic. They showed stories about working-class people. This was different from other studios that focused on fancy settings or middle-class tastes.

LeRoy said he made "film after film after film" during the Depression. He worked very fast because people loved going to the movies. He sometimes felt the films blended together because of how quickly he made them.

LeRoy's films often showed problems in society. They criticized corrupt politicians and rich people. They celebrated the lives of ordinary people, like chorus girls and taxi drivers, trying to get by in New York City.

Gangster Films: Little Caesar

LeRoy started directing dramas with Numbered Men (1930), a film about prisoners. But his 1930 film Little Caesar, starring Edward G. Robinson, truly defined the gangster movie genre. It was one of the first Hollywood films to show the harsh reality of the criminal world.

Little Caesar showed how criminal groups worked, with their loyalties and violence. LeRoy made the audience feel a strange mix of disgust and admiration for the main character. LeRoy remembered that real-life gangsters like Al Capone were famous at the time.

LeRoy also directed other strong dramas like Five Star Final (1931), about tabloid journalism, and Two Seconds (1932), a sad story about a man on death row.

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

One of Warner Bros.' most impactful social films was LeRoy's I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang. It showed the cruel prison system in Georgia. Paul Muni played James Allen, a man wrongly accused and on the run.

The movie ends on a very powerful note. Muni's character, a fugitive, is asked how he lives. He whispers, "I steal," and disappears into the darkness. This ending was very memorable.

LeRoy also directed Muni in other films, like The World Changes (1933). LeRoy was very versatile. He directed comedies like Hard to Handle (1933) with James Cagney, and Tugboat Annie (1933) with Marie Dressler.

His film Three on a Match (1932) followed the lives of three young women. LeRoy used quick scene changes to show their ups and downs in society.

Gold Diggers of 1933

The musical Gold Diggers of 1933 was a standout film from Warner Bros. It wasn't just an escape from the Depression. It showed the unemployment faced by World War I veterans. The movie ends with a sad song called "Remember My Forgotten Man."

LeRoy's direction of the comedy parts and the strong actresses like Joan Blondell made the movie entertaining. He also directed other musical comedies, like Happiness Ahead (1934).

Oil for the Lamps of China (1935)

Oil for the Lamps of China was a serious film about an American oil company in China. It showed how the company treated its employees. LeRoy used different camera techniques to show the main character's struggles.

He also directed lighter films in 1935, like Sweet Adeline and I Found Stella Parish.

Anthony Adverse (1936)

Anthony Adverse (1936) was LeRoy's most important project so far. It was based on a very long historical novel. The film was huge and looked very polished. This impressed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), who saw LeRoy as a potential executive producer.

The film had great performances from a large cast, including Fredric March and Olivia de Havilland. It received five Academy Award nominations. LeRoy said that by 1936, he was working slower and trying to make more beautiful and perfect films.

Producer-Director at Warner Brothers

In 1936, Warner Bros. started giving LeRoy both directing and producing jobs. He directed and produced comedies like Three Men on a Horse (1936) and The King and the Chorus Girl (1937). Both films starred Joan Blondell.

LeRoy also produced The Great Garrick (1937), a historical comedy directed by James Whale.

They Won't Forget (1937)

LeRoy's second-to-last film for Warner Bros. was They Won't Forget (1937).

LeRoy was planning to move to MGM in 1938 to become a head of production. Before he left Warner Bros., he directed and produced his last film there, Fools for Scandal (1938).

Producing at MGM: The Wizard of Oz

LeRoy arrived at MGM hoping to lead the studio's film production. His first projects as a producer were Dramatic School (1938), Stand Up and Fight (1938), and At the Circus (1938) with the Marx Brothers.

His most famous work as a producer at MGM was the children's classic The Wizard of Oz.

Producing The Wizard of Oz (1939)

In 1938, LeRoy suggested making a movie based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz book. MGM bought the rights. LeRoy was the producer, but Victor Fleming was the main director. LeRoy remembered how big the project was.

They built a huge model of the set and then a full-size set that covered 25 acres. The movie had 65 different sets, all specially built. It took six months to prepare the film, six months to shoot it, and a long time to edit and add music. The Wizard of Oz took many months to make.

Even though LeRoy was earning a lot of money as a producer, he missed directing. After The Wizard of Oz, he asked to be released from his contract so he could direct again. MGM agreed. He said he "never again functioned only as a producer."

Directing at MGM: 1940–1949

When World War II started in Europe, Hollywood faced challenges. Studios had to cut costs and change what kind of films they made. MGM focused on films with "nice people" finding happiness in beautiful settings.

LeRoy directed 11 films at MGM over the next nine years. Many people think his films during this time were not as creative as his earlier work at Warner Bros.

He started directing again with Waterloo Bridge (1940).

Waterloo Bridge (1940)

MGM bought the rights to Waterloo Bridge for LeRoy to direct. The film starred Vivien Leigh, who was very popular after Gone with the Wind.

LeRoy used silent film techniques for a key love scene between Leigh and Robert Taylor. He realized that sometimes, a look or a gesture can say more than words.

LeRoy also directed Escape (1940), an anti-Nazi film. This led to MGM movies being banned in Germany.

Films with Greer Garson

LeRoy made four films with the English actress Greer Garson. She was very popular and helped MGM earn a lot of money, especially in Britain during WWII.

Blossoms in the Dust (1941): This film told the story of Edna Gladney, who helped children born out of wedlock. LeRoy believed the film was important and helped make the country better. This was LeRoy's first color film, and he handled the new Technicolor technology very well.

Random Harvest (1942): LeRoy directed Garson and Ronald Colman in this romance about a WWI veteran with memory loss. The film had a slow pace, lavish settings, and beautiful music, showing LeRoy's new style at MGM.

Madame Curie (1943): This long film told the story of the Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie. LeRoy tried to make the complex scientific topic interesting to the public.

Strange Lady in Town (1955): This was LeRoy's first film after returning to Warner Bros. Garson starred in this Western movie set in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Wartime Propaganda Films

In the last years of World War II, LeRoy directed films that supported the American war effort.

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944): This film was about the 1942 U.S. bombing mission over Tokyo. It showed the personal lives of the airmen and their families. It was meant to boost morale at home.

The House I Live In (1945), a short documentary: Frank Sinatra asked LeRoy to make a short film based on the song "The House I Live In." LeRoy thought it was a good idea for wartime.

The House I Live In won LeRoy a special Oscar, his only Academy Award. Sinatra gave him a special medallion to thank him.

Hollywood After the War

After World War II, Hollywood movies were very popular and profitable. But by the end of the 1940s, things changed. There were strikes for higher wages and new taxes on Hollywood films overseas. Studios cut costs and laid off many workers.

Films became less "glossy" and often had lower budgets. They were often black-and-white, with smaller casts and indoor sets.

Another challenge was the "Red Scare," a time when people in Hollywood were accused of being Communists. Many talented writers, directors, and actors were forced to leave the industry. LeRoy felt it was good to remove Communist ideas but disliked how people were treated. He said people informed on their friends out of fear.

By the end of the 1940s, Hollywood faced many problems. The rise of television also started to change the film industry.

Postwar Films: 1946–1950

Without Reservations (1946): This comedy starred Claudette Colbert and John Wayne in a romantic role.

Homecoming (1948): This film showed a soldier returning home after the war and adjusting to civilian life. Clark Gable played the main character, a war surgeon whose experiences change him.

Little Women: This was one of several film versions of the classic book by Louisa May Alcott. The MGM film was very pretty but some critics felt the acting was not strong.

Any Number Can Play (1949): This film was about a casino owner facing personal and professional problems. LeRoy was confused why this film, with its good script and actors, didn't do well at the box office.

East Side, West Side (1949): This drama showed the class differences in society. It had a great cast, including Barbara Stanwyck and James Mason.

Quo Vadis (1951): A Huge Movie

MGM's Quo Vadis (1950) was a giant historical film. Its Latin title means "Where are you going?" It was based on a novel about early Christians in Rome.

LeRoy believed that movies should offer big spectacles, while television would show smaller stories. Quo Vadis was a huge production. It was filmed in Rome, Italy. It needed thousands of extras and took over nine months to shoot. It was a big financial risk for MGM.

But the huge investment paid off. Quo Vadis earned a lot of money, second only to Gone with the Wind. It received eight Academy Award nominations. LeRoy even met Pope Pius XII, who blessed the script.

Musicals and Comedies: 1952–1954

After the success of Quo Vadis, LeRoy directed lighter films.

Lovely to Look At (1952): A remake of an old musical.

Million Dollar Mermaid (1952): A film about the life of Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman, starring Esther Williams.

Latin Lovers (1953): A romantic musical comedy with Lana Turner.

Rose Marie (1954): LeRoy's last film with MGM before he returned to Warner Bros. He left MGM because he didn't agree with the new head of production.

Back to Warner Brothers: 1955–1959

After Strange Lady in Town (1955) with Greer Garson, LeRoy mostly directed and produced films based on popular Broadway plays. He often used actors from the original stage shows.

Mister Roberts (1955)

LeRoy helped finish Mister Roberts after the original director had to leave. The film was a huge success and won an Oscar for supporting actor Jack Lemmon.

Later Career as Director-Producer

In the late 1950s and 1960s, LeRoy continued to direct and produce films. Many of his later films were adaptations of stage plays. Some critics felt these films were too long. However, LeRoy remained a successful director.

The Bad Seed (1956): This film was based on a popular play. LeRoy used most of the original stage cast, including child actor Patty McCormick. The film was very profitable.

Toward the Unknown (1956): A film about a former Korean War prisoner who struggles with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and wants to return to flying.

No Time for Sergeants (1958): This comedy starred Andy Griffith as a country boy in the U.S. Air Force.

Home Before Dark (1958): A film about a woman recovering from mental illness and trying to fix her relationships.

The FBI Story (1959): This film told the story of an FBI agent, starring James Stewart. LeRoy was honored by the FBI for directing and producing this film.

Wake Me When It's Over (1960): A comedy about building a resort on a Japanese island after WWII.

The Devil at 4 O'Clock (1961): A priest and a convict work together to rescue children from a leper colony during a volcano eruption.

A Majority of One (1961): A romantic comedy set in Japan.

Gypsy (1962): LeRoy returned to musicals with this film about the young Gypsy Rose Lee, starring Natalie Wood and Rosalind Russell.

Moment to Moment (1965): This was LeRoy's last credited film as a director.

After this film, LeRoy had disagreements with Universal Studios. He returned to Warner Bros. and planned to adapt The 13 Clocks, hoping it would be another The Wizard of Oz. But when Warner Bros. was sold, the project was canceled, and LeRoy left the studio.

The Green Berets (1968): Uncredited Help

LeRoy worked for over five months as an uncredited advisor on The Green Berets (1968). This film was co-directed by John Wayne. The studio was worried about Wayne directing and acting at the same time. LeRoy helped Wayne with the directing. He didn't want his name in the credits to be fair to Wayne.

LeRoy retired shortly after The Green Berets. He received an honorary Oscar in 1946 for The House I Live In. He also received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1976.

Eight of the movies Mervyn LeRoy directed or co-directed were nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. This is one of the highest numbers for any director.

On February 8, 1960, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in movies.

Discovering New Talent

Mervyn LeRoy is known for helping many actors start or boost their careers. He had a special talent for spotting potential stars. He helped actors like Lana Turner, Jane Wyman, Loretta Young, Audrey Hepburn, and Robert Mitchum.

Loretta Young: LeRoy helped Loretta Young get her start. In 1930, he needed a lead actress for Too Young to Marry. Young's mother suggested her, and LeRoy agreed, changing her name to Loretta.

Clark Gable: LeRoy wanted to cast Clark Gable in Little Caesar (1930). He saw Gable in a play and arranged a screen test. Producers at Warner Bros. didn't want Gable because of his "big ears." LeRoy didn't sign Gable to a personal contract, which he later regretted. But Gable always said LeRoy helped him a lot in Hollywood.

Jane Wyman: LeRoy also said he discovered Jane Wyman. He saw her at the Warner Bros. studio and decided she would be perfect for his 1933 film Elmer, the Great. He said she did a beautiful job, and her career took off.

Lana Turner: When Lana Turner was fifteen, LeRoy auditioned her for his 1937 film They Won't Forget. LeRoy changed her name to Lana and helped her become a star. He also directed her in his 1948 film Homecoming.

Audrey Hepburn: For his 1950 film Quo Vadis, LeRoy wanted an unknown actress for a main role. Audrey Hepburn was one of many who auditioned. LeRoy thought she was "sensational," but the studio decided not to cast her.

Robert Mitchum: LeRoy noticed 27-year-old Robert Mitchum among the extras during the filming of Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944). He cast Mitchum in a small role, which was Mitchum's first on-screen part.

Sophia Loren: According to LeRoy, Sophia Loren believed he launched her career. LeRoy saw the 16-year-old Loren among the extras in Quo Vadis. He placed her where his cameras would notice her. Years later, Loren thanked him, saying he helped her and her mother when they needed money.

Personal Life

Mervyn LeRoy was married three times. He also had relationships with Hollywood actresses. His first marriage was to Edna Murphy in 1927, but they divorced in 1932.

In 1934, he married Doris Warner, the daughter of Harry Warner, who founded Warner Bros. They had a son, Warner LeRoy, and a daughter, Linda. Their son became a famous restaurateur. This marriage ended in divorce in 1942.

In 1946, he married Katherine "Kitty" Priest Rand. They stayed married until his death. LeRoy also sold his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles, to Johnny Carson.

Other Interests

LeRoy loved thoroughbred horse racing. He helped start the Hollywood Turf Club, which ran the Hollywood Park Racetrack. He was on the track's board of directors until he died. He also owned a racing stable with his father-in-law, Harry Warner.

Death

Mervyn LeRoy passed away on September 13, 1987, in Beverly Hills, California, at age 86. He had been ill for six months. He was buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Film Chronology

Silent Era

Actor: 1920–1924

Year	Title	Director	Role
1920	Double Speed	Sam Wood	Uncredited juvenile role
1922	The Ghost Breaker	Alfred E. Green	A Ghost
1923	Little Johnny Jones	Arthur Rosson, Johnny Hines	George Nelson
1923	Going Up	Lloyd Ingraham	Bell Boy
1923	The Call of the Canyon	Victor Fleming	Jack Rawlins
1924	Broadway After Dark	Monta Bell	Carl Fisher
1924	The Chorus Lady	Ralph Ince	Duke

Writer (comedies): 1924–1926

Year	Title	Director	Notes
1924	In Hollywood with Potash and Perlmutter	Alfred E. Green	As a gag writer
1925	Sally	Alfred E. Green
1925	The Desert Flower	Irving Cummings
1925	The Pace That Thrills	John Francis Dillon	Also served as assistant director (uncredited)
1925	We Moderns	Ralph Ince
1926	Irene	Alfred E. Green
1926	Ella Cinders	Alfred E. Green
1926	It Must Be Love	Alfred E. Green
1926	Twinkletoes	Charles Brabin
1926	Orchids and Ermine	Alfred Santell

Director

Year	Title	Studio/Distributor	Screenplay	Photography	Leading Cast	Notes
1927	No Place to Go	Productions/First National Pictures	Adeliade Helbron	George Folsey	Mary Astor, Lloyd Hughes	Also released as Her Primitive Mate
1928	Flying Romeos	E,M. Asher/First National Pictures	John McDermott	Dev Jennings	Charlie Murray, George Sydney
1928	Harold Teen	Alan Dwan/First National Pictures	Thomas J. Geraghty	Ernest Haller	Arthur Lake, Mary Brian	Based on Carl Ed comic strip
1928	Oh, Kay!	E,M. Asher/First National Pictures	Carey Wilson	Sid Hickox	Colleen Moore, Alan Hale Sr.
1929	Naughty Baby	Richard A. Rowland/First National Pictures	Thomas J. Geraghty	Ernest Haller	Alice White, John Mulhall

Sound Era

Year	Title	Studio/Distributor	Screenplay	Photography	Leading Cast	Notes
1929	Hot Stuff	Wid Gunning/First National Pictures	Louis Stevens	Sid Hickox	Alice White, Jack Mulhall	Released in silent and partial sound versions
1929	Broadway Babies	Robert North/First National Pictures	Monte M. Katterjohn	Sol Polito	Alice White, Charles Delaney	Released in silent and sound versions.
1929	Little Johnny Jones	First National Pictures	Adelaide Heilbron, Edward Buzzell	Faxon M. Dean	Edward Buzzell, Alice Day	Released in silent and sound versions. Adapted from a George M. Cohen musical
1930	Playing Around	Robert North/First National Pictures	Adele Comandini, Frances Nordstrom	Sol Polito	Alice White, Chester Morris
1930	Showgirl in Hollywood	Robert North/First National Pictures	Harvey Thew, Jimmy Starr	Sol Polito	Alice White, Jack Mulhall
1930	Numbered Men	First National Pictures	Al Cohn, Henry McCarty	Sol Polito	Conrad Nagel, Bernice Claire
1930	Top Speed	First National Pictures	Humphrey Pearson, Henry McCarty	Sid Hickox	Joe E. Brown, Bernice Claire
1930	Little Caesar	Hal B. Wallis/First National Pictures	Francis Faragoh	Tony Gaudio	Edward G. Robinson, Sidney Blackmer
1931	Gentleman's Fate	M-G-M, M-G-M	Leonard Praskins	Merritt B. Gerstad	John Gilbert, Leila Hyams
1931	Too Young to Marry	Warner Bros./Warner Bros.	Francis Faragoh	Sid Hickox	Loretta Young, Grant Withers	Based on play Broken Dishes
1931	Broadminded	First National Pictures	Burt Kalmar, Harry Ruby	Sid Hickox	Joe E. Brown, Ona Munson
1931	Five Star Final	Robert North/First National Pictures	Robert Lord	Sol Polito	Edward G. Robinson, Marion Marsh
1931	Local Boy Makes Good	First National Pictures	Robert Lord	Sol Polito	Joe E. Brown, Dorothy Lee
1931	Tonight or Never	United Artists	Ernest Vajda	Gregg Toland	Gloria Swanson, Ferdinand Gottschalk
1932	High Pressure	Warner Bros.	Joseph Jackson	Robert Kurrle	Joe E. Brown, Ona Munson
1932	Heart of New York	Warner Bros.	Arthur Caesar, Houston Branch	James Van Trees	Joe Smith, Charles Dale
1932	Two Seconds	First National Pictures	Harvey Thew	Sol Polito	Edward G. Robinson, Preston Foster
1932	Big City Blues	Warner Bros.	Ward Morehouse, Lillie Hayward	James Van Trees	Joan Blondell, Eric Linden
1932	Three on a Match	Sam Bischoff/ First National Pictures	Lucien Hubbard	Sol Polito	Joan Blondell, Ann Dvorak
1932	I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang	Hal B. Wallis/Warner Bros.	Howard J. Green, Brown Holmes	Sol Polito	Paul Muni, Glenda Farrell
1933	Hard to Handle	Robert Lord/Warner Bros., Vitaphone	Wilson Mizner, Robert Lord	Barney McGill	James Cagney, Mary Brian
1933	Tugboat Annie	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Zelda Sears, Eve Greene	Gregg Toland	Marie Dressler, Wallace Beery
1933	Elmer, the Great	First National Pictures	Tom Geraghty	Arthur L. Todd	Joe E. Brown, Patricia Ellis	Remake of Fast Company (1929)
1933	Gold Diggers of 1933	Warner Bros.	Erwin Gelsey, James Seymour	Sol Polito	Warren William, Joan Blondell	Dance director: Busby Berkeley
1933	The World Changes	Hal B. Wallis/Warner Bros.	Edward Chodorov	Tony Gaudio	Paul Muni, Mary Astor
1934	Heat Lightning	Sam Bischoff/Warner Bros.	Brown Holmes, Warren Duff	Sid Hickox	Aline MacMahon, Ann Dvorak
1934	Hi, Nellie!	Robert Presnell/Warner Bros.	Ahem Finkle, Sydney Sutherland	Sol Polito	Paul Muni, Glenda Farrell
1934	Happiness Ahead	Sam Bischoff/Warner Bros.	Ahem Finkle, Sydney Sutherland	Tony Gaudio	Dick Powell, Josephine Hutchinson
1935	Oil for the Lamps of China (film)	Robert Lord (w/Cosmopolitan/First National Pictures)	Laird Doyle	Tony Gaudio	Pat O'Brien, Josephine Hutchinson
1935	Page Miss Glory	Robert Lord (w/Cosmopolitan/Warner Bros.	Robert Lord, Delmer Daves	George Folsey Jr.	Marion Davies, Pat O'Brien
1935	I Found Stella Parish	Harry Joe Brown/First National Pictures	Casey Robinson	Sid Hickox	Kay Francis, Ian Hunter
1935	Sweet Adeline	Edward Chodorov/Warner Bros.	Erwin S. Gelsey	Sol Polito	Irene Dunne, Donald Woods
1936	Anthony Adverse	Jack L. Warner, Henry Blanke/ Warner Bros.	Sheridan Gibney	Tony Gaudio	Fredric March, Claude Rains
1936	Three Men on a Horse	Frank Bischoff/ First National Pictures	Laird Doyle	Sol Polito	Frank McHugh, Joan Blondell
1937	The King and the Chorus Girl	Frank Bischoff/ First National Pictures	Norma Krasner, Groucho Marx	Tony Gaudio	Fernand Gravet, Joan Blondell
1937	They Won't Forget	Mervyn LeRoy/ First National Pictures	Robert Rossen, Aben Kandel	Arthur Edeson	Claude Rains, Gloria Dickson
1938	Fools for Scandal	Mervyn LeRoy/ Warner Bros.	Herbert Fields, Joseph Fields	Ted Tetzlaff	Carol Lombard, Fernand Gravet
1940	Waterloo Bridge	Sidney Franklin/ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	S. N. Behrman, George Froeschel	Joseph Ruttenberg	Vivian Leigh, Robert Taylor
1940	Escape	Mervyn LeRoy/ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Arch Oboler, Marguerite Roberts	Robert Planck	Norma Shearer, Robert Taylor	Reissued as When the Door Opened
1941	Blossoms in the Dust	Mervyn LeRoy//, Irving Asher /Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Anita Loos	Karl Freund, W. Howard Greene	Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon	LeRoy's first color film
1941	Unholy Partners	Samuel Marx/ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Earl Baldwin, Lesser Samuels	George Barnes	Edward G. Robinson, Edward Arnold
1941	Johnny Eager	John W. Considine, Jr. /Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	John Lee Mahin, James Edward Grant	Harold Rosson	Robert Taylor, Lana Turner
1942	Random Harvest	Sidney Franklin/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Claudine West, George Froeschel	Joseph Ruttenberg	Greer Garson, Ronald Colman
1944	Madame Curie	Sidney Franklin /Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Paul Osborn, Hans Rameau (Paul H. Rameau)	Joseph Ruttenberg	Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon
1945	Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo	Sam Zimbalist/ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Dalton Trumbo	Harold Rosson	Van Johnson, Spencer Tracy
1946	Without Reservations	Jesse L. Lasky /RKO Pictures	Andrew Solt	Milton H. Krasner	Claudette Colbert, John Wayne
1948	Homecoming	Sidney Franklin /Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Paul Osborn	Harold Rosson	Clark Gable, Lana Turner
1949	Little Women	Mervyn LeRoy/ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Andrew Solt, Sarah Y. Mason	Joseph Ruttenberg	June Allyson, Peter Lawford
1949	Any Number Can Play	Arthur Freed/ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Richard Brooks	Harold Rosson	Clark Gable, Alexis Smith
1950	East Side, West Side	Voldemar Vetluguin/ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Isobel Lennart	Charles Rosher	Barbara Stanwyck, James Mason
1950	Quo Vadis?	Sam Zimbalist Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	John Lee Mahin, S. N. Behrman	Robert Surtees	Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr
1952	Lovely to Look At	Jack Cummings/ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	George Wells, Harry Robin	George Folsey	Kathryn Grayson, Red Skelton
1952	Million Dollar Mermaid	Arthur Hornblow, Jr. /Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Everett Freeman	George Folsey	Esther Williams, Walter Pidgeon
1952	Latin Lovers	Joe Pasternak /Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Isobel Lennart	Joseph Ruttenberg	Lana Turner, Ricardo Montalbán
1954	Rose Marie	Mervyn LeRoy /Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Ronald Millar, George Froeschel	Paul Vogel	Ann Blyth, Howard Keel
1955	Strange Lady in Town	Mervyn LeRoy /Warner Bros.	Frank Butler	Harold Rosson	Greer Garson, Dana Andrews
1955	Mister Roberts	Leland Hayward (Orange Productions)/Warner Bros.	Frank Nugent, Joshua Logan	Winton C. Hoch	Henry Fonda, James Cagney	with John Ford
1956	The Bad Seed	Mervyn LeRoy /Warner Bros.	John Lee Mahin	Harold Rosson	Nancy Kelly, Patty McCormack
1956	Toward the Unknown	Mervyn LeRoy (Toluca Productions) /Warner Bros.	Beirne Lay Jr.	Harold Rosson	Greer Garson, Dana Andrews	G.B. tltle: Brink of Hell
1958	No Time for Sergeants	Mervyn LeRoy /Warner Bros.	John Lee Mahin	Harold Rosson	Andy Griffith, Myron McCormick
1958	Home Before Dark	Mervyn LeRoy /Warner Bros.	Eileen Bassing, Robert Bassing	Joseph F. Biroc	Jean Simmons, Dan O'Herlihy
1959	The FBI Story	Mervyn LeRoy /Warner Bros.	Richard L. Breen	Joseph F. Biroc	James Stewart, Vera Miles
1960	Wake Me When Its Over	Mervyn LeRoy /Warner Bros.	Richard L. Breen	Leon Shamroy	Dick Shawn, Ernie Kovacs
1961	The Devil at 4 O'Clock	Mervyn LeRoy /Columbia Pictures	Liam O'Brien	Joseph F. Biroc	Spencer Tracy, Frank Sinatra
1961	A Majority of One	Mervyn LeRoy /Warner Bros.	Leonard Spigelgass	Harry Stradling	Alec Guinness, Rosalind Russell
1962	Gypsy	Mervyn LeRoy /Warner Bros.	Leonard Spigelgass	Harry Stradling	Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood
1963	Mary, Mary	Mervyn LeRoy /Warner Bros.	Richard L. Breen	Harry Stradling	Debbie Reynolds, Barry Nelson
1965	Moment to Moment	Mervyn LeRoy /Warner Bros.	John Lee Mahin	Harry Stradling	Jean Seberg, Honor Blackman

Producer

Year	Title	Studio/Distributor	Director	Photography	Leading Cast
1937	The Great Garrick	Warner Bros.	James Whale	Ernest Haller	Brian Aherne, Olivia de Havilland
1938	Stand Up and Fight	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	W. S. Van Dyke	Leonard Smith	Wallace Beery, Robert Taylor
1938	Dramatic School	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Robert B. Sinclair	William H. Daniels	Luise Rainer, Paulette Goddard
1938	At the Circus	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Edward Buzzell	Leonard Smith	Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx
1939	The Wizard of Oz	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Victor Fleming	Harold Rosson	Judy Garland, Frank Morgan

Uncredited Contributions

Year	Title	Studio/Distributor	Director	Photography	Leading Cast	Notes
1932	The Dark Horse	Sam Bischoff/First National Pictures	Alfred E. Green	Sol Polito	Warren William, Bette Davis	Unspecified contributions
1933	42nd Street	Warner Bros.	Lloyd Bacon	Sol Polito	Warner Baxter, Ruby Keeler	Assisted in one of the musical numbers
1947	Desire Me	Arthur Hornblow Jr./Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	George Cukor	Joseph Ruttenberg	Greer Garson, Robert Mitchum	LeRoy made extensive reshoots for the film
1949	The Great Sinner	Gottfried Reinhardt/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Robert Siodmak	George Folsey	Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner	Re-shot and re-edited portions of the film
1968	The Green Berets	Michael Wayne/Batjac Productions	John Wayne, Ray Kellogg	Winton C. Hoch	John Wayne, Jim Hutton	Assisted Wayne during 5 months of production

See also

In Spanish: Mervyn LeRoy para niños