Norman Taurog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norman Taurog
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| Born |
Norman Rae Taurog
February 23, 1899 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | April 7, 1981 (aged 82) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1919−1968 |
| Spouse(s) |
Julie Leonard
(m. 1929; div. 1943)Susan Ream Broderick
(m. 1944) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Director 1932 Skippy |
Norman Rae Taurog (born February 23, 1899 – died April 7, 1981) was a famous American film director and writer. He directed an amazing 180 movies between 1920 and 1968!
When he was just 32, he won an Academy Award for Best Director for his movie Skippy (1931). He was the second youngest person ever to win this big award! Later, he was nominated again for Boys Town (1938).
Norman Taurog worked with many of the biggest stars of his time. These included his nephew Jackie Cooper, Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, and Elvis Presley. He directed six movies with the comedy duo Martin and Lewis. He also directed nine films starring Elvis Presley, which was more than any other director.
Norman Taurog has a special star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1600 Vine Street. This star honors his great work in the movie industry.
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Early Life and First Steps in Movies
Norman Taurog was born on February 23, 1899, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Arthur Jack Taurog and Anita Taurog.
He started performing on stage when he was very young. At just 13, he made his first movie appearance in a short film called Tangled Relations. After that, he worked in theater for eight years, mostly in smaller shows.
Norman Taurog's Film Career
In 1919, Norman Taurog came back to the movie world as a director. He worked with Larry Semon on a film called The Sportsman (1920). Over the next ten years, he directed 42 silent movies, mostly short ones. During this time, he became known for directing light comedies. However, he could also direct serious dramas and complex stories.
His first full-length movie was The Ghetto in 1928. It was later expanded and released as Lucky Boy (1929).
Winning an Academy Award
In 1931, Norman Taurog directed Skippy. This movie was a huge success and he won an Academy Award for Best Director for it! His award statue was later sold for a lot of money at an auction.
Norman's nephew, Jackie Cooper, was also nominated for an award for his acting in Skippy. Jackie Cooper later wrote that during filming, Norman pretended to shoot his dog. This was done to make Jackie cry for a scene.
Skippy is about a boy named Skippy and his friend Sooky. They have many adventures, like trying to get a license for Sooky's dog. They also try to save their neighborhood from being torn down. The movie was based on a popular comic strip. It was very popular because it had humor, emotion, and good lessons. A sequel, Sooky, was made the next year.
Directing Many Stars
After Skippy, Norman Taurog became a very well-known director. He could work on many different types of movies. He directed several popular films, including If I Had a Million (1932). This movie showed he could work with many famous actors like Gary Cooper and Charles Laughton.
In 1934, he directed We're Not Dressing, starring Bing Crosby and Carole Lombard. He also directed the musical The Big Broadcast of 1936 with Bing Crosby.
Big Successes and Challenges
In 1938, Taurog directed The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. This movie was a big hit and showed his great skills. That same year, he directed Boys Town, which was a serious drama. This movie earned him another Academy Award nomination.
Not every movie was a success. Lucky Night (1939) was not popular. Also, Norman Taurog filmed some test scenes for The Wizard of Oz. However, another director, Victor Fleming, was chosen to direct the final movie. Even so, Taurog still got his nomination for Boys Town that year.
He also directed big musicals like Broadway Melody of 1940 with Fred Astaire. He directed biographies, like Young Tom Edison (1940) with Mickey Rooney. He worked with Judy Garland three times in the early 1940s. These movies included Little Nellie Kelly (1940) and the musical Girl Crazy (1943).
After World War II, Taurog directed a movie about the atomic bomb called The Beginning or the End (1947). He then went back to light comedies like The Bride Goes Wild (1948). He also directed Words and Music (1948), a musical about famous songwriters. By this time, Norman Taurog was known as a reliable director for musicals and comedies.
Working with Martin and Lewis
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were a very popular comedy team. Norman Taurog directed six of their movies. Many fans think Jumping Jacks (1952) was one of their best films.
He worked well with the duo and directed them in movies like The Stooge (1953) and The Caddy (1953). He also directed their last movie together, Pardners (1956). After they split up, Taurog directed Jerry Lewis alone in two more films.
Directing Elvis Presley
In 1960, Norman Taurog directed his first Elvis Presley movie, G.I. Blues. This movie was important for Elvis's career. Before this, Elvis wanted to play serious, rebellious characters. But his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, had other plans.
G.I. Blues was Elvis's first movie after returning from the army. It set the style for his future films: light stories with some songs and adventures. Norman Taurog, who was in his sixties, was very good at making these types of movies entertaining.
Colonel Tom Parker was so impressed that Norman Taurog directed eight more Elvis movies over the next eight years. These included Blue Hawaii (1961), Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962), and Speedway (1968). Taurog made sure these movies had good pacing, funny moments, and well-performed songs. His last movie was Live a Little, Love a Little (1968), also starring Elvis.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1968, Norman Taurog stopped directing movies. He later taught at the University of Southern California School of Cinema. He also stayed involved with the Directors Guild of America. He even owned a camera shop for a while.
Toward the end of his life, he became blind. In his final years, he worked as a director for the Braille Institute of America in Los Angeles. This organization helps people who are blind or have low vision.
Norman Taurog passed away on April 7, 1981, at the age of 82. His ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean.
He is remembered for his long and successful career in Hollywood. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a lasting tribute to his contributions to movies.
Awards and Recognitions
Norman Taurog received several awards and nominations during his career:
- 1931: Academy Award for Best Director for Skippy
- 1938: Venice Film Festival Mussolini Cup for Best Film for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
- 1939: Academy Award Nomination for Best Director for Boys Town
- 1960: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures, dedicated on February 8, 1960, at 1600 Vine Street.
- 1966, 1967, 1968: Laurel Award Nominations for Director
Filmography Highlights
Norman Taurog directed 180 films between 1920 and 1968. Here are some of his most notable feature films:
1920s
- The Fly Cop (1920)
- Lucky Boy (1929)
1930s
- Troopers Three (1930)
- Sunny Skies (1930)
- Skippy (1931)
- Huckleberry Finn (1931)
- Sooky (1931)
- The Phantom President (1932)
- A Bedtime Story (1933)
- We're Not Dressing (1934)
- The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935)
- Rhythm on the Range (1936)
- Mad About Music (1938)
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938)
- Boys Town (1938)
1940s
- Young Tom Edison (1940)
- Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940)
- Little Nellie Kelly (1940)
- Men of Boys Town (1941)
- Presenting Lily Mars (1943)
- Girl Crazy (1943)
- The Beginning or the End (1947)
- The Bride Goes Wild (1948)
- Words and Music (1948)
1950s
- Please Believe Me (1950)
- The Toast of New Orleans (1950)
- Jumping Jacks (1952)
- The Stooge (1953)
- The Caddy (1953)
- Living It Up (1954)
- You're Never Too Young (1955)
- Pardners (1956)
- Don't Give Up the Ship (1959)
1960s
- Visit to a Small Planet (1960)
- G.I. Blues (1960)
- Blue Hawaii (1961)
- Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962)
- It Happened at the World's Fair (1963)
- Tickle Me (1965)
- Spinout (1966)
- Double Trouble (1967)
- Speedway (1968)
- Live a Little, Love a Little (1968)
See Also
- List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees
