Motion Picture Director. Born Karoly Vidor in Budapest. He served as an infantry lieutenant in the Hungarian Army during World War I and drifted into odd jobs at the UFA studio in Berlin. Arriving in Hollywood in 1924, he worked as an assistant director, editor, and screenwriter before making his directing debut in 1931. Vidor became a solid craftsman who made the most of shoddy scripts and rose to the occasion with quality material, especially when his obvious love of music was engaged. With "Cover Girl" (1944) he was the first to allow Gene Kelly to choreograph his own imaginative dance numbers; he lead Cornel Wilde to stardom (and an Oscar nomination) in the Chopin biopic "A Song to Remember" (1945); and extracted a steamy, career-defining performance from Rita Hayworth in "Gilda" (1946), with its unforgettable "Put the Blame on Mame" faux-striptease. The latter is considered his finest film. Vidor's other credits include "The Loves of Carmen" (1948), "Hans Christian Andersen" (1952), "Love Me or Leave Me" (1955), "The Swan" (1956), "The Joker Is Wild" (1957), and "A Farewell to Arms" (1957). He died of a heart attack in Vienna during production of "Song Without End" (1960); the film was completed by George Cukor. Vidor was married to actresses Karen Morley (1932 to 1943) and Evelyn Keyes (1943 to 1945). His fourth wife was Doris Warner, daughter of studio mogul Harry Warner, and he is interred in the Warner Bros. Family Mausoleum.
Motion Picture Director. Born Karoly Vidor in Budapest. He served as an infantry lieutenant in the Hungarian Army during World War I and drifted into odd jobs at the UFA studio in Berlin. Arriving in Hollywood in 1924, he worked as an assistant director, editor, and screenwriter before making his directing debut in 1931. Vidor became a solid craftsman who made the most of shoddy scripts and rose to the occasion with quality material, especially when his obvious love of music was engaged. With "Cover Girl" (1944) he was the first to allow Gene Kelly to choreograph his own imaginative dance numbers; he lead Cornel Wilde to stardom (and an Oscar nomination) in the Chopin biopic "A Song to Remember" (1945); and extracted a steamy, career-defining performance from Rita Hayworth in "Gilda" (1946), with its unforgettable "Put the Blame on Mame" faux-striptease. The latter is considered his finest film. Vidor's other credits include "The Loves of Carmen" (1948), "Hans Christian Andersen" (1952), "Love Me or Leave Me" (1955), "The Swan" (1956), "The Joker Is Wild" (1957), and "A Farewell to Arms" (1957). He died of a heart attack in Vienna during production of "Song Without End" (1960); the film was completed by George Cukor. Vidor was married to actresses Karen Morley (1932 to 1943) and Evelyn Keyes (1943 to 1945). His fourth wife was Doris Warner, daughter of studio mogul Harry Warner, and he is interred in the Warner Bros. Family Mausoleum.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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