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Henry Koster is a Director, Scriptwriter and Producer American born on 1 may 1905 at Berlin (German)

Henry Koster

Henry Koster
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Birth name Herman Kosterlitz
Nationality USA
Birth 1 may 1905 at Berlin (German)
Death 21 september 1988 (at 83 years) at Camarillo (USA)

Henry Koster (May 1, 1905 – September 21, 1988) was born Hermann Kosterlitz in Berlin, Germany. He became a film director and later moved to Hollywood. Koster's father, a salesman, left home when Henry was a young man. Koster still managed to finish gymnasium (high school) in Berlin while working as short story writer and cartoonist.

Biography

Henry Koster était encore jeune quand son père, un vendeur, quitta la maison. Il s'arrangea pour terminer ses études secondaires à Berlin en écrivant des nouvelles et en réalisant des bandes dessinées.

Koster découvrit très tôt le monde du cinéma quand son oncle, vers 1910, ouvrit une salle de cinéma à Berlin. Sa mère jouait au piano pour accompagner les films, laissant son enfant regarder le spectacle. Après avoir travaillé au départ comme écrivain de nouvelles, Koster fut engagé comme scénariste par une compagnie de cinéma berlinoise et devint l'assistant du réalisateur Curtis Bernhardt. Un jour, ce dernier tomba malade et demanda à Koster de se charger de la réalisation d'un film. C'est ainsi que dans les années 1931/1932, il réalisa deux ou trois films pour la compagnie UFA.

Au milieu de la réalisation d'un film, Koster se rendit compte qu'il subissait déjà une forme d'antisémitisme, et comprit qu'il devrait partir. Il perdit son sang froid lors d'un accrochage avec un officier SA et l'assomma. Ensuite, il fila directement à la gare et quitta l'Allemagne pour la France, où il fut engagé à nouveau par Curtis Bernhardt qui s'était exilé un peu plus tôt. Puis Koster partit pour Budapest où il rencontra et épousa l'actrice et chanteuse Kato Kiraly en 1934 (ils ont divorcé en 1941). À Budapest, il rencontra Joe Pasternak qui représentait la compagnie Universal en Europe, et il réalisa trois films pour lui.

En 1936, Koster signa un contrat pour travailler avec Universal à Hollywood, et il s'embarqua pour les États-Unis avec sa femme et d'autres réfugiés, pour travailler avec Pasternak. Malgré le fait qu'il ne parlait pas anglais, il arriva à convaincre le studio de le laisser réaliser Trois jeunes filles à la page (Three smarts girls), une comédie musicale donnant la vedette à une adolescente de 15 ans, Deanna Durbin. Le film fut un grand succès et sauva Universal de la faillite. Le second film de Koster pour Universal, Deanna et ses boys, avec Deanna Durbin et Leopold Stokowski fut tout à la gloire du studio, de Deanna Durbin, de Pasternak et de Koster. Il dirigera encore Deanna Durbin à de quatre reprises; notamment dans Three smarts girls grow up, la suite de Three smarts girls, ainsi que dans First Love.

Koster réalisa de nombreux films musicaux et familiaux à la fin des années 1930 et au début des années 1940, avec des actrices comme Betty Grable et Deanna Durbin. Il travailla pour Universal jusqu'en 1941, puis alla à la MGM, et à la Fox en 1948.

En 1947, il reçoit une nomination à l'Oscar du meilleur réalisateur pour la comédie The Bishop's Wife. En 1951, il réalise un de ses films les plus célèbres, Harvey, une comédie fantaisiste mettant en vedette James Stewart. Par la suite; il entreprend des productions plus élaborées d'inspiration historique ou religieuse telles La Tunique (The Robe), un drame biblique et un des premiers films en CinémaScope, Désirée, biographie de Désirée Clary, la première fiancée de Napoléon qui devint reine de Suède, et La Maja nue (The Naked Maja) sur la vie du peintre Goya. Vers la fin de sa carrière, il revient vers la comédie avec des films comme M. Hobbs prend des vacances (Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation) mettant à nouveau en vedette James Stewart. Son dernier film fut Dominique (The Singing Nun) en 1965. Il se retira à Camarillo en Californie pour se consacrer à la peinture jusqu'à sa mort en 1988.

Il épousa l'actrice Peggy Moran en 1942 et dirigea tous les grands acteurs de l'époque : James Stewart, Richard Burton dans son premier film américain Ma cousine Rachel, Marlon Brando, Bette Davis, Ava Gardner.

Best films

The Robe (1953)
(Director)
Harvey (1950)
(Director)
Jane Eyre (1943)
(Scriptwriter)
One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937)
(Director)
The Luck of the Irish (1948)
(Director)
The Bishop's Wife (1948)
(Director)

Usually with

Joe Pasternak
Joe Pasternak
(13 films)
Felix Jackson
Felix Jackson
(9 films)
Bess Flowers
Bess Flowers
(12 films)
Lyle Wheeler
Lyle Wheeler
(12 films)
Ben Nye
Ben Nye
(10 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Henry Koster (70 films)

Display filmography as list

Director

The Singing Nun, 1h38
Directed by Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Musical theatre, Musical
Themes Films about music and musicians, Films about religion
Actors Debbie Reynolds, Ricardo Montalbán, Greer Garson, Agnes Moorehead, Chad Everett, Katharine Ross
Rating59% 2.998662.998662.998662.998662.99866
Sister Ann (Debbie Reynolds) leaves the Dominican convent near Antwerp for her assignment at Samaritan House in a depressed area of Brussels. Sister Ann loves to play the guitar and sing, and when she joins in the traditional evensong at Samaritan House, she impresses the other nuns and Father Clementi (Ricardo Montalbán). She becomes fond of Dominic Arlien (Ricky Cordell), a motherless child whose father is an unemployed drunkard and who is loved only by his 17-year-old sister, Nicole (Katharine Ross). Sister Ann composes the song Dominique for the boy. Father Clementi persuades Robert Gerarde (Chad Everett), a partner in a recording firm, to listen to Sister Ann's music in the hope of having it recorded. When Robert meets Sister Ann, he discovers that she was his classmate at the Paris Conservatory of Music 5 years ago. Later, while visiting the Arlien house, Sister Ann discovers pictures of Nicole in provocative poses; the girl defiantly tells the nun that she posed to get food and rent money for her family. Her father overhears them, strikes Nicole, and orders the nun out of the house. The Mother Prioress (Greer Garson) later admonishes Sister Ann for allowing the young girl's secret to be made known to the father. Robert, whose attraction to Sister Ann has been rekindled, obtains permission from church authorities to have her record an album; "Dominique" becomes a worldwide hit, and Ed Sullivan brings a television crew to Brussels to film Sister Ann for his show.
Dear Brigitte, 1h40
Directed by Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Children's films
Actors James Stewart, Bill Mumy, Glynis Johns, Brigitte Bardot, Cindy Carol, Fabian Forte
Rating62% 3.149323.149323.149323.149323.14932
Robert Leaf (James Stewart) is an American college professor whose precocious son Erasmus (Bill Mumy) is a mathematical prodigy. After using his skills for gambling at the racetrack, it is discovered that Erasmus is infatuated with model and actress Brigitte Bardot. He writes love letters to her, and she invites him to visit her in France. Prof. Leaf accompanies him on the journey. Prof. Leaf later uses his son's talent to raise funds for liberal arts scholarships. He is assisted by Peregrine Upjohn (John Williams), who is secretly a con artist who plans to abscond with the funds.
Take Her, She's Mine, 1h38
Directed by Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Théâtre, Films based on plays, Children's films
Actors James Stewart, Sandra Dee, Robert Morley, Audrey Meadows, John McGiver, Philippe Forquet
Rating61% 3.0985353.0985353.0985353.0985353.098535
A father is overprotective toward his teenage daughter as she leaves home to go to college and study abroad in Paris.
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation, 1h52
Directed by William Witney, Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Comedy-drama
Themes Transport films, Le thème des vacances, Road movies, Children's films
Actors James Stewart, Maureen O'Hara, Fabian Forte, John Saxon, Marie Wilson, Reginald Gardiner
Rating67% 3.3960453.3960453.3960453.3960453.396045
Roger Hobbs is an overworked banker whose wife Peggy plans a quiet seaside vacation with their family, including the grown daughters, family cook, sons-in-law and grandchildren.
Flower Drum Song, 2h12
Directed by Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical theatre, Romantic comedy, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Nancy Kwan, James Shigeta, Miyoshi Umeki, Juanita Hall, Jack Soo, Benson Fong
Rating68% 3.4455053.4455053.4455053.4455053.445505
A young woman named Mei Li arrives from China as an illegal immigrant with her father in San Francisco, California to enter into an arranged marriage with the owner of a night club, Sammy Fong (inspired by the actual Forbidden City nightclub). Her intended is already involved with his leading showgirl, Linda Low, and does his best to dissuade Mei Li from marrying him, sending her to live in the house of Master Wang, where he presents her as prospect for Master Wang's son, Wang Ta. Dissolving the marriage contract is harder than either of them imagine. Master Wang is persuaded by his sister-in-law, Madame Liang, to allow Mei Li to fall in love naturally with Master Wang's son, Wang Ta. But Wang Ta is dazzled by the charms of Linda, who 'enjoys being a girl', and succeeds in landing a date with her, during which she convinces him to give her his fraternity pin (it symbolizes that they're "going steady"). Linda wishes to use Wang Ta to get a real commitment from Sammy Fong, who gets wind of her plan when Linda attends a party in honor of Wang Ta's and Madame Liang's graduation from university and citizenship classes, respectively. At the party, Linda has another club employee pretend to be her brother, and grant his permission for Linda to marry Wang Ta. Mei Li, hearing this, becomes discouraged, while Ta and his father argue over his marriage plans. Ta argues that he is old enough to make his own decisions, but the father says that he will be the one to let Ta know when he is old enough.
The Story of Ruth, 2h12
Directed by Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Peplum
Themes Films about religion, Films based on the Bible, Films about Jews and Judaism, Children's films
Actors Stuart Whitman, Tom Tryon, Peggy Wood, Viveca Lindfors, Jeff Morrow, Elana Eden
Rating66% 3.3046653.3046653.3046653.3046653.304665
The first part of the film revolves around Ruth, visualized as a pagan idolatress in her youth who serves as the spiritual teacher of a young Moabitess girl, Tebah, who is being prepared to be sacrificed to Chemosh, a Moabite deity. High-priestess Eleilat, along with Ruth, instruct Mahlon, a Judean artisan, to polish Tebah's ritual crown. Mahlon delivers the crown to Ruth at the temple, and he begins to question her about the existence of Chemosh. Ruth becomes doubtful of her religion and ultimately falls in love with Mahlon, sharing an interest in monotheism.
The Naked Maja, 1h51
Directed by Paolo Cavara, Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Adventure, Historical, Romance
Themes Peinture
Actors Ava Gardner, Anthony Franciosa, Gino Buzzanca, Gino Cervi, Lea Padovani, Massimo Serato
Rating55% 2.758322.758322.758322.758322.75832
En Espagne, à la fin du XVIII siècle, le peintre Francisco de Goya fait la connaissance de la duchesse d'Albe. Elle devient son mécène, son modèle et sa maîtresse...
Fraulein
Fraulein (1958)
, 1h35
Directed by Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Romance
Themes Political films
Actors Dana Wynter, Mel Ferrer, Dolores Michaels, Margaret Hayes, Theodore Bikel, Luis van Rooten
Rating64% 3.2423853.2423853.2423853.2423853.242385
In Berlin near the end of World War II, American prisoner of war Foster MacLain (Mel Ferrer) escapes and is sheltered by Professor Julius Angermann (Ivan Triesault). Angermann's daughter Erika (Dana Wynter) is not so welcoming, but hides the American from the soldiers looking for him. MacLain leaves when it is safe.
My Man Godfrey, 1h32
Directed by Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Actors June Allyson, David Niven, Jessie Royce Landis, Robert Keith, Herbert Anderson, Eva Gabor
Rating61% 3.09963.09963.09963.09963.0996
Une héritière un peu loufoque prend pitié d'un homme qu'elle croit être à la rue. Elle insiste pour qu'il vienne avec elle et lui offre l'emploi de majordome, au grand dam de son père, surtout quand il devient clair qu'elle est en train de tomber amoureuse de lui. Mais ce nouveau majordome a un secret : il est en fait un riche aristocrate.
D-Day the Sixth of June, 1h46
Directed by Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Action, Romance
Themes Political films, Children's films
Actors Robert Taylor, Richard Todd, Dana Wynter, Edmond O'Brien, John Williams, Jerry Paris
Rating58% 2.946382.946382.946382.946382.94638
A few hours before D-Day, Special Force Six embarks to destroy an especially well-defended German gun emplacement on the Normandy coast. As the ship steams towards it, the officers and men recall what circumstances brought them there, especially Wynter and Parker.
The Power and the Prize, 1h38
Directed by Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Actors Robert Taylor, Burl Ives, Mary Astor, Cedric Hardwicke, Charles Coburn, Richard Erdman
Rating60% 3.0487953.0487953.0487953.0487953.048795
Although he is scheduled to wed his boss George Salt's niece that weekend, Amalgamated World Metals vice chairman Cliff Barton is sent to London to conduct a business deal that will enrich the firm. Salt considers him a protege and intends to turn over control of the company to Barton someday, insisting to him that business always comes first.
Good Morning, Miss Dove, 1h47
Directed by Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy
Themes Films about education, Children's films
Actors Jennifer Jones, Robert Stack, Kipp Hamilton, Robert Douglas, Peggy Knudsen, Mary Wickes
Rating69% 3.49343.49343.49343.49343.4934
Miss Dove (Jennifer Jones), commonly referred to as "the terrible Miss Dove," is a prim and proper geography teacher who governs her classroom with strict disciplinary rules, dependable habits and a common-sense approach to life's everyday challenges. To the citizens and former pupils of Liberty Hill, she is regarded as the epitome of gentility and wisdom.
The Virgin Queen, 1h32
Directed by Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Historical, Romance
Themes Political films, Children's films, Films about royalty
Actors Bette Davis, Richard Todd, Joan Collins, Jay Robinson, Herbert Marshall, Dan O'Herlihy
Rating66% 3.3000653.3000653.3000653.3000653.300065
In 1581, Walter Raleigh (Richard Todd), recently returned from the fighting in Ireland, pressures unwilling tavern patrons into freeing from the mud the stuck carriage of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (Herbert Marshall). When Leicester asks how he can repay the kindness, Raleigh asks for an introduction to Queen Elizabeth I (Bette Davis), to whom Leicester is a trusted adviser. Leicester grants the request.