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George Seaton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the African American carpenter, real estate holder, and school benefactor, seeGeorge Lewis Seaton.
George Seaton
Born
George Edward Stenius[1]

(1911-04-17)April 17, 1911
South Bend, Indiana,U.S.
DiedJuly 28, 1979(1979-07-28)(aged 68)
Beverly Hills, California,U.S.
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • playwright
  • film director
  • film producer
  • theatre director
Years active1934–79
Spouse
Phyllis Loughton
​
(m.1936)​

George Seaton(April 17, 1911 – July 28, 1979) was an American screenwriter, playwright, film director and producer, and theater director. Seaton led several industry organizations, serving as a three-time president of theMotion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences,president of theWriters Guild of America Westand theScreen Directors Guild,and vice president ofMotion Picture Relief Fund.He won two Academy Awards for his screenplays.[2]

Life and career[edit]

Early life[edit]

Seaton was born George Edward Stenius inSouth Bend, Indiana,of Swedish descent, the son of Olga (Berglund) and Charles Stenius, who was a chef and restaurant manager.[3]He was baptized as Roman Catholic. He grew up in a Detroit Jewish neighborhood, and described himself as a "Shabas goy".He went on to learn Hebrew in an Orthodox Jewish Yeshiva and was evenbar mitzvahed.[4]Seaton attendedExeter Academy[5]and was meant to go to Yale but instead auditioned for Jesse Bonstelle's drama school in Detroit. She hired him for her stock company at $15 a week.[6]

Acting[edit]

Seaton worked in stock and on radio. He worked as an actor on radio stationWXYZ.John L. Barrett played theLone Rangeron test broadcasts of the series in early January 1933, but when the program became part of the regular schedule, Seaton was cast in the title role. In later years, he claimed to have devised the cry "Hi-yo, Silver" because he couldn't whistle for his horse as the script required.[7]

Writing at MGM[edit]

Seaton wrote several plays, one of which was read by an executive at MGM who offered him a contract.[6]

Seaton, with fellow writer and friendRobert Pirosh,joinedMetro-Goldwyn-Mayeras a contract writer in 1933.[7]He was credited on the scripts forStudent Tour(1934) andThe Winning Ticket(1935) and did some uncredited work with Robert Pirosh onA Night at the Opera(1935). Seaton's first major screen credit was theMarx BrotherscomedyA Day at the Races(1937). His work on the script forStage Door(1937) andThe Wizard of Oz(1939) was uncredited. He wrote a playBut Not Goodbye.[8]

Seaton left MGM in 1937, unhappy at being restricted to comedies.[8]

Columbia and 20th Century Fox[edit]

Seaton went to Columbia where he was credited on the scripts forThe Doctor Takes a Wife(1940),This Thing Called Love(1940) andBedtime Story(1941). At Columbia, Seaton first metWilliam Perlberg.[6]

In the early 1940s, Seaton joined20th Century Fox,where he remained for the rest of the decade, writing scripts forThat Night in Rio(1941) withDon AmecheandAlice Faye.For a time, he specialized in musicals and comedy:Moon Over Miami(1941), withBetty Grableand Ameche, andCharley's Aunt(1941), with Jack Benny.[citation needed]

Seaton wrote a historical war film,Ten Gentlemen from West Point(1942), then did the comediesThe Magnificent Dope(1942) with Ameche and Henry Fonda, andThe Meanest Man in the World(1943) with Jack Benny.[citation needed]

Seaton wroteThe Song of Bernadette(1943), which was a big success. It was produced byWilliam Perlbergwho would have an important influence on Seaton's career. Seaton followed it with the Betty Grable musicalConey Island(1943). He also wroteThe Eve of St. Mark(1944).[citation needed]

But Not Goodbye,Seaton's 1944Broadwaydebut as a playwright, closed after only 23 performances,[9]although it later was adapted for the 1946 MGM filmThe Cockeyed Miracleby Karen DeWolf.

Directing[edit]

Seaton's success as a writer paved the way for his work as a director. His first film wasDiamond Horseshoe(1945) with Grable, which he also wrote. It was produced byWilliam Perlberg,who would go on to produce all of Seaton's films. The film was very successful.[10]

Seaton did some uncredited directing onWhere Do We Go from Here?(1945) then wrote and directedJunior Miss(1945), based on a popular play, withPeggy Ann Garner.

Seaton wrote and directedThe Shocking Miss Pilgrim(1947) with Grable. He followed it withMiracle on 34th Street(1947), which quickly became acknowledged as a classic. Seaton won an Oscar for his screenplay.[8]Seaton wrote and directed the comediesApartment for Peggy(1948) withWilliam HoldenandJeanne Crain,andChicken Every Sunday(1949) withDan Dailey.He wrote a screenplay adapted from aHarry Segallplay and directedFor Heaven's Sake(1950) withClifton Webb.[11]

Seaton wrote and directed a 1950 drama about theBerlin AirliftwithMontgomery Clift,The Big Lift.[citation needed]

Perlberg-Seaton productions[edit]

In November 1950, Seaton and Perlberg signed a multi-million dollar contract with Paramount for six years. Seaton was to write and direct films, and they would also produce films from others.[12]They produced, but did not write or direct, the comedyRhubarb(1951),Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick(1952), andSomebody Loves Me(1952) withBetty Hutton.Seaton's first film as writer director for Paramount wasAnything Can Happen(1952), a comedy withJosé Ferrer.[citation needed]

Seaton made two films withBing Crosby.Little Boy Lost(1953) was not a success butThe Country Girl(1954), based on the play byClifford Odetswas a notable triumph. Grace Kelly earned an Oscar for Best Actress and Seaton won an Oscar for his screenplay.[citation needed]

Seaton and Perlberg producedThe Bridges at Toko-Ri(1954), directed by Mark Robson, with Holden and Kelly. It was a huge hit.[citation needed]

Seaton wrote and directedThe Proud and Profane(1956) with William Holden andDeborah Kerr,which was a box office disappointment. He directed a short filmWilliamsburg: The Story of a Patriot(1957) and producedThe Tin Star(1957), directed byAnthony Mann.[13]Seaton and Perlberg were borrowed by Paramount to direct and produce a comedy withClark GableandDoris Day,Teacher's Pet(1958).

In April 1958, Seaton announced he and Perlberg would produce six more films for Paramount.[14]The first of these wereBut Not for Me(1959) andThe Rat Race(1960), directed byRobert Mulligan.Seaton worked as director onThe Pleasure of His Company(1961) with Fred Astaire andDebbie Reynolds.

He wrote and directedThe Counterfeit Traitor(1962) with Holden. They ended to follow it withThe HookthenNight Without Endadapted byEric Amblerfrom anAlistair MacLeannovel.[15]

Perlberg-Seaton Productions moved to MGM where Seaton directedKirk DouglasinThe Hook(1963), aKorean Wardrama. Seaton was an uncredited producer onTwilight of Honor(1963) and directed some additional scenes onMutiny on the Bounty(1963).[16]Seaton announced he would makeMerrily We Roll Along,but the film was never made.[17]Seaton wrote and directed36 Hours(1964), a war time thriller based on a story byRoald Dahl.[18]

Industry leadership[edit]

Seaton served as president of theWriters Guild of America Westfrom 1948-1949. In 1955, he was elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences served three terms, 1955-1958.[19][20][21]

Seaton directed the28th Academy Awardsin 1956.[citation needed]

In 1968, Seaton won theValentine Davies Award"given to the Writers Guild of America West member whose contributions...have brought dignity and honor to writers everywhere."[22]

Broadway[edit]

In May 1965, Seaton announced the end of his partnership with Perlberg. He returned to Broadway to directAbove William.(1965)[23]He then directed theNorman KrasnaplayLove in E Flat,which was a critical and commercial flop.[24]The musicalHere's Love,adapted from his screenplay forMiracle on 34th StreetbyMeredith Willson,proved to be more successful.[citation needed]

Universal[edit]

Seaton went to Universal where he signed a three-picture contract. The first film was the comedyWhat's So Bad About Feeling Good?(1968), which Seaton produced and directed as well as writing with Robert Pirosh, with whom he had cowrittenA Day at the Races(1937).[25]Seaton disliked writing, producing and directing. "It's too much work," he said.[26]

Seaton then had the biggest hit of his career with the all-starAirport(1970), which Seaton adapted from the novel byArthur Hailey.It was produced byRoss Hunter.Seaton's script earned him an Oscar nomination.[27]

Seaton's last film as director was his third for UniversalShowdown(1973), which he also produced. He announced he was looking for another film to make but none eventuated.[28]

Personal life[edit]

In 1936, Seaton marriedPhyllis Loughton Seaton,a Broadway stage manager who became a successful acting coach and was the first female mayor ofBeverly Hillsin 1973.[29][30]They had two children.[2]

Seaton died ofcancerinBeverly Hills, Californiain 1979. He had been suffering from it for two years.[31]

Seaton's papers are in the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives, Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research.[32]

Partial filmography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Catalog of Copyright Entries".1933.
  2. ^abClark, Alfred E. (1979-07-29)."George Seaton, Director, Dead; Got Two Oscars for Screenplays".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2023-10-09.
  3. ^Garraty, John Arthur; Carnes, Mark Christopher (1999).American National Biography.Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-512798-0.
  4. ^Hello, I Must Be Going: Groucho and His Friends,p. 187, atGoogle Books
  5. ^"Archival Resources in Wisconsin: Descriptive Finding Aids: Biography/History".digicoll.library.wisc.edu.Retrieved2023-10-09.
  6. ^abc"George Seaton, Director, Dead; Got Two Oscars for Screenplays: Also Directed 'Country Girl' A Change of Plans" By ALFRED E. CLARK.New York Times29 July 1979: 36.
  7. ^abMoviefone biographyArchived2011-10-04 at theWayback Machine
  8. ^abc"GEORGE SEATON ON TOP: Being an Introduction to a Modest and Successful Movie Writer-Director" By HELEN COLTON HOLLYWOOD..New York Times14 Nov 1948: X5.
  9. ^But Not Goodbyeat the Internet Broadway Database
  10. ^Memo fromDarryl F. Zanuckto all producers at 20th Century Fox, 13 June 1946,Memo from Darryl F. Zanuck,Grove Press, 1993, pp. 108–109
  11. ^"FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE".Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.Retrieved2023-10-11.
  12. ^"Multimillion-Dollar Movie Contract Signed"Los Angeles Times13 Nov 1950: 9.
  13. ^"Videos -- Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot directed by George Seaton" Anonymous.American Heritage;New York Vol. 45, Iss. 6, (Oct 1994): 109.
  14. ^"GABLE WILL STAR IN MOVIE COMEDY: Cast in 'But Not for Me,' a Perlberg-Seaton Film -Progress on 'Strogoff'" By THOMAS M. PRYORNew York Times6 Apr 1958: 38.
  15. ^"SEATON-PERLBERG A BUSY FILM TEAM: One Project Finished, One in Production, 2 in View -- Alastair Sim Sequel" By HOWARD THOMPSON.New York Times18 Mar 1961: 16.
  16. ^"Big Career Looms for Bob Walker Jr.: Director George Seaton Has High Praise for Young Walker" Hopper, Hedda.Los Angeles Times13 July 1962: D11.
  17. ^"LOCAL VIEWS: 'MERRILY': In Reverse" By A.H. WEILER.New York Times3 Nov 1963: X7.
  18. ^"George Seaton, Film Writer, Dies: Won Academy Award in 1947 and 1955 Incomplete Source" Cohen, Jerry.Los Angeles Times29 July 1979: oc1.
  19. ^"George Seaton Elected to Head Film Academy"Los Angeles Times11 June 1955: 3.
  20. ^"George Seaton, Screenwriter; Directed Filming of 'Airport'"The Washington Post30 July 1979: B4.
  21. ^"Archival Resources in Wisconsin: Descriptive Finding Aids: Biography/History".digicoll.library.wisc.edu.Retrieved2023-10-09.
  22. ^"Valentine Davies Award Previous Recipients".awards.wga.org.Retrieved2023-10-09.
  23. ^"Producers Get the Action" Martin, Betty.Los Angeles Times27 May 1965: C8.
  24. ^Love in E Flatat the Internet Broadway Database
  25. ^Reed, Rex (10 July 1966). "A Nice Guy, Cast As a Movie Star".New York Times.p. 81.
  26. ^"George Seaton Turns On Manhattan in New Comedy: Seaton Turns Manhattan On" Wigle, Shari.Los Angeles Times14 April 1968: n16.
  27. ^"Movies: How Hunter and Seaton Tackled 'Airport' Task" Brown, Vanessa.Los Angeles Times6 Apr 1969: p20.
  28. ^"Crash of 1929 Made B.H. Citizen Seaton Bullish on Film Industry" Faris, Gerald.Los Angeles Times8 Feb 1973: ws3.
  29. ^Archives, L. A. Times (1987-09-27)."Phyllis Seaton, 80, Broadway's 1st Woman Stage Manager, Dies".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved2023-10-09.
  30. ^"ACADEMY COLLECTIONS | details".collections.new.oscars.org.Retrieved2023-10-09.
  31. ^"Hollywood film director George Seaton dies"Chicago Tribune29 July 1979: b19.
  32. ^"Archival Resources in Wisconsin: Descriptive Finding Aids: Summary Information".digicoll.library.wisc.edu.Retrieved2023-10-09.

External links[edit]

Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by President of Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences
1955–1958 		Succeeded by
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