Home > Woody Van Dyke

Born in San Diego, California, Van Dyke was a child actor on the vaudeville circuit, and in his early adult years was unsettled and moved from career to career until arriving in Hollywood. His first film assignment was as an assistant director on the D. W. Griffith feature film Intolerance ( 1916). During the silent era he learned his craft and by the advent of the talkies was one of MGM's most reliable directors.

He came to be known as "One Take Woody" for the speed with which he would complete his assignments, and although not regarded as one of the screen's most talented directors, MGM regarded him as one of the most versatile, equally at home directing costume dramas, westerns, comedies, crime melodramas and musicals. Many of his films were huge hits and top box office in any given year. He received Academy Award for Best Director nominations for The Thin Man ( 1934) and San FranciscoThe 1906 San Francisco earthquake is the historical background for San Francisco a 1936 movie romance between a gambling hall tycoon, played by Clark Gable, and a promising but poor singer. The then very popular singing voice of Jeanette MacDonald in the ( 1936Events January-February January 15 The first building to be completely covered in glass is completed in Toledo, Ohio, for the Owens-Illinois Glass Company. January 20 Death of George V of the United Kingdom. His son Edward VIII succeedes him as King of th).

His other films include Trader HornTrader Horn was the first film shot on location in Africa. It featured many authentic shots of African wildlife and a great deal of inauthentic plot. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1930. Starring Harry Carey in the title role, ( 19301930 is the common year starting on Wednesday. see link for calendar) Events January-February January 6 The first diesel-engine automobile trip is completed ( Indianapolis, Indiana, to New York City). January 27 Miguel Primo de Rivera resigns January 30 G), Tarzan, The Ape Man ( 19321932 is the leap year starting on Friday. see link for calendar) Events January-February January 3 British arrest and intern Mohandas Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel January 8 In Britain the Archbishop of Canterbury forbids church remarriage of divorcees Jan), Manhattan MelodramaManhattan Melodrama ( 1934) is a crime melodrama film, produced by MGM Pictures. It was directed by W. Van Dyke and starred Clark Gable, William Powell, Myrna Loy, Leo Carrillo, Nat Pendleton, and Isabel Jewell. The movie also provided one of the earliest (1934), and Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette was a 1938 film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by W. Van Dyke and starred Norma Shearer as Marie Antoinette, Tyrone Power, John Barrymore, Robert Morley, Anita Louise, Joseph Schildkraut and Gladys George. It was based u ( 1938Events January -June January 3 The March of Dimes is established by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. January 11 Frances Moulton is the first woman to become president of a US national bank. January 20 Wedding of king Farouk I of Egypt and Farida Zulficar in Cai). He is perhaps best remembered for directing Myrna Loy and William Powell in four "Thin Man" films, The Thin Man ( 1934), After the Thin Man ( 1936), Another Thin Man ( 1939) and Shadow of the Thin Man ( 1941), and Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy in six of their greatest hits, Naughty Marietta ( 1935), Rose-Marie ( 1936), Sweethearts ( 1938), New Moon ( 1940) (uncredited because halfway through filming Robert Z. Leonard took over), Bitter Sweet ( 1940) and I Married An Angel ( 1942).

The earthquake sequence in San Francisco is considered one of the best special-effects sequences ever filmed. To help direct, Van Dyke called upon his early mentor, D.W. Griffith, who had fallen on hard times. Van Dyke was also known to hire old-time, out-of-work actors as extras; because of his loyalty he was much beloved and admired in the industry.

Promoted to Major prior to World War II, the patriotic Van Dyke set up a Marines recruiting center in his MGM office. He was one of the first Hollywood bigwigs to advocate early U.S. involvement, and he convinced stars like Clark Gable, James Stewart, Robert Taylor and Nelson Eddy to become involved in the war effort. He did not survive the war, however. Terminally ill with cancer and a bad heart, he managed to direct one last film to show America what it was fighting for, the children. Journey for Margaret was a heart-wrenching movie that made five-year old Margaret O'Brien an overnight star.

A devout Christian Scientist, Van Dyke refused most medical care during his last painful years. After finishing his last film and failing rapidly, he said his goodbyes to his wife, children and studio boss Louis B. Mayer, and committed suicide in Brentwood, California. At his request, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy both sang and officiated at his funeral.

Van Dyke was known for allowing ad-libbing (that remained in the film) and for coaxing natural performances from his actors. He made stars of Nelson Eddy, James Stewart, Myrna Loy, Johnny Weissmuller, Eleanor Powell, Ilona Massey and Margaret O'Brien. He was often called in to work a few days (or more), uncredited, on a film that was in trouble or had gone over production schedule.

Woody Van Dyke has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to Motion Pictures, at 6141 Hollywood Boulevard.