Matinee Classics - Sam Wood Biography & Filmography

Sam Wood DIRECTOR

PHOTOS

SAM WOOD BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Samuel Grosvenor Wood was born July 10, 1883 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began his film career at the age of eighteen, working under famed director Cecille B. DeMille. However, at twenty he also began acting on screen (as he had prior stage experience). His first role as a soldier in the historical drama “The Little American” (1917) was uncredited, but his second movie, a western titled “Who Knows?” (1917), featured him as a lead character. A year later he assisted DeMille on his westerner “The Squaw Man” (1918). Wood had another acting part in “Don’t Change Your Husband” (1919) and an additional assistant director position in “For Better, For Worse” (1919), before beginning his solo directorial career.

Starting with “Double Speed” (1920) and continuing throughout the twenties, he turned out a great number of Paramount pictures featuring Hollywood’s biggest stars. The director worked with Wallace Reid in features like “The Dancin’ Fool” (1920) and “Sick Abed” (1920), as well as Gloria Swanson in movies such as “The Great Moment” (1921) and “Under the Lash” (1921). With 1921’s comedy “Peck’s Bad Boy”, Wood helped write the script – which he would only do once more in 1938 for “Lord Jeff”.

In 1927 the director joined Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer, collaborating with such celebrities as Clark Gable, Marion Davies, Jimmy Durante, and Marie Dressler. Around the same time he joined MGM, he began producing features. His first production effort, “The Fair Co-Ed” (1927), was followed by twenty one more, not limited to “The Man in Possession” (1931), “For Whom the Bell Tolls” (1943), and his final, “Ambush” (1950).

Additionally, he directed the Marx Brothers in some of their films, including their two most lucrative projects: “A Night at the Opera” (1935) and “A Day at the Races” (1937). Wood also put out some of the decades top dramas. “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” (1939) follows a reminiscent aged school teacher/headmaster as he dwells on the experiences he has had at his work and in his life. He earned an Academy Award nomination for the film, but failed to take home the prize. The same year, he and George Cukor embarked on a classic, “Gone with the Wind” (1939). While Cukor and Wood took started the venture, Victor Fleming was asked to step in and received all of the credit. Still, the Civil War era love affair drama took home eight Oscars.

In the 1940's, the director jumped around between different studios. He started the decade out on a high note by directing Ginger Rogers in her Academy Award winning performance for “Kitty Foyle: The Natural History of a Woman” (1940), even getting himself a Best Director Oscar nomination. In the same year he also successfully adapted writer Thornton Wilder’s dramatic tale, “Our Town” (1940), earning it six Academy Award nods. Wood was nominated a third time for Best Director only shortly after, for the Ronald Reagan mystery “King’s Row” (1942). The director also helmed the pictures “The Pride of the Yankees” (1942), “The Stratton Story” (1949), and his last effort, “Ambush” (1950).

Wood was known for more than just his talented directorial skills, however, as he was an acknowledged conservative. His political beliefs were put on display when he condemned many Hollywood figures that were against his own opinions while he testified in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947. Due to this, many have called him a bigot, or even a 'fascist', as Groucho Marx has been documented to have dubbed him. Nevertheless, as we have separated politics from many other stars, the same respect should be given to Wood. His movie legacy is what should be remembered.

Throughout his career, the director, on top of earning three Oscar nods himself, managed to lead eleven actors in Academy Award nominated performances. As well, he was nominated for a Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and currently has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the motion picture industry.

Filmography

1950 Ambush

1949 The Stratton Story

1948 Command Decision

1947 Ivy

1946 Heartbeat

1945 Saratoga Trunk

1945 Guest Wife

1944 Casanova Brown

1944 Address Unknown

1943 For Whom the Bell Tolls

1942 The Pride of the Yankees