Norman Taurog

Norman Taurog

Active - 1920 - 1968 | Born - Feb 23, 1899 in Chicago, IL | Died - Apr 7, 1981 in Rancho Mirage, CA | Genres - Comedy, Musical, Romance, Drama

Biography by Bruce Eder

Chicago-born Norman Taurog was performing on stage from his early childhood, long before he began work as a child actor in movies. He entered films at age 14 with Thomas Ince's studios, and turned to directing comedy in 1919 with Larry Semon. For the next four decades, right up to the end of the '60s, Taurog was one of Hollywood's busiest directors, winning the "Best Director" Oscar in 1931 for Skippy, and although he was best known for comedy, he occasionally worked very successfully in more serious movies, most notably Boys Town (1938), which got him an Academy Award nomination. Additionally, he directed one of the liveliest and most successful of all movie adaptations of classic literature, David O. Selznick's 1938 production of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, starring Tommy Kelly, and was in the director's chair for the last of MGM's big pre-war musical showcases, Broadway Melody of 1940 (one was planned for 1942, but seemed inappropriate during the war and the series ended). Taurog was especially well liked by Elvis Presley (and, one presumes, his manager Colonel Tom Parker), and directed the former King of Rock 'N Roll in nine movies between 1960 and 1968, including Blue Hawaii, Spinout, and Live a Little, Love a Little. Additionally, he directed Jerry Lewis, both in partnership with Dean Martin and solo, in The Stooge, The Caddy, Living It Up, Don't Give Up the Ship, and Visit to a Small Planet (the latter a distant predecessor to the TV series Mork and Mindy). Never a noted stylist in either comedy or drama, Taurog knew how to stage a scene for the strongest audience reaction, whether that entailed tears or laughter, and also how to do so quickly and economically, especially with child stars, neophyte performers, and non-actors.

http://www.allmovie.com/artist/norman-taurog-p113709

Norman Taurog (1899–1981)

Director | Writer | Miscellaneous Crew

Date of Birth 23 February 1899, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Date of Death 7 April 1981, Rancho Mirage, California, USA

Birth Name Norman Rae Taurog

Nickname Uncle Norman

Mini Bio (1)

A successful child actor (on stage from 1907) and rather less successful romantic lead, baby-faced Norman Taurog found being behind the camera a more rewarding experience. Before becoming a director, he paid his dues as a prop man and editor. By 1919, he was put in charge of two-reel comedies, starring the comic Larry Semon. These films were made on the East Coast and it was not until 1926, that Taurog moved to Hollywood. His directing career really took off with the coming of sound, and he soon acquired a reputation as a specialist in light comedy. He also developed a singular penchant for working with children, often giving them chocolate rewards for good acting. They, in turn, called him 'Uncle Norman'. Taurog became the youngest-ever director to win an Oscar. This was for the film Skippy (1931), which featured child actor Jackie Cooper, his real-life nephew.

Taurog was under contract at Paramount from 1930 to 1936. The pick-of-the-bunch among his films - and a solid box office hit - was Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1934), starring the noted stage actress Pauline Lord, comedienne Zasu Pitts and the irrepressible, idiosyncratic W.C. Fields. On loan to David O. Selznick, he also did justice to Mark Twain by creating just the right atmosphere for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938), eliciting a strong performance from Jackie Moran in the role of Huck Finn. Initial footage had been in black & white, but Taurog discarded this and re-shot the film in Technicolor, which worked particularly well with art director Lyle R. Wheeler.

After a stint with Fox (1936-37), Taurog then had his best (and longest) spell with MGM (1938-51). His A-grade assignments for the studio included the iconic Boys Town (1938), the exuberant Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940) and the thoroughly entertaining Judy Garland musical Presenting Lily Mars (1943), based on a best-selling novel by Booth Tarkington. In 1952, he returned to Paramount, where he was utilised on the strength of his proven ability to make films economically and on time. Taurog made the most out of the feather-light scripts he was handed for a string of comedies with Dean Martin and/or Jerry Lewis. He was also a favorite of Elvis Presley, directing in total nine of his films.

As the law of diminishing returns applied, Taurog retired in 1968. He later taught at the University of California School of Cinema and remained a board member of the Director's Guild. He became blind towards the end of his life, but for his last years served as director of the Braille Institute in Los Angeles.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: I.S.Mowis

Spouse (2)

Susan Ream Broderick (16 September 1944 - 7 April 1981) (his death)

Julie Leonard (23 May 1925 - 5 October 1943) (divorced) (1 child)

Trivia (7)

Taurog was the uncle of actor/director Jackie Cooper.

Taurog directed Elvis Presley in more movies than any other director (nine, starting with G.I. Blues (1960)).

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890-1945". Pages 1094-1098. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1987.

Directed 2 actors to Oscar nominations: Jackie Cooper (Best Actor, Skippy (1931)) and Spencer Tracy (Best Actor, Boys Town (1938)). Tracy won an Oscar for his performance in Taurog's film.

An unknown person telephoned his home and threatened to kidnap his daughter, Pat (8 years old at the time). The phone number was changed and a guard was placed on duty at the property (February, 1939).

Taurog's Oscar statuette sold for $301, 973, when it was auctioned by Nate D. Sanders Memorabilia on February 28, 2012.

At 32 years and 260 days, youngest person to win a Best Director Oscar.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0851537/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm