Irving Grant Thalberg (May 30, 1899 â€" September 14, 1936) was an
American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. He
was called "The Boy Wonder" for his youth and ability to select
scripts, choose actors, gather production staff, and make profitable
films, including Grand Hotel, China Seas, Camille, Mutiny on the
Bounty and The Good Earth. His films carved out an international
market, "projecting a seductive image of American life brimming with
vitality and rooted in democracy and personal freedom", states
biographer Roland Flamini.:3He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and as
a child was afflicted with a congenital heart disease that doctors
said would kill him before he reached the age of thirty. After
graduating from high school he worked as a store clerk during the day
and to gain some job skills took a night class in typing. He then
found work as a secretary with Universal Studios' New York office, and
was later made studio manager for their Los Angeles facility. There,
he oversaw production of a hundred films during his three years with
the company. Among the films he produced was The Hunchback of Notre
Dame (1923).In Los Angeles, he partnered with Louis B. Mayer's new
studio and, after it merged with two other studios, helped create
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). He was made head of production of MGM in
1925, at the age of twenty-six, helping MGM become the most successful
studio in Hollywood. During his twelve years with MGM, until his early
death at the age of 37, he produced four hundred films, most of which
bore his imprint and innovations, including story conferences with
writers, sneak previews to gain early feedback, and extensive
re-shooting of scenes to improve the film. In addition, he introduced
horror films to audiences and coauthored the "Production Code",
guidelines for morality followed by all studios. During the 1920s and
1930s, he synthesized and merged the world of stage drama and literary
classics with Hollywood films.
American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. He
was called "The Boy Wonder" for his youth and ability to select
scripts, choose actors, gather production staff, and make profitable
films, including Grand Hotel, China Seas, Camille, Mutiny on the
Bounty and The Good Earth. His films carved out an international
market, "projecting a seductive image of American life brimming with
vitality and rooted in democracy and personal freedom", states
biographer Roland Flamini.:3He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and as
a child was afflicted with a congenital heart disease that doctors
said would kill him before he reached the age of thirty. After
graduating from high school he worked as a store clerk during the day
and to gain some job skills took a night class in typing. He then
found work as a secretary with Universal Studios' New York office, and
was later made studio manager for their Los Angeles facility. There,
he oversaw production of a hundred films during his three years with
the company. Among the films he produced was The Hunchback of Notre
Dame (1923).In Los Angeles, he partnered with Louis B. Mayer's new
studio and, after it merged with two other studios, helped create
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). He was made head of production of MGM in
1925, at the age of twenty-six, helping MGM become the most successful
studio in Hollywood. During his twelve years with MGM, until his early
death at the age of 37, he produced four hundred films, most of which
bore his imprint and innovations, including story conferences with
writers, sneak previews to gain early feedback, and extensive
re-shooting of scenes to improve the film. In addition, he introduced
horror films to audiences and coauthored the "Production Code",
guidelines for morality followed by all studios. During the 1920s and
1930s, he synthesized and merged the world of stage drama and literary
classics with Hollywood films.
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