Directing
William Wyler
Born Jul 1, 1902 · Mülhausen, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire [now Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, France] · Died Jul 27, 1981
William Wyler (July 1, 1902 – July 27, 1981) was a German-born film director, producer, and screenwriter. Notable works include Ben-Hur (1959), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), and Mrs. Miniver (1942), all which won Wyler Academy Awards for Best Director, and also won Best Picture. He earned his first Oscar nomination for directing Dodsworth in 1936, sparking a 20-year run of almost unbroken greatness.
Film historian Ian Freer calls Wyler a "bona fide perfectionist," whose penchant for retakes and an attempt to hone every last nuance "became the stuff of legend." His ability to direct a string of classic literary adaptations into huge box office and critical successes made him one of Hollywood's most bankable moviemakers during the 1930s and 1940s.
Read more
Directed
History Rediscovered: The Memphis Belle
2011
Documentary · History · War
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
1970
Drama · Crime
Funny Girl
1968
Comedy · Drama · Romance
How to Steal a Million
1966
Comedy · Crime · Romance
The Collector
1965
Thriller
The Children's Hour
1961
Drama
Ben-Hur
1959
History · Drama · Adventure
The Big Country
1958
Drama · Western · Romance
Friendly Persuasion
1956
Drama · War
The Desperate Hours
1955
Crime · Thriller
Roman Holiday
1953
Romance · Comedy · Drama
Carrie
1952
Drama · Romance
Detective Story
1951
Crime · Drama
The Heiress
1949
Drama · Romance · History
Thunderbolt
1947
War · Documentary · History
The Best Years of Our Lives
1946
Drama · Romance · War
The Fighting Lady
1944
War · Documentary
The Memphis Belle
1944
Documentary · War
Mrs. Miniver
1942
Drama · Romance · War
The Little Foxes
1941
Drama
The Letter
1940
Crime · Drama
The Westerner
1940
Western
Wuthering Heights
1939
Drama · Romance
Jezebel
1938
Drama · Romance
Dead End
1937
Crime · Drama
Come and Get It
1936
Drama · Romance
Dodsworth
1936
Drama · Romance
These Three
1936
Drama · Romance
The Gay Deception
1935
Comedy · Romance
The Good Fairy
1935
Comedy · Romance
Glamour
1934
Drama
Counsellor at Law
1933
Drama
Her First Mate
1933
Comedy
Tom Brown of Culver
1932
Drama
A House Divided
1931
Drama
The Storm
1930
Adventure · Drama · Western
Hell's Heroes
1929
Western
The Love Trap
1929
Comedy · Romance
The Shakedown
1929
Drama · Romance
Anybody Here Seen Kelly?
1928
Comedy
Thunder Riders
1928
Western
The Border Cavalier
1927
Western
Hard Fists
1927
Western
Straight Shootin'
1927
Western
Blazing Days
1927
Western
The Two Fister
1927
Western
The Stolen Ranch
1926
Drama · Western
Lazy Lightning
1926
Western
Martin of the Mounted
1926
Western
Don't Shoot
1926
Western
Ridin' for Love
1926
Action · Western · Romance
The Crook Buster
1925
Western
Written
Roman Holiday
2016
Music · Romance
Acting
William Wyler: Forty Takes Willy
2025
Documentary
Hollywood's Second World War
2019
Documentary · War · History
Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic
2019
Documentary · History · TV Movie
The Cold Blue
2018
War · Documentary · TV Movie
Five Came Back
2017
Documentary · War
