William A. Wellman
Birthday: 29 February 1896, Brookline, Massachusetts, USA
Birth Name: William Augustus Wellman
William Wellman, the Oscar-winning screenwriter-director of the original A Star Is Born (1937), was called "Wild Bill" during his World War I service as an aviator, a nickname that persisted ...Show More
I've been fired from every major studio in Hollywood except Disney. They never hired me!
I've been fired from every major studio in Hollywood except Disney. They never hired me!
When I made The Public Enemy (1931), I was way ahead in thinking. No love story, but loaded with sex Show more
When I made The Public Enemy (1931), I was way ahead in thinking. No love story, but loaded with sex and violence. Hide
[on Robert Taylor, whom he directed in Small Town Girl (1936) and Westward the Women (1951)] I have Show more
[on Robert Taylor, whom he directed in Small Town Girl (1936) and Westward the Women (1951)] I have never gotten along with actors but I was crazy about Bob Taylor. I think he's one of the finest men I've ever known. He was probably handsomest of them all. I had no trouble with him at all. He did everything I asked him to; he was wonderful. Hide
[Ray Milland] is one of the toughest guys I've ever known in my life, believe it or not. He is an En Show more
[Ray Milland] is one of the toughest guys I've ever known in my life, believe it or not. He is an Englishman, you know, but he is a rugged guy. If I got into any trouble, I'd be glad to have Milland with me. And I've had some pros with me. Hide
Get a director and a writer and leave them alone. That's how the best pictures get made.
Get a director and a writer and leave them alone. That's how the best pictures get made.
The best director is the director whose handprints are not on the film.
The best director is the director whose handprints are not on the film.
[on Clark Gable] Never have I known a man who loved to live, to live well, as he did.
[on Clark Gable] Never have I known a man who loved to live, to live well, as he did.
Frankly, if you examine my whole background, it's not very good. I can tell you that for every good Show more
Frankly, if you examine my whole background, it's not very good. I can tell you that for every good picture, I made at least five or six stinkers. Hide
I couldn't stand being an actor. I haven't liked many actors anyway, and I've directed most of them. Show more
I couldn't stand being an actor. I haven't liked many actors anyway, and I've directed most of them. One of my sons is an actor and it breaks my heart, but there's nothing I can do about it. Hide
William A. Wellman's FILMOGRAPHY
All
as Actor (2)
as Director (8)