"You see how they go through life, and how they meet it all. The dining room. She said, 'Who's that?' Ad Choices, dam-images-homes-hollywood-cukor-hosl01_cukor.jpg. American Director George Cukor was born George Dewey Cukor on 7th July, 1899 in New York City, New York, USA and passed away on 24th Jan 1983 Los Angeles, California, USA aged 83. However, he has a secret that he will do anything to protect, even if it means driving his wife insane. | TUMBLR.COM For some reason, in America, his own country, George […] The rooms are more or less the way they were when William Haines decorated them. But here I live close to my work, in country surroundings. An elaborate velvet drapery treatment, neo-Classical architectural details and Venetian parcel-gilt blackamoors combine to create an appropriately theatrical Dining Room setting. Robert Trachtenberg, who directed the 2000 PBS documentary On Cukor, said it was a party scene from the 1998 film Gods and Monsters, in what is supposed to be Cukor… He prospered despite working under the auspices of the Production Code Administration (PCA), which required filmmakers to submit their work for approval to ensure that it aligned with traditional Christian values. We became good friends. T his pseudonymous tidbit—about George Cukor’s infamous and still-debated firing as director of Gone with the Wind—is one of few references in the era’s movie magazines to a tag well known in the industry: George Cukor, woman’s director. Conservancy. In 1899, George Dewey Cukor was born on the Lower East Side of New York City. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. "That is not to take away from my personal taste and knowl­edge. It is the home of the film director George Cukor. Share your memories here! I'm not a sun worshiper, either. George Cukor Celebrity Profile - Check out the latest George Cukor photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at Rotten Tomatoes! "People who are not humorous are often funny, too. Mockingbirds are heard in the trees, a squirrel scampers across the road and the sun shines thinly through the branches of the trees. At the height of his career, Cukor's home served as an vital social center in Hollywood's gay community. Director. Even among all of Venice's famed Ocean Front Walk beachfront architecture, no other house is as eye-catching as the Norton Residence. "By Hollywood standards I've lived here a long time. Three major architects collaborated on the store's first SoCal location. He once won the Academy Award for Best Director, and was nominated other four times for the same Award. “The rooms are more or less the way they were when William Haines decorated them [in the 1930s],” said Cukor of his house, surrounded by statuary, beautiful gardens, an Olympian pool and trickling fountains. This article originally appeared in the January 1978 issue of Architectural Digest. Herald-Examiner Collection/ Los Angles Public Library, Photo courtesy Architectural Resources Group. There is another of the actress Lucile Watson, given him by Charles Dana Gibson. My door was open, and I was on the telephone. But when she stayed here, it was always the same. Now I can't imagine living anywhere else. She put it with her collection, where it still is. We went down, and Noel was lying on the bed with a newspaper over his face. Con Katharine Hepburn, John Barrymore, David Manners, Billie Burke Titolo originale A Bill of Divorcement. Originally the house was a little one, but I rebuilt it in 1935. The director turns to look out at the garden, the flowering trees, the gentle splashing of the waterfall. Director: George Cukor | Stars: Charles Boyer, Ingrid … He imitates her Swedish accent, and turns to look outside. He glances at a drawing of Ethel Barrymore by John Singer Sargent. While it's widely debated whether or not Cukor… And there’s a reason why that description was generally kept out of print. Early life and work. Febbre di vivere (A Bill of Divorcement) (1932) Un film di George Cukor. A wall growing thick with ivy rises directly from the shady street. George Dewey Cukor July 7, 1899 - January 24, 1983 TV/Streaming Home Entertainment Consumer Guide: November 16, … In addition his home became the venue for regular parties for the Hollywood great and good and his guests knew that they would always find the best of everything - company, food, and a beautiful atmosphere when they visited. Photography by Russell MacMasters Photography. She was very dear to me. A Victorian epergne stands in the center of the Sheraton pedestal table. "That's a reference to an afternoon in London. “It all looks,” he said, “just like a Hollywood director’s house ought to look.”. His career spanned more than fifty years, with a body of work including such classics as The Philadelphia Story, My Fair Lady, Let's Make Love, Camille, and Little Women. "The best times of my life I remember having here—in my own house," Mr. Cukor says. ", When William Haines designed the house, George Cukor did not impose restrictions or make demands. Conservancy. 1 talking about this. About. Do you have a story about this place? “For George Cukor, I would have taken my knickers off too!” she chortled. A feeling of lively elegance is in the rooms. Last Remaining Seats/Greetings from Broadway! I remember when Greta Garbo was doing a scene that she thought was heavy going, she'd say, 'Government business.'" Nov 8, 2017 - George Cukor’s living room in his house at 9166 Cordell Dr. just above the Sunset Strip. "He was a marvelous man, you know—very kind, very sweet. George Cukor was an American film director of Hungarian-Jewish descent, better known for directing comedies and literary adaptations. George Cukor was an American film director. From the very first day of shooting Gone With the Wind, George Cukor sensed that producer David O. Selznick was on edge due to his obsession to make the greatest Hollywood movie of all time.. On January 28, 1939, Selznick notified Cukor that Menzies was to have the final word on the production’s physical aspects and color values. February 10, 2017 by Lisa Grable Leave a Comment "It never occurred to me that I could live in California," he says. Director: George Cukor | Stars: Charles Boyer, Ingrid … This is in direct contrast to Cukor's home life, where he surrounded himself with close friends and was famous for his parties. He hired former film actor William "Billy" Haines as his interior designer, who filled the home with elegant decor and dozens of photographs of Cukor's Hollywood friends. George Dewey Cukor (/ ˈ k juː k ɔːr /; July 7, 1899 – January 24, 1983) was an American film … It is high and long and the door in it, not instantly visible, seems dwarfed and not of the usual proportions. The son of Jewish Hungarian immigrants, George Dewey Cukor was born in New York City in the summer of 1899. Girls About Town is a 1931 comedy film directed by George Cukor and starring Kay Francis, Joel McCrea. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. How ‘Hollywood’ Re-created Old Hollywood, From George Cukor’s Dining Room to the 1948 Oscars. I remember when he was here in the downstairs guest room and Vivien Leigh was coming to stay with me, and I said to her, 'Someone you're very fond of is here.' He is most remembered for Gone With the Wind. McGilligan’s biography brings out the complexity of Cukor the man - an east coast Jew transplanted from the New York theatre to Hollywood by the arrival of sound movies and the sudden emphasis on dialogue. These same people have also had to go through terrible tragedies and terrible despair. "It bothers me when people disparage Los Angeles. There were regulars like Katharine Hepburn and Irene Selznick, and Vivien Leigh, when she was in town. Learn More >. Mar 1, 2015 - George Cukor, the director of Holiday, The Philadelphia Story, and My Fair Lady, rebuilt the house, not far from the Sunset Strip in Beverly Hills, in 1935 Photo by Adrian Scott Fine/L.A. I don't mean the me­ chanical laugh, but a kind of humorous sense of fun—a sense of absurdity. He looked in, and we had a reunion. They say that they miss the culture of New York and that New York is so stimulating. Filed Under: Culture, Movies Tagged With: 1940, Adrian, cary grant, classic films, George Cukor, Jimmy Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, Lisa's Home Bijou, Philip Barry, romantic comedy, vintage wedding, Virginia Weidler. His house was decorated by William Haines, the one-time top MGM star who Louis B. Mayer fired when Ha… George Cukor is a member of the following lists: Emmy Award winners, People from Los Angeles, California and BAFTA winners (people). Years after her aunt was murdered in her home, a young woman moves back into the house with her new husband. However, he has a secret that he will do anything to protect, even if it means driving his wife insane. When I first met Ethel Barrymore I fell on my face. Everywhere there are mementos: a silver cigarette box with an endearing message, signed Marilyn; a Renoir on the table easel—a gift from Vivien Leigh; and familiar faces look from the walls—Greta Garbo, Tallulah Bankhead, Ethel Barrymore. Hollywood celebrates Ethel Barrymore’s 70th birthday at George Cukor’s palatial home, with (standing l. to r.) Billie Burke, Judy Garland, Lucile Watson, Katharine Hepburn, Constance Collier, and Laura Harding, and (seated l. to r.) Lionel Barrymore, the birthday girl, Spencer Tracy, and the director-host. Part of the National Register-listed Broadway Theatre and Commercial Historic District, this building was originally a women's clothing store. He was a good friend to everybody, and every­ body respected him. He was graduated from De Witt Clinton High School in 1916, and spent a year with the Students Army Training Corps. It has been written that George Cukor was so eager to read The Queen and The Hive that he skipped every one of the introductory pages, and Noel Coward had to point out that Edith Sitwell dedicated the book to him. Born in New York, Cukor (1899-1983) rose to be one of the most successful gay directors in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Lisa’s Home Bijou: The Women classic film. The house is in Beverly Hills on a twisting narrow little street that looks more like a setting in Europe than in southern California. Well, I say if you're not dull yourself, you'll find it just as stimulating here. That's his skill and his talent.". George Cukor, the director of Holiday, The Philadelphia Story, and My Fair Lady, rebuilt the house, not far from the Sunset Strip in Beverly Hills, in 1935 A great admirer of humor, Mr. Cukor once presented a walnut to a friend, who said, "Oh, how beautiful, it's like a Faberge piece." By the mid-1930s, he was considered to be the unofficial "head" of Hollywood's gay subculture. Cukor, one of Hollywood’s finest directors and the man who has directed Hepburn and Garbo in some of their best, is known as a woman’s director…Mr. George Cukor has often been called a pre-eminent director of women. In Bloom’s uncanny, totally exposed performance, Cukor solidifies his favourite theme: the glory of alcoholic, lunatic or sexual abandonment and breakdown, the sheer sensuality of it, and, at the end, its high price (Naomi is gang-raped and later commits suicide). "There is one thing about friendship, and that is, you must maintain the relative position of the first meeting. The Los Angeles Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The garden was nothing, and it was redone by an extraordinary woman named Florence Yoch. I've had friends who've known tremendous success, dazzling success, success greater than most people have met with. Curating the City: LGBTQ Historic Places in L.A. Born in New York, Cukor (1899-1983) rose to be one of the most successful gay directors in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. 2020 Study: Preservation Positive Los Angeles, Carthay National Register Nomination Fund. In the early morning there is a feeling of languid laziness. In episode three, the guys get invited to director George Cukor's home, where a sexually charged Sunday party takes place. Years after her aunt was murdered in her home, a young woman moves back into the house with her new husband. It was an open secret in Hollywood that Cukor was gay, at a time when society was not accepting of it. "I was a New Yorker and came here with the talkies. Born George Dewey Cukor in New York City to Hungarian immigrant parents, Victor F. and Helen Gross Cukor. The house suits me perfectly, and I know that I belong here. "I think the element of fun," he says, "is the most wonderful element in friendships, as well as in working relationships. His zodiac sign is Cancer. She'd contradict me; she'd say go here, go there. As a result, Cukor made it a point to hire LGBTQ actors in the films he directed. Shelves reaching nearly to the ceil­ing hold books inscribed to him by their authors: Aldous Huxley, Anita Loos, Christopher Isherwood, Somer­ set Maugham and many others. Inside, the world turns brilliant, as suddenly as a scene change on the stage. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. George Cukor, in full George Dewey Cukor, (born July 7, 1899, New York, New York, U.S.—died January 24, 1983, Los Angeles, California), American motion-picture director who produced films of high quality for 50 years, combining his skill in working with actors, especially actresses, and his careful attention to details.. Preserving the historic places that make L.A. County unique. Cukor was referred to as a 'bon vivant', who hosted weekly Sunday afternoon parties at his home, which was attended by closeted celebrities and young men that they met in bars and gyms. "I've known people for such a long time," he says. "Oh, I knew it," says Mr. Cukor. Someone once said about such a person, 'He's heavy furniture.' And that he was, like certain other gay film-makers. "Mr. Haines may have asked me some questions, and I might have asked him some questions. George Cukor George Dewey Cukor was an American film director. All rights reserved. Legendary director George Cukor was considered the unofficial patriarch of Hollywood's gay subculture. The house holds many pleasant memories for him. And then there are people I meet, and they're young and you always think of them that way—no matter how distinguished and successful they become in the future.". Through the years, particularly during the war years, everyone seemed to come here.". He lifted the paper, and she said, 'Noel!' It's how they've managed to get through that I think is extraordinary—how they've been able to come to terms with life.". "It's been an intimate part of my life, my work, my friends— a great many friends indeed. in delight.". Haines himself had turned to decorating after losing his contract with MGM due to his refusal to deny rumors about his sexuality. An essay about the five screen versions of "A Star Is Born," and why George Cukor's 1954 masterpiece still reigns supreme. The house is and has been a place of many triumphs, serving a man who shares his perpetual pleasures: his humor, grace and sensibilities. Copyright © 2020 Los Angeles Conservancy. The house, like its owner, is in praise of people and offers innumerable delights: the quiet of suede walls, the gleam of a metal fireplace, the eloquence of drama softly played. George Cukor was a director active in Hollywood from 1930 until 1981. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. It's not pompous, and it makes every­ thing much more enjoyable. Our website, archdigest.com, offers constant original coverage of the interior design and architecture worlds, new shops and products, travel destinations, art and cultural events, celebrity style, and high-end real estate as well as access to print features and images from the AD archives. Because of this conservative climate in postwar Hollywood, Cukor lived in what many historians call a "celluloid closet," where his sexual identity was an open secret but could never be discussed or acknowledged in the workplace. To my work, in country surroundings | Stars: Charles Boyer, Ingrid … George ’... Take away from my personal taste and knowl­edge afternoon in London Charles Boyer, Ingrid … George Cukor has been... ) nonprofit organization use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Affiliate Partnerships with.. Usual proportions was, like certain other gay film-makers so stimulating 's famed Ocean Front Walk beachfront architecture, other! 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