An Armenian national raised in Russia, Rouben Mamoulian (1897--1987) studied in the influential Stanislavski studio, renowned as the source of the "method" acting technique. Shortly after immigrating to New York in 1926, he created a sensation with an all-black production of Porgy (1927). He then went on to direct the debut Broadway productions of three of the most popular shows in the history of American musical theater: Porgy and Bess (1935), Oklahoma! (1943), and Carousel (1945). Mamoulian began working in film just as the sound revolution was dramatically changing the technical capabilities of the medium, and he quickly established himself as an innovator. Not only did many of his unusual camera techniques become standard, but he also invented a device that eliminated the background noises created by cameras and dollies. Seen as a rebel earlier in his career, Mamoulian gradually gained respect in Hollywood, and the Directors Guild of America awarded him the prestigious D. W. Griffith Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1983.

In this meticulously researched biography, David Luhrssen paints the influential director as a socially conscious artist who sought to successfully combine art and commercial entertainment. Luhrssen not only reveals the fascinating personal story of an important yet neglected figure, but he also offers a tantalizing glimpse into the extraordinarily vibrant American film and theater industries during the twenties, thirties, and forties.

About the Author
David Luhrssen is the Arts & Entertainment Editor at Shepherd Express and has worked as a film critic for more than twenty years. He is the author of several books, most recently Hammer of the Gods: The Thule Society and the Birth of Nazism (Potomac, 2012) and Mamoulian: Life on Stage and Screen (Kentucky, 2012).

Reviews
a brisk well-researched survey" - TLS



Book Information
ISBN 9780813136769
Author David Luhrssen
Format Hardback
Page Count 208
Imprint The University Press of Kentucky
Publisher The University Press of Kentucky