Henry Hathaway
Birthday:
13 March 1898, Sacramento, California, USA
Birth Name:
Henri Leopold de Fiennes
Henry Hathaway, a son of a stage actress and manager, started his career as a child actor in westerns directed by Allan Dwan. His movie career was interrupted by World War I. After his discharge, he briefly tried a career in finance but then returned to Hollywood to work as an assistant director under such directors as Frank Lloyd, Paul Bern, Josef...
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Henry Hathaway, a son of a stage actress and manager, started his career as a child actor in westerns directed by Allan Dwan. His movie career was interrupted by World War I. After his discharge, he briefly tried a career in finance but then returned to Hollywood to work as an assistant director under such directors as Frank Lloyd, Paul Bern, Josef von Sternberg and Victor Fleming, whom Hathaway credited for his eventual success. In 1932 Hathaway directed his first picture, Heritage of the Desert (1932), a western. His approach has been described as uncomplicated and straightforward, while at the same time many of his films are noted for their striking visual effects and unusual locations. He had a reputation as being difficult on actors, but some stars such as John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe benefited under his direction. Although Hathaway was a highly successful and reliable director working within the Hollywood studio system, his work has received little attention from critics. Show less «
Being educated is making the pictures themselves, if you make it your business to pay attention.
Being educated is making the pictures themselves, if you make it your business to pay attention.
To be a good director you've got to be a bastard. I'm a bastard and I know it.
To be a good director you've got to be a bastard. I'm a bastard and I know it.
You don't have to hold an inquest to find out who killed Marilyn Monroe. Those bastards in the big executive chairs killed her.
You don't have to hold an inquest to find out who killed Marilyn Monroe. Those bastards in the big executive chairs killed her.
When I went to work in Universal Studios in 1914, there were five women directors. Lois Weber made the biggest pictures. John Ford and I alt...Show more »
When I went to work in Universal Studios in 1914, there were five women directors. Lois Weber made the biggest pictures. John Ford and I alternated as prop men for this great director. If women haven't got a good directing job now, it's their own fault. Show less «
There's lots of nice guys walking around Hollywood but they're not eating.
There's lots of nice guys walking around Hollywood but they're not eating.
[1970 comment on Kim Novak] I worked one day with her and I quit.
[1970 comment on Kim Novak] I worked one day with her and I quit.
[on Gary Cooper] Gary Cooper was the first actor to believe you didn't have to mug to act, if you thought of what you were doing, it showed ...Show more »
[on Gary Cooper] Gary Cooper was the first actor to believe you didn't have to mug to act, if you thought of what you were doing, it showed -- and he proved he was right. Show less «
[on Seven Thieves (1960) Christ, it was supposed to be a fun film, and [Rod Steiger] is far, far from having a sense of humor]
[on Seven Thieves (1960) Christ, it was supposed to be a fun film, and [Rod Steiger] is far, far from having a sense of humor]
[on Dana Andrews] [He] had a quality. I'll tell you one thing he had like nobody I've ever seen in my life. Drunk or sober, he comes in in t...Show more »
[on Dana Andrews] [He] had a quality. I'll tell you one thing he had like nobody I've ever seen in my life. Drunk or sober, he comes in in the morning and they're making him up and he'd say, "What do I do today?" And you say, "Do this." And he'd look at the script and he goes out and he's a district attorney and he pleads the case to the jury and he never misses a word. Pages of it. Show less «
I liked Lloyd [Lloyd Nolan]. He was a natural actor. He appeared just like any other guy. He wasn't good looking, wasn't a big star, wasn't ...Show more »
I liked Lloyd [Lloyd Nolan]. He was a natural actor. He appeared just like any other guy. He wasn't good looking, wasn't a big star, wasn't impressive in his size. Just another guy, and that's what I liked about him. Show less «
[in 1971, about Richard Burton] [He] was always very professional. None of the behavior I was warned about. He was sober throughout, and alw...Show more »
[in 1971, about Richard Burton] [He] was always very professional. None of the behavior I was warned about. He was sober throughout, and always early on the set. Show less «
With Fleming I did "The Virginian." I did all those early Westerns, all those Zane Greys, the ones I did over again. I mostly learned from t...Show more »
With Fleming I did "The Virginian." I did all those early Westerns, all those Zane Greys, the ones I did over again. I mostly learned from them how to handle people. I would take a script home and think. Now what would I tell these people to do to make the scene, how would I start it, where would be the climax, how I could get out of it, how do I get rid of the people, where would I do it - in front of the fire or on the couch, what would I do? And I'd make up my mind, and I'd make a lot of notes and then I'd see what they did. Entirely different! But you'd learn! Show less «
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