Anthony Mann (1906-1967)

             Anthony Mann

Anthony Mann was an American actor and film director who became well known as a director of Westerns, and who is also greatly admired as a director of 1940's film noir and of 1960's historical epics such as 'El Cid'. His movies are known for their scenes of violence and for the tenacity and relentlessness of his heroes in pursuing justice, even breaking the law if necessary. He used hostile landscapes to add dramatic effect and also structured his narratives as journeys, in which each stage is marked by new surroundings.

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Mann was born in San Diego, California on June 30, 1906, the son of an Austrian immigrant, Emile Bundsmann. When he was ten his family relocated to New York City, where he attended Central High School with future RKO Pictures production chief, and future head of MGM, Dore Schary.

From 1924 to 1926, Mann was a member of the Neighborhood Playhouse Acting Company in Manhattan's Lower East Side. He spent the next few years as an actor, including a year in the Nsw York Repertory Company. His theatrical debut as a director came in 1933, and he continued as a theater director through 1940.

Mann moved to Hollywood in 1941. After his inauspicious motion picture debut 'Dr. Broadway' in 1942, he directed low budget melodramas and musicals for various studios. Although his film noir thriller 'Desperate' in 1947 was a success, his subsequent films were more so, coinciding with his propitious collaboration with cinematographer John Alton. 'T-Men' in 1947, 'Raw Deal' the following year, 'Reigh of Terror' in 1949, and 'Border Incident', also in 1949, are all highly esteemed film noirs.

Mann's first Western was 'Devil's Doorway' in 1950, a tragedy about racism and bigotry. After seeing the film, James Stewart asked Mann to direct 'Winchester '73 in 1950, the film which is credited with reviving the serious western. They made a further seven films together, including 'Bend of the River' in 1952, the superb 'The Naked Spur' in 1953 and 'The Man from Laramie' in 1955. Mann's last Western (without Stewart) was the masterful 'Man of the West' in 1958, starring Gary Cooper.

After that triumph, Mann became less prolific. In 1959, after clashing with star/producer Kirk Douglas, Mann asked to be removed from 'Spartacus'. He began the Western 'Cimarron' in 1960, but again left because of creative differences with the produceer, although his name was retained as director. His final triumph was 'El Cid' in 1961, a grand epic about Spain's famous cultural hero. His next film was also an epic, 'The Fall of the Roman Empire' in 1964. Mann's last completed film was the World War II thriller, 'The Heroes of Telemark' in 1965.

Anthony Mann died in Berlin, Germany on April 29, 1967 from a heart attack while filming the spy thriller 'A Dandy in Aspic'. The film was completed by the film's star, Laurence Harvey.