Henry Koster

Diretor, Escritor, Produtor, Ator

1 de maio de 1905 — 21 de setembro de 1988 (83 anos)
Henry Koster (May 1, 1905 – September 21, 1988), born Hermann Kosterlitz, was a German-born film director, who worked in Europe as well as in Hollywood. Although he never won an Oscar, Koster directed six different actors in Oscar-nominated performances.

In 1932, Koster directed his first film in Berlin, the comedy Thea Roland. In the midst of directing his second film Das häßliche Mädchen, Jewish Koster had been the subject of antisemitism, and knew he had to leave the country. He left Germany for France, where he was rehired by director Curtis Bernhardt, who had also fled. Eventually Koster went to Budapest, where he met and married Kató Király in 1934. There he also met Joe Pasternak, who represented Universal in Europe, and directed three films for him. Through his friend Gabriel Levy he ended up directing Dutch sound film De Kribbebijter, released internationally as The Cross-Patch, which proved a success both in the Netherlands - where it played in cinemas for no less than seven years - and in the UK. Soon after, Koster signed a deal with Universal Pictures in Hollywood and moved to the United States.

Although Koster did not speak English, he convinced the studio to let him make Three Smart Girls, for which he personally coached to-be star Deanna Durbin. This picture, a big success, pulled Universal out of bankruptcy. Koster's second Universal film, One Hundred Men and a Girl, also was successful. After this, Koster discovered Abbott and Costello at a nightclub in New York. He returned to Hollywood and convinced Universal to hire them. Their first picture was One Night in the Tropics; the female lead, Peggy Moran, became Koster's second wife in 1942.

Ironically, despite Koster's escape from Nazi Germany, when the United States entered World War II Koster was considered an enemy alien and had to stay in his house in the evening. Actor Charles Laughton would visit Koster and play chess with him. Nonetheless, Koster's postwar career proved equally successful. He was nominated for an Academy Award for The Bishop's Wife (1947). In 1950, he directed his biggest success: the James Stewart comedy Harvey. He directed Richard Burton's first U.S. film, My Cousin Rachel, and then in 1953, he was given The Robe, the first CinemaScope film. His last picture was The Singing Nun in 1965. Koster retired to Leisure Village in Camarillo, California, where he painted a series of portraits of the movie stars with whom he worked.

Filmes e Séries no Plex

  • Um Anjo Caiu do Céu
    Um Anjo Caiu do Céu1947
  • Flor de Lotus
    Flor de Lotus1961
  • Inspetor Geral
    Inspetor Geral1949

Conhecido Por

  • Meu Amigo Harvey
    Meu Amigo Harvey1950
  • Um Anjo Caiu do Céu
    Um Anjo Caiu do Céu1947
  • O Manto Sagrado
    O Manto Sagrado1953
  • As Férias do Papai
    As Férias do Papai1962
  • Na Estrada do Céu
    Na Estrada do Céu1951
  • Flor de Lotus
    Flor de Lotus1961
  • Désirée: O Amor de Napoleão
    Désirée: O Amor de Napoleão1954
  • Inspetor Geral
    Inspetor Geral1949
  • Eu Te Matarei, Querida!
    Eu Te Matarei, Querida!1952
  • A Rainha Tirana
    A Rainha Tirana1955
  • Um Raio de Sol
    Um Raio de Sol1941
  • Minha Querida Brigitte
    Minha Querida Brigitte1965
  • Três Pequenas do Barulho
    Três Pequenas do Barulho1936
  • O Dia D
    O Dia D1956
  • Falam os Sinos
    Falam os Sinos1949
  • Jane Eyre
    Jane Eyre1943
  • Dominique
    Dominique1966
  • A História de Rute
    A História de Rute1960
  • Papai Não Sabe Nada
    Papai Não Sabe Nada1963
  • O Ocaso de uma Alma
    O Ocaso de uma Alma1955

Filmography

1932