Frank Borzage

Director

About

Birth Place

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Born

April 23, 1894

Died

June 19, 1962

Cause of Death

Cancer

Biography

Borzage switched from acting to directing in 1916, bringing to the screen a dedication to romanticism that became his trademark. Although undoubtedly sentimental--and criticized by some for it--his films, from "Humoresque" (1920) through "Moonrise" (1948), were not only undeniably popular but, at their best, were also the moving, highly artful and visually enthralling work of an instantl...

Filmography

Journey Beneath the Desert (1967)

Director

The Big Fisherman (1959)

I've Always Loved You (1946)

Director

Photos & Videos

View All

Farewell To Arms, A (1932) -- (Movie Clip) There's A War On

Farewell To Arms, A (1932) -- (Movie Clip) No, I Mean Girls

Family & Companions

Rena Rogers

Wife

Actor. Divorced in 1945.

Edna Marie Stillwell

Wife

Married in 1945; divorced in 1949.

Juanita Borzage

Wife

Biography

Borzage was a pioneer in the use of techniques, such as soft focus, that have become standards of romantic filmmaking. He was the first ever recipient of a best director Oscar, for "Seventh Heaven" (1927), he won the award again for "Bad Girl" (1931). A sensitive explorer of the pains and joys of love, and a true believer in its enduring power, Borzage made films in a surprisingly wide range of genres, from the romantic comedy to the war film. In addition to the aforementioned, he left his indelibe stamp on such distinguished films as "Lazybones" (1925), "Lucky Star" (1929), "A Farewell to Arms" (1932), "Little Man, What Now?" (1934), "Desire" (1936), "History Is Made at Night" (1937), "Three Comrades" (1938), "The Mortal Storm" (1940), and "I've Always Loved You" (1946).

Filmography

Life Events

1906

At age 13, worked in a silver mine to pay for a correspondence course on acting (date approximate)

1906

Joined a traveling troupe of actors as a prop man; eventually began acting with the company and was made a leading man before age 20

1912

Joined Thomas Ince's film company as an actor

1912

Short film acting debut in "When Lee Surrenders"

1913

Medium-length film acting debut in "The Ambassador's Envoy"

1914

Feature film acting debut in "The Battle of Gettysburg"

1915

Film directorial debut, "The Pitch o' Chance"

1916

Directed 15 films, nearly all distributed by American Mutual Company

1918

Helmed nine films, most produced by Allan Dwan

1920

Breakthrough feature as director, "Humoresque", scripted by Frances Marion; film no longer extant

1924

Made silent version of "Secrets", starring Norma Talmadge

1925

Early surving feature, "Lazybones", scripted by Frances Marion

1927

Helmed "Seventh Heaven"; won first of two Best Director Academy Awards; also first award presented in this category; paired Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell on screen

1928

Reteamed Gaynor and Farrell in "Street Angel"

1929

Third pairing of Gaynor and Farrell, "Lucky Star"

1929

Made first talking picture, "They Had to See Paris"

1930

Was director of "Liliom"

1932

Helmed the adaptation of "A Farewell to Arms", starring Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes

1932

Won second Oscar for directing "Bad Girl"

1933

Guided Mary Pickford in her final screen appearance in remake of "Secrets"

1934

First film with Margaret Sullavan, "Little Man, Now What?"

1936

Directed Marlene Dietrich in "Desire"

1938

Helmed "Three Comrades", starring Margaret Sullavan

1938

Made two films starring Joan Crawford, "Mannequin" and "The Shining Hour"

1940

Last film with Sullavan, "The Mortal Storm", third in unofficial trilogy of films set in Germany

1940

Third feature with Joan Crawford, "Strange Cargo"

1942

Left MGM and worked freelance until after WWII

1946

Steered David Niven and Ginger Rogers in the biopic of Dolly Madison, "The Magnificent Doll"

1946

Signed six-film contract with Republic Pictures

1946

Directed Republic's first Technicolor feature "I've Always Loved You"

1949

Helmed "Moonrise"; last film for nearly a decade

1958

Returned to feature directing with "China Doll"

1959

Last film, "The Big Fisherman", a three-hour biblical epic based on Lloyd C Douglas' novel

Photo Collections

Mannequin - Behind-the-Scenes Photo

Here is a photo taken behind-the-scenes during production of Mannequin (1937), starring Joan Crawford and Spencer Tracy and directed by Frank Borzage.

Strange Cargo - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Strange Cargo (1940). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.