Biography
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.
Filmography
all 89
Movies 89
Director 49
Writer 39
Screenplay 1
Eine Handvoll Helden (1967)
The Singing Nun (1966)
Dear Brigitte (1965)
Take Her, She's Mine (1963)
Marilyn (1963)
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)
Flower Drum Song (1961)
The Story of Ruth (1960)
The Naked Maja (1958)
Fraulein (1958)
My Man Godfrey (1957)
The Power and the Prize (1956)
D-Day the Sixth of June (1956)
Good Morning, Miss Dove (1955)
The Virgin Queen (1955)
A Man Called Peter (1955)
Désirée (1954)
The Robe (1953)
My Cousin Rachel (1952)
Stars and Stripes Forever (1952)
O. Henry's Full House (1952)
Elopement (1951)
Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (1951)
No Highway (1951)
Harvey (1950)
My Blue Heaven (1950)
Wabash Avenue (1950)
The Inspector General (1949)
Come to the Stable (1949)
The Luck of the Irish (1948)
The Bishop's Wife (1947)
The Unfinished Dance (1947)
Two Sisters from Boston (1946)
Music for Millions (1944)
Jane Eyre (1943)
Between Us Girls (1942)
It Started with Eve (1941)
Spring Parade (1940)
First Love (1939)
Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939)
The Rage of Paris (1938)
One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937)
Farewell Again (1937)
Three Smart Girls (1936)
Catherine the Last (1936)
Tagebuch der Geliebten (1935)
The Ugly Girl (1935)
The Cross-Patch (1935)
Kleine Mutti (1935)
Ball im Savoy (1935)
L'Or dans la rue (1934)
Peter (1934)
Moscow Nights (1934)
Polish Blood (1934)
Der Fall Brenken (1934)
Pechmarie (1934)
L'amour en cage (1934)
Die vertauschte Braut (1934)
Der Doppelgänger (1934)
Der Tunnel (1933)
Toto (1933)
The Ugly Girl (1933)
Le sexe faible (1933)
The Rebel (1932)
The Adventure of Thea Roland (1932)
Happy Hearts (1932)
Zigeuner der Nacht (1932)
There Goes the Bride (1932)
Five from the Jazzband (1932)
Stamboul (1931)
Who Takes Love Seriously? (1931)
Frivolous youth (1931)
His girlfriend Annette (1931)
The indictment (1931)
The Man Who Committed the Murder (1931)
The Man Who Killed (1931)
Woman in the Jungle (1931)
The Letter (1930)
A woman lied (1930)
The Last Company (1930)
Das letzte Fort (1929)
Sündig und süß (1929)
Liebfraumilch (1929)
Sündenfall (1929)
Eins + Eins = Drei (1927)
Children's Souls Accuse You (1927)
Prinz Louis Ferdinand (1927)
Orphan of Lowood (1926)
Die Dame aus Berlin (1925)
Ratings
Gallery
Information
Known ForDirecting
GenderMale
Birthday1905-05-01
Deathday1988-09-21 (83 years old)
Birth NameHermann Julius Kosterlitz
Birth PlaceBerlin, Germany
RelationshipsPeggy Moran (1942-01-01 - 1988-01-01)
SiblingsHans W. Kosterlitz
CitizenshipsGermany, United States of America
Also Known AsHermann Kosterlitz
Awardsstar on Hollywood Walk of Fame
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
- Henry Koster
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