The famous American film director, screenwriter, actor John Marcellus Houston was born on August 5, 1906 in the family of actor Walter Houston, who at that time lived and worked with his few households in Nevada (Missouri).
Boxing instead of school
At the age of ten, John Houston became interested in boxing and began to participate in competitions for teenagers. The sport captured him so much that John even dropped out of school. He firmly decided to become a professional boxer and thereby earn a living. The first performances that John Houston held in amateur boxing were encouraging; he won one meeting after another. However, he soon had an unpleasant incident that put an end to his sports career.
John once got involved in a scandalous fight, as a result of which the famous actor Errol Flynn was seriously injured . Badly beaten, he was hospitalized for a long time.
First trial
At nineteen, John Houston made his debut in a big movie, playing a cameo role in a low-budget film. But since no more invitations were sent to him, the young man went to Mexico, where he became a cavalryman and engaged in breeding horses. All this time, Houston Jr. did not lose touch with his father, and when he went to Hollywood for the next shoot, John went with him, deciding once again to try to become an actor.
However, fate decreed differently, and the failed role performer became a screenwriter, and then a director of feature films. Good literary abilities helped him to advance to the forefront in a short time. U.S. scriptwriters are part of a streamlined system that random people don't fall into. And if the writers accepted the newcomer into their ranks, it means that he is worthy of doing the hard and responsible task of writing scripts.
Vocation
Houston's success was obvious, he wrote several scripts for classic paintings, such as "Jezebel" - this film was subsequently directed by William Wyler. John was nominated for an Oscar three times for his work in 1938 and 1940.
In 1941, Houston made his debut as a director, making the film The Maltese Falcon. Then two more films followed, the thriller "Across the Ocean" and a melodrama entitled "This is our life."
Sociability as the basis of creativity
The director had a light outgoing character, loved entertainment, practical jokes, friendly companies with a drink. On many scenarios and directorial works lies a noticeable imprint of his personal attitude. A staunch supporter of the bright, witty dialogue in the film, Houston created his characters with cheerful, sparkling people, and this always helped him release an interesting film.
Crime Drama 1963
Sometimes the director turned to mystical themes, one of his works was a film released in 1963. A crime drama titled "The Adrian Messenger List" was staged based on the eponymous work of Philip MacDonald.
The main character, the writer Messenger Adrian, suggests that at first glance several unrelated fatal accidents are in fact links in one chain. In his opinion, these are murders carefully planned and carried out in cold blood.
Adrian calls on his friend, Anthony Getrin, a former intelligence officer, to help solve this confusing case. However, soon the messenger itself dies in a plane crash, leaving behind a mysterious list of names and a few dying words. As a result of the study, Getrin concludes that he has a list of the names of former military prisoners at a camp in Burma. The prisoners tried to organize an escape, but one of the guards, Canadian sergeant George Broem, prevented this. Now every prisoner has a good reason to wish death to the Canadian. But he himself is quite capable of neutralizing any of them. What really happened? Anthony Getrin has to figure out this riddle.
"At the foot of the volcano"
In 1984, Houston created a joint Mexican-American drama based on the work of English writer Malcolm Lauri "Under the Volcano."
Events unfold in Mexico in 1939. A war has already begun, tearing Europe apart. The film tells the story of one day in the life of British diplomat Jeffrey Firmin, who works as a consul in a small Mexican town.
The Englishman suffers from alcoholism, and this makes his life unbearable. Geoffrey tries not to succumb to the addiction, but this makes the situation even worse, he loses his peace of mind, makes rash acts. Yvonne's ex-wife, who even after the divorce did not leave her husband in distress, is anxiously watching the self-destruction process that has captured Jeffrey.
A worthy woman hopes for a successful outcome, believes that her ex-husband will be cured and stop drinking. She, as a loving spouse, tries to be closer to Firmin so that she can come to the rescue at any moment. Her concerns are shared by her brother Jeffrey, whose name is Hugh. He watches with concern the degradation of his own person, carefully listens to his brother’s arguments about the imminent death of civilization and that its destruction has already begun with himself - Jeffrey Firmin.
As for the collapsed civilization, it was said prematurely, but the self-destruction of the consul becomes already obvious. The process has become irreversible.
The role of the protagonist was intended for Richard Burton, but he died in August 1984, and Houston John invited the charismatic Albert Finney to the film project, who could play a drunken diplomat like no one else. The image of his wife was performed by the inimitable French actress Jacqueline Bisset, and his brother Hugh - the English actor Anthony Andrews.
"Return of the King"
Of particular note is the director’s participation in the production of a full-length animated film by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin. Houston John did not act as a director or screenwriter. He voiced the animated film "The Return of the King." There was a lot of work in more than an hour and a half film, but Houston didn’t count with time. His character Gandalf Gray turned out perfectly.
The cartoon was the film adaptation of the last part of the John Tolkien trilogy "The Lord of the Rings." At the same time, the picture was conceived as a continuation of The Hobbit, a children's fairy tale in the style of a musical.
The heroes themselves tell what is happening, constantly breaking from a monologue to singing. The plot has no strict outlines, the action is quite free. The main character is Sam, but not Frodo, the character of Aragorn is minimized, his rule is not described.
The picture begins with a festive feast, where Bilbo asks Frodo a question about where the Ring went. Frodo, Gandalf, the minstrel and others begin the story of how the hobbits carried the Ring to Mordor.
Houston John, the best director of his time, could take on any work, if only it was for the benefit of the development of American cinema. Directing a feature film or the voice acting of a cartoon hero was all equal in the eyes of the great director.
When Houston John, whose films became more and more popular, shot the film “God knows Mr. Allison,” he spent a lot of time in Ireland. There, in between cases, the director was engaged in painting. The film "The Misfits" about cowboys made it possible for Houston to saddle thoroughbred stallions almost every day and go on long trips. He walked in his free time riding in the woods in the company of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, who starred in the cast. Both the director and the actors sat perfectly in the saddle.
Roles in own film projects
John Houston did not miss the opportunity to play at least a small role in his film, if it was to the benefit of the common cause. In the early seventies, he began to act in film projects of his familiar directors. Houston considers his best role to be Noah Cross, a respectable gangster from the movie Chinatown directed by Roman Polanski.
Recent Director Films
The film “The Honor of the Przzi Family,” which Houston made in 1985, was one of the final works in his career. Starring Jack Nicholson and Katherine Turner.
The most recent film, entitled "The Dead," an adaptation of James Joyce's eponymous novel, was a worthy end to the career of Houston John, who rightfully bears the title of "Best Director" of American cinema.
Awards
- In 1949, Houston John received the Golden Globe Award for staging the movie “Treasures of the Sierra Madre.”
- In the same year, the director was awarded an Oscar in the nomination "Best Screenplay" and "Best Director" in the film "Treasures of the Sierra Madre."
- Year 1953 - Silver Lion Prize for staging the movie Moulin Rouge.
- Golden Globe in 1964, supporting role in the film Cardinal.
- In 1985, the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for his contribution to world cinema.
- "Golden Globe" in 1986 for best directing, the film "The Prizzi Family Honor."
The Houston Dynasty is the first in Hollywood to receive an Academy Award in three generations. Golden statuettes were awarded to the director’s close relatives for participating in films created by John Houston himself.