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George Seaton (April 17, 1911 – July 28, 1979) was an American screenwriter, playwright, film director and producer, and theatre director.


Life and career


Early life

Seaton was born George Edward Stenius in
South Bend, Indiana South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total of 103,453 residents and is the fourt ...
, of Swedish descent, the son of Olga (Berglund) and Charles Stenius, who was a chef and restaurant manager. He was baptized as Roman Catholic. He grew up in a Detroit Jewish neighborhood, and described himself as a " Shabas goy". So he went on to learn Hebrew in an Orthodox Jewish Yeshiva and was even bar mitzvahed. He attended Exeter and was meant to go to Yale but instead auditioned for Jesse Bonstelle's drama school in Detroit. She hired him for her stock company at $15 a week."George Seaton, Director, Dead; Got Two Oscars for Screenplays: Also Directed 'Country Girl' A Change of Plans" By ALFRED E. CLARK. ''New York Times'' 29 July 1979: 36.


Actor

Seaton worked in stock and on radio. He worked as an actor on radio station WXYZ. John L. Barrett played the Lone Ranger on test broadcasts of the series in early January 1933, but when the program became part of the regular schedule Seaton was cast in the title role. In later years, he claimed to have devised the cry "Hi-yo, Silver" because he couldn't whistle for his horse as the script required.Moviefone.com biography
Seaton also wrote several plays, one of which was read by an executive at MGM who offered him a contract.


Writer at MGM

Seaton, along with fellow writer and friend Robert Pirosh, joined
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 ...
as a contract writer in 1933. He was credited on the scripts for '' Student Tour'' (1934) and '' The Winning Ticket'' (1935) and did some uncredited work with Robert Pirosh on '' A Night at the Opera'' (1935). Seaton's first major screen credit was the
Marx Brothers The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act that was successful in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in motion pictures from 1905 to 1949. Five of the Marx Brothers' thirteen feature films were selected by the American Film Institute (AF ...
comedy '' A Day at the Races'' (1937). He left MGM in 1937, unhappy at being restricted to comedies."GEORGE SEATON ON TOP: Being an Introduction to a Modest and Successful Movie Writer-Director" By HELEN COLTON HOLLYWOOD.. ''New York Times'' 14 Nov 1948: X5. He did some uncredited work on the script for '' Stage Door'' (1937) and ''
The Wizard of Oz ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' or ''The Wizard of Oz'' most commonly refers to: *'' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', a 1900 American novel by L. Frank Baum often reprinted as ''The Wizard of Oz'' ** Wizard of Oz (character), from the Baum novel serie ...
'' (1939). He wrote a play ''But Not Goodbye''.


Columbia

Seaton went to Columbia where he was credited on the scripts for ''
The Doctor Takes a Wife ''The Doctor Takes a Wife'' is a 1940 screwball comedy film starring Loretta Young and Ray Milland as a best-selling author and medical school instructor, respectively, who find it convenient to pretend to be married, even though they initially l ...
'' (1940), '' This Thing Called Love'' (1940) and '' Bedtime Story'' (1941). At Columbia Seaton first met William Perlberg.


20th Century Fox

In the early 1940s, he joined
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film studio, film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm o ...
, where he remained for the rest of the decade, writing scripts for '' That Night in Rio'' (1941) with
Don Ameche Don Ameche (; born Dominic Felix Amici; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an American actor, comedian and vaudevillian. After playing in college shows, stock, and vaudeville, he became a major radio star in the early 1930s, which l ...
and Alice Faye. For a time he specialised in musicals and comedy: '' Moon Over Miami'' (1941), with Betty Grable and Ameche, and '' Charley's Aunt'' (1941), with Jack Benny. Seaton wrote a historical war film, '' Ten Gentlemen from West Point'' (1942), then did the comedies '' The Magnificent Dope'' (1942) with Ameche and Henry Fonda, and '' The Meanest Man in the World'' (1943) with Jack Benny. Seaton wrote '' The Song of Bernadette'' (1943) which was a big success. It was produced by William Perlberg who would have an important influence on Seaton's career. Seaton followed it with the Betty Grable musical ''
Coney Island Coney Island is a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach to its east, Lower New York Bay to th ...
'' (1943). He also wrote '' The Eve of St. Mark'' (1944). ''But Not Goodbye'', Seaton's 1944 Broadway debut as a playwright, closed after only 23 performances, although it later was adapted for the 1946 MGM film '' The Cockeyed Miracle'' by Karen DeWolf.


Director

Seaton had been so successful as a writer he was able to turn director. His first film was '' Diamond Horseshoe'' (1945) with Grable, which he also wrote. It was produced by William Perlberg, who would go on to produce all of Seaton's films from this time on. The film was very successful.Memo from Darryl F. Zanuck to all producers at 20th Century Fox, 13 June 1946, ''Memo from Darryl F. Zanuck'', Grove Press, 1993, pp. 108–109 Seaton did some uncredited directing on '' Where Do We Go from Here?'' (1945) then wrote and directed '' Junior Miss'' (1945), based on a popular play, with Peggy Ann Garner. Seaton wrote and directed '' The Shocking Miss Pilgrim'' (1947) with Grable. He followed it with '' Miracle on 34th Street'' (1947), which quickly became acknowledged as a classic. Seaton won an Oscar for his screenplay. Seaton wrote and directed two comedies, ''
Apartment for Peggy ''Apartment for Peggy'' is a 1948 American comedy-drama film directed by George Seaton and starring Jeanne Crain, William Holden, and Edmund Gwenn. The plot is about a depressed professor whose spirits are lifted when he rents part of his home to ...
'' (1948) with William Holden and Jeanne Crain, and '' Chicken Every Sunday'' (1949) with Dan Dailey. He did a drama about the Berlin Airlift with Montgomery Clift, '' The Big Lift'' (1950), then did another comedy, '' For Heaven's Sake'' (1950), with Clifton Webb.


Perlberg-Seaton Productions

In November 1950 Seaton and Perlberg signed a multi-million-dollar contract with Paramount for six years. Seaton would write and direct films, and they would also produce films from others. They produced, but did not write or direct, the comedy ''
Rhubarb Rhubarb is the fleshy, edible stalks ( petioles) of species and hybrids (culinary rhubarb) of '' Rheum'' in the family Polygonaceae, which are cooked and used for food. The whole plant – a herbaceous perennial growing from short, thick r ...
'' (1951), '' Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick'' (1952), and ''
Somebody Loves Me "Somebody Loves Me" is a popular song, with music written by George Gershwin, and lyrics by Ballard MacDonald and Buddy DeSylva. The song was published in 1924 and featured in '' George White's Scandals'' of 1924. This is not to be confuse ...
'' (1952) with Betty Hutton. Seaton's first film as writer director for Paramount was '' Anything Can Happen'' (1952), a comedy with José Ferrer. Seaton made two films with
Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...
. '' Little Boy Lost'' (1953) was not a success but '' The Country Girl'' (1954), based on the play by
Clifford Odets Clifford Odets (July 18, 1906 – August 14, 1963) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and actor. In the mid-1930s, he was widely seen as the potential successor to Nobel Prize-winning playwright Eugene O'Neill, as O'Neill began to withdra ...
was a notable triumph. Grace Kelly earned an Oscar for Best Actress and Seaton won an Oscar for his screenplay. Seaton and Perlberg ''
The Bridges at Toko-Ri ''The Bridges at Toko-Ri'' is a 1954 American war film about the Korean War and stars William Holden, Grace Kelly, Fredric March, Mickey Rooney, and Robert Strauss. The film, which was directed by Mark Robson, was produced by Paramount Pictur ...
'' (1954), directed by Mark Robson, with Holden and Kelly. It was a huge hit. In 1955 Seaton was elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He would serve three terms. Seaton directed the 28th Academy Awards in 1956. Seaton wrote and directed '' The Proud and Profane'' (1956) with William Holden and Deborah Kerr, which was a box office disappointment. He directed a short film ''Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot'' (1957) and produced '' The Tin Star'' (1957), directed by Anthony Mann. Seaton and Perlberg were borrowed by MGM to direct and produce a comedy with Clark Gable and
Doris Day Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress, singer, and activist. She began her career as a big band singer in 1939, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, " Sent ...
, '' Teacher's Pet'' (1958). He did not write. In April 1958 Seaton announced he and Perlberg would produce six more films for Paramount. The first of these were '' But Not for Me'' (1959) and '' The Rat Race'' (1960), directed by
Robert Mulligan Robert Patrick Mulligan (August 23, 1925 – December 20, 2008) was an American director and producer. He is best known for his humanist dramas, including '' To Kill a Mockingbird'' (1962), '' Summer of '42'' (1971), ''The Other'' (1972), '' Same ...
. Seaton worked as director only on '' The Pleasure of His Company'' (1961) with Fred Astaire and
Debbie Reynolds Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress, singer, and businesswoman. Her career spanned almost 70 years. She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer for her portra ...
. He wrote and directed '' The Counterfeit Traitor'' (1962) with Holden. They ended to follow it with ''The Hook'' then ''
Night Without End ''Night Without End'' is a thriller novel by Scottish author Alistair MacLean, first published in 1959. The author has been complimented for the excellent depiction of the unforgiving Arctic environment; among others, the ''Times Literary Supp ...
'' adapted by Eric Ambler from an Alistair MacLean novel.


MGM

Perlberg-Seaton Productions moved to MGM where Seaton directed
Kirk Douglas Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch; December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor and filmmaker. After an impoverished childhood, he made his film debut in ''The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' (1946) with Barbara Stanwyck. Dou ...
in '' The Hook'' (1963) a
Korean War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Korean War , partof = the Cold War and the Korean conflict , image = Korean War Montage 2.png , image_size = 300px , caption = Clockwise from top: ...
drama. He was uncredited producer on '' Twilight of Honor'' (1963) and directed some additional scenes on ''
Mutiny on the Bounty The mutiny on the Royal Navy vessel occurred in the South Pacific Ocean on 28 April 1789. Disaffected crewmen, led by acting-Lieutenant Fletcher Christian, seized control of the ship from their captain, Lieutenant William Bligh, and se ...
'' (1963). Seaton announced he would make '' Merrily We Roll Along'' but the film was never made. Seaton wrote and directed '' 36 Hours'' (1964), a war time thriller based on a story by
Roald Dahl Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short-story writer, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter ace of Norwegian descent. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide. Dahl has b ...
.


Broadway

In May 1965 Seaton announced the end of his partnership with Perlberg. He returned to Broadway to direct ''Above William.'' (1965) He then directed the Norman Krasna play ''
Love in E Flat Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest Interpersonal relationship, interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of ...
'', which was a critical and commercial flop. The musical '' Here's Love'', adapted from his screenplay for ''Miracle on 34th Street'' by Meredith Willson, proved to be more successful.


Universal

Seaton went to Universal where he signed a three-picture contract. The first film was the comedy '' What's So Bad About Feeling Good?'' (1968) which Seaton produced and directed as well as writing with Robert Pirosh, with whom he had cowritten ''A Day at the Races'' (1937). Seaton disliked writing, producing and directing. "It's too much work," he said. Seaton then had the biggest hit of his career with the all-star ''
Airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. Airports usually consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surfa ...
'' (1970), which Seaton adapted from the novel by Arthur Hailey. It was produced by Ross Hunter. Seaton's script earned him an Oscar nomination. Seaton's last film as director was his third for Universal '' Showdown'' (1973), which he also produced. He announced he was looking for another film to make but none eventuated. Seaton died of
cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal bl ...
in
Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. ...
in 1979. He had been suffering from it for two years."Hollywood film director George Seaton dies" ''Chicago Tribune'' 29 July 1979: b19.


Partial filmography

* '' A Day at the Races'' (1937) * ''
The Doctor Takes a Wife ''The Doctor Takes a Wife'' is a 1940 screwball comedy film starring Loretta Young and Ray Milland as a best-selling author and medical school instructor, respectively, who find it convenient to pretend to be married, even though they initially l ...
'' (1940) (writer) * '' Bedtime Story'' (1941) (writer only) * '' The Song of Bernadette'' (1943) * '' The Meanest Man in the World'' (1943) * '' Junior Miss'' (1945) * '' The Shocking Miss Pilgrim'' (1947) * '' Miracle on 34th Street'' (1947) * ''
Apartment for Peggy ''Apartment for Peggy'' is a 1948 American comedy-drama film directed by George Seaton and starring Jeanne Crain, William Holden, and Edmund Gwenn. The plot is about a depressed professor whose spirits are lifted when he rents part of his home to ...
'' (1948) * '' Chicken Every Sunday'' (1949) * '' The Big Lift'' (1950) * '' For Heaven's Sake'' (1950) * '' Anything Can Happen'' (1952) * '' Little Boy Lost'' (1953) * '' The Country Girl'' (1954) * '' The Proud and Profane'' (1956) * '' Williamsburg: the Story of a Patriot'' (1957) * '' Teacher's Pet'' (1958) * '' The Pleasure of His Company'' (1961) * '' The Counterfeit Traitor'' (1962) * '' The Hook'' (1963) * '' 36 Hours'' (1964) * '' What's So Bad About Feeling Good?'' (1968) * ''
Airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. Airports usually consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surfa ...
'' (1970) * '' Showdown'' (1973)


References


External links

*
George Seaton Papers
at the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research. {{DEFAULTSORT:Seaton, George 1911 births 1979 deaths American theatre directors Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award winners Presidents of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Writers from South Bend, Indiana Lone Ranger Deaths from cancer in California 20th-century American dramatists and playwrights Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award winners American people of Swedish descent Film directors from Indiana 20th-century screenwriters