Robert D. Webb (January 8, 1903 – April 18, 1990) was an American

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

. He directed 16 films between 1945 and 1968. He won the

Academy Award for Best Assistant Director The Academy Award for Best Assistant Director was awarded from 1933 through 1937. In the first year of this award, it referred to no specific film. * 1933: ** Charles Barton (Paramount) - winner ** Scott Beal (Universal) - winner **Charles Dorian ( ...

for ''

In Old Chicago ''In Old Chicago'' is a 1938 American disaster musical drama film directed by Henry King. The screenplay by Sonya Levien and Lamar Trotti was based on the Niven Busch story, "We the O'Learys". The film is a fictionalized account about the Gre ...

'', the last time that category was offered.

Biography

Webb was born in

Clay City, Kentucky Clay City is a home rule-class city in Powell County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,077 at the 2010 census. History The first European settlement in the vicinity of present-day Clay City was in 1786, by Stephen Collins and his ...

in 1904 and moved to San Francisco with his family when he was five. His older brother Millard went to work in the film industry, creating the sets for

Rin Tin Tin Rin Tin Tin or Rin-Tin-Tin (September 1918 – August 10, 1932) was a male German Shepherd born in Flirey, France, who became an international star in motion pictures. He was rescued from a World War I battlefield by an American soldier, L ...

films, which sparked Webb's own interest. Webb's son Jim later said his father "worked as a gofer and did just about everything (for the studios). He did lighting, grip, was a property man, even some makeup work. He worked his way up and became second assistant director. Then he became assistant director under Henry King. That's where he really learned the directing business."R. Webb, Oscar-winning director Balboa Island resident won Academy Award in 1938: VENING EditionTherese Lipsey:The Register. Orange County Register April 26, 1990: B09

Assistant director

Webb's first film as assistant director under Henry King was '' The Country Doctor'' (1936). It was made at

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American 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 of Walt Dis ...

where Webb would work for most of his career. Webb was assistant director on ''

Sins of Man ''Sins of Man'' is a 1936 American drama film, directed by Otto Brower and released by 20th Century Fox. It stars Jean Hersholt, Don Ameche, and Allen Jenkins. Plot Cast *Jean Hersholt as Christopher Freyman *Don Ameche as Karl Freyman / Mario ...

'' (1936), directed by

Otto Brower Otto Brower (December 2, 1890 – January 25, 1946) was an American film director. He directed more than 40 films between 1928 and 1946. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and died in Hollywood, California, from a myocardial infarction, ...

, then did five films in a row with King: ''

Ramona ''Ramona'' is a 1884 American novel written by Helen Hunt Jackson. Set in Southern California after the Mexican–American War, it portrays the life of a mixed-race Scottish– Native American orphan girl, who suffers racial discrimination and ...

'' (1936), ''

Lloyd's of London Lloyd's of London, generally known simply as Lloyd's, is an insurance and reinsurance market located in London, England. Unlike most of its competitors in the industry, it is not an insurance company; rather, Lloyd's is a corporate body gov ...

'' (1936), '' Seventh Heaven'' (1937), ''

Alexander's Ragtime Band "Alexander's Ragtime Band" is a Tin Pan Alley song by American composer Irving Berlin released in 1911 and is often inaccurately cited as his first global hit. Despite its title, the song is a march as opposed to a rag and contains little synco ...

'' (1938) and ''

'' (1938). These were the studio's most prestigious projects. Webb won an Oscar for ''Chicago''. After '' Just Around the Corner'' (1938) with

Irving Cummings Irving Caminsky (October 9, 1888 – April 18, 1959) was an American movie actor and director. Career Born in New York City, Cummings started his acting career at age 16 in ''Diplomacy''. His Broadway, performances included ''In the Long R ...

he went back to working for King on ''

Jesse James Jesse Woodson James (September 5, 1847April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw, bank and train robber, guerrilla and leader of the James–Younger Gang. Raised in the " Little Dixie" area of Western Missouri, James and his family maintained stro ...

'' (1939), ''

Stanley and Livingstone ''Stanley and Livingstone'' is a 1939 American adventure film directed by Henry King and Otto Brower. It is loosely based on the true story of Welsh reporter Sir Henry M. Stanley's quest to find Dr. David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary presu ...

'' (1939), '' Little Old New York'' (1940), ''

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

'' (1940) and ''

Chad Hanna ''Chad Hanna'' is a 1940 American drama romance film directed by Henry King, and was adapted from a bestseller of sorts that was published that same year. The novel was written by Walter Dumaux Edmonds (after it had first been published in seri ...

'' (1940). Because King made so many location pictures, Webb learned how to fly to help with location scouting. Webb assisted

Rouben Mamoulian Rouben Zachary Mamoulian ( ; hy, Ռուբէն Մամուլեան; October 8, 1897 – December 4, 1987) was an American film and theatre director. Early life Mamoulian was born in Tiflis, Russian Empire, to a family of Armenian descent. H ...

in ''

Blood and Sand Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the c ...

'' (1941) and

Henry Hathaway Henry Hathaway (March 13, 1898 – February 11, 1985) was an American film director and producer. He is best known as a director of Westerns, especially starring Randolph Scott and John Wayne. He directed Gary Cooper in seven films. Backgro ...

on ''

Ten Gentlemen from West Point ''Ten Gentlemen from West Point'' is a 1942 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring George Montgomery (actor), George Montgomery, Maureen O'Hara and John Sutton (actor), John Sutton. Its cinematography was no ...

'' (1942), and worked with King on ''

A Yank in the R.A.F. ''A Yank in the R.A.F.'' is a 1941 American black-and-white war film directed by Henry King and starring Tyrone Power and Betty Grable. Released three months before the attack on Pearl Harbor plunged the United States into World War II, it is ...

'' (1941), '' The Black Swan'' (1942), and '' The Song of Bernadette'' (1943).

Early features as director

Webb wanted to direct and the studio gave him a short, ''No Escape'' (1943). It was sufficiently well received that they entrusted him with two low budget features, ''

The Caribbean Mystery ''The Caribbean Mystery'' is a 1945 American film noir mystery film which marked the directorial debut of Robert D. Webb. It is the third film adaptation of the 1933 novel ''Murder in Trinidad'' by John W. Vandercook to be produced by 20th Centur ...

'' (1945) and ''

The Spider The Spider is an American pulp-magazine hero of the 1930s and 1940s. The character was created by editor Harry Steeger and written by a variety of authors for 118 monthly issues of ''The Spider'' from 1933 to 1943. A 119th Spider novel manuscrip ...

'' (1945).

Second unit work

King asked him to work as

second unit Second unit is a discrete team of filmmakers tasked with filming shots or sequences of a production, separate from the main or "first" unit. The second unit will often shoot simultaneously with the other unit or units, allowing the filming stag ...

director, and so Webb did that on King's ''

Margie Margie is a feminine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of Margaret, Marjorie or Margarita. Margie may refer to: People * Margie Ackles (born 1939), American retired figure skater * Marjorie Margie Alexander (1948–2013), American ...

'' (1946), ''

Captain from Castile ''Captain from Castile'' is a historical adventure film released by 20th Century-Fox in 1947. Directed by Henry King, the Technicolor film stars Tyrone Power, Jean Peters, and Cesar Romero. Shot on location in Michoacán, Mexico, the film include ...

'' (1947), and ''

Prince of Foxes ''Prince of Foxes'' is a 1947 historical novel by Samuel Shellabarger, following the adventures of the fictional Andrea Orsini, a captain in the service of Cesare Borgia during his conquest of the Romagna. Plot introduction Andrea Zoppo, an Ita ...

'' (1949), the latter two being expensive epics. Webb did second unit for

Fritz Lang Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), known as Fritz Lang, was an Austrian film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary ''Variety'', August 4, 1976, p. 6 ...

on ''

American Guerrilla in the Philippines ''American Guerrilla in the Philippines'' (released as ''I Shall Return'' in the UK) is a 1950 American war film directed by Fritz Lang and starring Tyrone Power as a U.S. Navy ensign stranded by the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World ...

'' (1950) and

Lloyd Bacon Lloyd Francis Bacon (December 4, 1889 – November 15, 1955) was an American screen, stage and vaudeville actor and film director. As a director he made films in virtually all genres, including westerns, musicals, comedies, gangster films, an ...

on ''

The Frogmen ''The Frogmen'' is a 1951 American black-and-white World War II drama film from Twentieth Century Fox, produced by Samuel G. Engel, directed by Lloyd Bacon, that stars Richard Widmark, Dana Andrews, and Gary Merrill. The film's storyline is base ...

'' (1951) before being reunited with King on ''

David and Bathsheba David and Bathsheba may refer to: * David and Bathsheba, husband and wife in Hebrew Bible, parents of Solomon *''David and Bethsabe ''The Love of King David and Fair Bethsabe'' is a play by George Peele, based on the biblical story of David, B ...

'' (1951). While working on the latter he started dating the film's editor, Barbara Maclean, who he would marry in 1951. He worked with

on '' The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel'' (1951), Joseph M Newman on ''

Red Skies of Montana ''Red Skies of Montana'' is a 1952 adventure drama film in which Richard Widmark stars as a smokejumper who attempts to save his crew while being overrun by a forest fire, not only to preserve their lives, but to redeem himself after being the o ...

'' (1952), and

Jean Negulesco Jean Negulesco (born Ioan Negulescu; – 18 July 1993) was a Romanian-American film director and screenwriter.Oliver, Myrna"Jean Negulesco 1900–1993 ''The Los Angeles Times'', 22 July 1993. He first gained notice for his film noirs and later ...

on ''

Lydia Bailey ''Lydia Bailey'' is a 1952 American historical film directed by Jean Negulesco, based on the novel of the same name by Kenneth Roberts. It stars Dale Robertson and Anne Francis. Plot In 1802, lawyer Albion Hamlin travels from Baltimore to Ca ...

'' (1952) and ''

Lure of the Wilderness ''Lure of the Wilderness'' is a 1952 romantic adventure Technicolor film directed by Jean Negulesco and based on the 1941 novel ''Swamp Water'' by Vereen Bell. The film is a remake of Jean Renoir's 1941 adaption of the novel. Walter Brennan ...

'' (1952), with location work in Georgia swamps. He did some uncredited directing on '' Way of a Gaucho'' (1952).

Director

Fox allowed Webb to return to directing with ''

The Glory Brigade ''The Glory Brigade'' is a 1953 American war film directed by Robert D. Webb. It stars Victor Mature and Alexander Scourby. The film was referred to in ''M*A*S*H'' (1970), directed by Robert Altman. Plot US Army engineer Lt. Pryor's detachmen ...

'' (1953), a

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

film with

Victor Mature Victor John Mature (January 29, 1913 – August 4, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actor who was a leading man in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His best known film roles include ''One Million B.C.'' (1940), '' My Darlin ...

shot in

Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri Fort Leonard Wood is a U.S. Army training installation located in the Missouri Ozarks. The main gate is located on the southern boundary of The City of St. Robert. The post was created in December 1940 and named in honor of General Leonard Woo ...

. He then directed the treasure hunting film ''

Beneath the 12-Mile Reef ''Beneath the 12-Mile Reef'' is a 1953 American Technicolor adventure film directed by Robert D. Webb and starring Robert Wagner, Terry Moore and Gilbert Roland. The screenplay was by A.I. Bezzerides. The film was the third motion picture made ...

'' (1953), with

Robert Wagner Robert John Wagner Jr. (born February 10, 1930) is an American actor of stage, screen, and television. He is known for starring in the television shows '' It Takes a Thief'' (1968–1970), ''Switch'' (1975–1978), and ''Hart to Hart'' (1979– ...

, which became a big hit by being the third movie shot in

CinemaScope CinemaScope is an anamorphic lens series used, from 1953 to 1967, and less often later, for shooting widescreen films that, crucially, could be screened in theatres using existing equipment, albeit with a lens adapter. Its creation in 1953 by ...

. He did ''

White Feather The white feather is a widely recognised propaganda symbol. It has, among other things, represented cowardice or conscientious pacifism; as in A. E. W. Mason's 1902 book, ''The Four Feathers''. In Britain during the First World War it was ofte ...

'' (1955), a Western with Wagner, Jeffrey Hunter and

Debra Paget Debra Paget (born Debralee Griffin; August 19, 1933) is an American actress and entertainer. She is perhaps best known for her performances in Cecil B. DeMille's epic ''The Ten Commandments'' (1956) and in Elvis Presley's film debut, '' Love Me ...

. This was followed by ''

Seven Cities of Gold The myth of the Seven Cities of Gold, also known as the Seven Cities of Cibola (), was popular in the 16th century and later featured in several works of popular culture. According to legend, the seven cities of gold referred to Aztec mythology r ...

'' (1955), a historical adventure film with Richard Egan, which was produced by Webb and his wife. It was his favourite film. Webb did a science fiction film, ''

On the Threshold of Space ''On the Threshold of Space'' (aka ''Threshold of Space'') is a 1956 Drama (genre), drama directed by Robert D. Webb, starring Guy Madison, Virginia Leith and John Hodiak. It was Hodiak's final film; he died six months before it was released. ''On ...

'' (1956), and then ''

The Proud Ones ''The Proud Ones'' is a 1956 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Robert D. Webb and starring Robert Ryan and Virginia Mayo. The film was based on the 1952 novel by Verne Athanas who after suffering an early heart attack, he gave up ...

'' (1956), a Western with Hunter and Robert Ryan. In June 1956 his contract with Fox was renewed and they said he would direct ''The Iron Butterfly'' however the film was not made. Webb directed

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

's first film, '' Love Me Tender'' (1956), a Western where Presley was billed after Egan and Paget. It became a huge hit. Webb directed ''

The Way to the Gold ''The Way to the Gold'' is a 1957 drama film directed by Robert D. Webb and starring Jeffrey Hunter, Sheree North, and Barry Sullivan. It was released by 20th Century-Fox. Plot Joe Mundy (Hunter) is being released from prison and an old convict, ...

'' (1957), a Western with Hunter. In 1957 he tried to get Fox to finance a musical, ''Crazy Boy''. He had another project called ''Meeting on a Summit'' which was not made. He did an episode of '' Rawhide'' then was hired by

Alan Ladd Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Ladd found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in films noir and Westerns. He was often paired with Veronica Lake ...

to do a Western for Ladd's own company, '' Guns of the Timberland'' (1960) the first dramatic movie for singer

Frankie Avalon Francis Thomas Avallone (born September 18, 1940), better known as Frankie Avalon, is an American actor, singer, and former teen idol. He had 31 charting U.S. ''Billboard'' singles from 1958 to late 1962, including number one hits, "Venus" an ...

. Webb directed a swashbuckler for

Sam Katzman Sam Katzman (July 7, 1901 – August 4, 1973) was an American film producer and director. Katzman produced low-budget genre films, including serials, which had disproportionately high returns for the studios and his financial backers. Ea ...

at Fox, ''

Pirates of Tortuga ''Pirates of Tortuga'' is a 1961 DeLuxe Color American swashbuckler film which invented an alternate history for the actual Welsh privateer Henry Morgan. It was released in October 1961 in the United States in CinemaScope. Plot In the 17th centu ...

'' (1961). He directed a film for

Associated Producers Incorporated Robert Lenard Lippert (March 31, 1909 – November 16, 1976) was an American film producer and cinema chain owner. He was president and chief operating officer of Lippert Theatres, Affiliated Theatres and Transcontinental Theatres, all based in ...

(API), the low budget division of 20th Century Fox, about women in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp, ''

Seven Women from Hell ''Seven Women from Hell'' is a 1961 war drama directed by Robert D. Webb and starring Patricia Owens, Denise Darcel (in her final film), Margia Dean, Yvonne Craig and Cesar Romero about women prisoners in a Japanese World War II prison camp, int ...

'' (1961).

Second unit directing

Webb returned to second unit directing with ''

A Gathering of Eagles ''A Gathering of Eagles'' is a 1963 SuperScope Eastmancolor film about the U.S. Air Force during the Cold War and the pressures of command. The plot is patterned after the World War II film ''Twelve O'Clock High'', which producer-screenwriter S ...

'' (1963) for

Delbert Mann Delbert Martin Mann Jr. (January 30, 1920 – November 11, 2007) was an American television and film director. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for the film '' Marty'' (1955), adapted from a 1953 teleplay of the same name which h ...

. He did ''

Captain Newman, M.D. ''Captain Newman, M.D.'' is a 1963 American comedy film, comedy Drama (film and television), drama film directed by David Miller (director), David Miller and starring Gregory Peck, Tony Curtis, Angie Dickinson, Robert Duvall, Eddie Albert and Bob ...

'' (1963) for David Miller then directed an episode of '' Temple Houston'' starring Hunter, before returning to second unit with '' The Agony and the Ecstasy'' (1965) and ''

Assault on a Queen ''Assault on a Queen'' is a 1966 American action-adventure film directed by Jack Donohue and starring Frank Sinatra and Virna Lisi. Based on a 1959 novel by Jack Finney, it was adapted for the screen by Rod Serling and released by Paramount Pict ...

'' (1966).

Later years

Webb returned to directing with two films shot for Fox in South Africa, both remakes of old Fox films: ''

The Jackals ''The Jackals'' is a 1967 DeLuxe Color Western film from 20th Century Fox filmed at Killarney Film Studios South Africa. A remake of 1948's ''Yellow Sky'', it stars Vincent Price as a South African prospector named Oupa (grandpa) Decker and c ...

'' (1967) and ''

The Cape Town Affair ''The Cape Town Affair'' is director Robert D. Webb's 1967 glamorized spy film produced by 20th Century Fox at Killarney Film Studios in South Africa. The film stars Claire Trevor, James Brolin, and Jacqueline Bisset. It is a remake of the 1953 ...

'' (1967). Webb lived the last 21 years of his life on

Balboa Island Balboa Island is a harborside community in Newport Beach, California, accessible to the public via bridge, ferry and several public docks. The community is surrounded by a paved concrete boardwalk open to pedestrian traffic, designated as a pu ...

. He was survived by his wife, Barbara (d 1996) who was a top editor at Fox. He was also survived by his son, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Selected filmography

*''

Corsair A corsair is a privateer or pirate, especially: * Barbary corsair, Ottoman and Berber pirates and privateers operating from North Africa * French corsairs, privateers operating on behalf of the French crown Corsair may also refer to: Arts and ...

'' (1931) - assistant director *'' The Country Doctor'' (1936) - assistant director *''

'' (1936) - assistant director *''

'' (1936) - assistant director *'' Seventh Heaven'' (1937) - assistant director *''

'' (1938) - assistant director * ''

'' (1938) (assistant director) (

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

winner for

Best Assistant Director The Academy Awards, Academy Award for Best Assistant Director was awarded from 1933 through 1937. In the first year of this award, it referred to no specific film. * 6th Academy Awards, 1933: **Charles Barton (director), Charles Barton (Paramount) ...

) *'' Just Around the Corner'' (1938) - assistant director *''

'' (1939) - assistant director *''

'' (1939) - assistant director *'' Little Old New York'' (1940) - assistant director *''

'' (1940) - assistant director *''

'' (1941) - assistant director *''

A Yank in the RAF ''A Yank in the R.A.F.'' is a 1941 American black-and-white war film directed by Henry King and starring Tyrone Power and Betty Grable. Released three months before the attack on Pearl Harbor plunged the United States into World War II, it is ...

'' (1941) - assistant director *''

'' (1942) - second unit director *'' The Black Swan'' (1942) - location director *''No Exceptions'' (1943) (short) - director *'' The Song of Bernadette'' (1943) - unit manager * ''

'' (1945) - director * ''

'' (1945) - director *''

'' (1946) - production manager *'' The Captain from Castile'' (1947) - second unit director *''

'' (1949) - second unit director *'' American Guerilla in the Philippines'' (1950) - second unit director, production manager *''

'' (1951) - second unit director *''

'' (1951) - second unit director *'' The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel'' (1951) - second unit director *''

'' (1951) - second unit director *''

'' (1952) - second unit director *''

'' (1952) - second unit director, associate producer *'' Way of a Gaucho'' (1952) - director of some scenes * ''

'' (1953) - director * ''

'' (1955) - director, producer * ''

'' (1955) - director * ''

'' (1956) - director * ''

'' (1956) - director * '' Love Me Tender'' (1956) - director * ''

'' (1957) - director * '' Rawhide'' (1959) - episode "Incident at Dangerfield Dip" - director * '' Guns of the Timberland'' (1960) - directorALAN LADD FILM NAMES DIRECTOR: Robert Webb Is Signed for 'Guns of Timberland' -- Columbia Adds Writers Special to The New York Times. New York Times March 24, 1959: 45. * ''

'' (1961) - director * ''

'' (1962) - second unit director * '' Captain Newman MD'' (1963) - second unit director * '' Temple Houston'' (1964) episode "The Guardian" - director * '' The Agony and the Ecstasy'' (1965) - second unit director * ''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the we ...

'' (1965) episode "The Prophet" - director * ''

'' (1966) - second unit director * ''

'' (1967) - director * ''

'' (1967) - director, producer * ''A Little of What You Fancy'' (1968) (documentary) - director * ''Dancing Shoes'' (1969) (documentary, short) - director

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Webb, Robert D. 1903 births 1990 deaths Best Assistant Director Academy Award winners Burials at Pacific View Memorial Park Film directors from Kentucky People from Powell County, Kentucky