 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|||||
|
 |
 |
Biography of Cedric GibbonsName: Cedric GibbonsBirth Date: March 23, 1893 Death Date: 1960 Place of Birth: New York, United States Nationality: American Gender: Male Occupations: art director Cedric Gibbons The production designer Cedric Gibbons (1893-1960), though little-known to many filmgoers, strongly influenced many of Hollywood's greatest films.Gibbons was born in New York on March 23, 1893. Already educated in art and architecture, he began his movie career just as the film industry started rolling. He obtained an assistant's job at the Edison Studios and worked there from 1915 to 1918. Gibbons made a major mark on film design at this time when he insisted on the use of three-dimensional scenery rather than painted backdrops.In 1918 Gibbons left Edison for a position as art director at Goldwyn's in New York. Later he moved with Goldwyn and Company to California. In 1924 came a significant turning point. MGM studio was formed, and Gibbons became its supervising art director. In 1930 Gibbons married the actress Dolores Del Rio. The couple divorced in 1941.Strong Influence at MGMIt is not easy to determine which of the films in his very …showed first 150 words…
…showed last 150 words…his days as an artist and architect. This penchant for the three-dimensional might have been part of the reason for Vincente Minelli's animosity towards Gibbons, for Minelli films such as An American in Paris require a two-dimension emphasis for artistic effect. Fortunately, in spite of the difficulties, An American in Paris managed to gain Gibbons's dictatorial approval (and ironically enough won him an Oscar).Gibbons retired in 1956 and died on July 26, 1960 in Westwood, California. He had been nominated for 37 Academy Awards in his career and had won 11. In addition, he is credited with designing the original Oscar statuette. This streamlined, planar sculpture is an appropriate homage to Gibbons's oeuvre and serves as a reminder of the film industry's more glorious and powerful past. Further Reading Architectural Digest, vol. 47, April 1990; vol. 49, April 1992.The Art of Hollywood, 1979.Arts and Decoration, January 1921.Cinematographe February 1982.Collier's, September 30, 1933.Creative Art, October 1932.Films in Review, April 1965. |