George Seaton

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George Seaton (April 17, 1911 – July 28, 1979) was an American screenwriter, playwright, film director and producer, and theater director. Seaton led several industry organizations, serving as a three-time president of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, president of the Writers Guild of America West and the Screen Directors Guild, and vice president of Motion Picture Relief Fund. He won two Academy Awards for his screenplays.<ref name="Clark">Template:Cite news</ref>

Life and career

Early life

Seaton was born George Edward Stenius in South Bend, Indiana, of Swedish descent, the son of Olga (Berglund) and Charles Stenius, who was a chef and restaurant manager.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He was baptized as Roman Catholic. He grew up in a Detroit Jewish neighborhood, and described himself as a "Shabas goy". He went on to learn Hebrew in an Orthodox Jewish Yeshiva and was even bar mitzvahed.<ref>Template:Google books</ref> Seaton attended Exeter Academy<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="new">"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.</ref>

Acting

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.<ref name=Moviefone>Moviefone.com biography Template:Webarchive</ref>

Writing at MGM

Seaton wrote several plays, one of which was read by an executive at MGM who offered him a contract.<ref name="new" />

Seaton, with fellow writer and friend Robert Pirosh, joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a contract writer in 1933.<ref name="Moviefone" /> 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 comedy A Day at the Races (1937). His work on the script for Stage Door (1937) and The Wizard of Oz (1939) was uncredited. He wrote a play But Not Goodbye.<ref name="seaton" />

Seaton left MGM in 1937, unhappy at being restricted to comedies.<ref name="seaton">"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.</ref>

Columbia and 20th Century Fox

Seaton went to Columbia where he was credited on the scripts for The Doctor Takes a Wife (1940), This Thing Called Love (1940) and Bedtime Story (1941). At Columbia, Seaton first met William Perlberg.<ref name="new"/>

In the early 1940s, Seaton joined 20th Century Fox, where he remained for the rest of the decade, writing scripts for That Night in Rio (1941) with Don Ameche and Alice Faye. For a time, he specialized in musicals and comedy: Moon Over Miami (1941), with Betty Grable and Ameche, and Charley's Aunt (1941), with Jack Benny.Template:Citation needed

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.Template:Citation needed

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 (1943). He also wrote The Eve of St. Mark (1944).Template:Citation needed

But Not Goodbye, Seaton's 1944 Broadway debut as a playwright, closed after only 23 performances,<ref>But Not Goodbye at the Internet Broadway Database</ref> although it later was adapted for the 1946 MGM film The Cockeyed Miracle by Karen DeWolf.

Directing

Seaton's success as a writer paved the way for his work as a 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. The film was very successful.<ref name="zanuck">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</ref>

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.<ref name="seaton" /> Seaton wrote and directed the comedies Apartment for Peggy (1948) with William Holden and Jeanne Crain, and Chicken Every Sunday (1949) with Dan Dailey. He wrote a screenplay adapted from a Harry Segall play and directed For Heaven's Sake (1950) with Clifton Webb.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Seaton wrote and directed a 1950 drama about the Berlin Airlift with Montgomery Clift,The Big Lift. Template:Citation needed

Perlberg-Seaton productions

In November 1950, Seaton and Perlberg signed a multi-million dollar contract with Paramount for six years. Seaton was to write and direct films, and they would also produce films from others.<ref>"Multimillion-Dollar Movie Contract Signed" Los Angeles Times 13 Nov 1950: 9.</ref> They produced, but did not write or direct, the comedy Rhubarb (1951), Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick (1952), and Somebody Loves Me (1952) with Betty Hutton. Seaton's first film as writer director for Paramount was Anything Can Happen (1952), a comedy with José Ferrer. Template:Citation needed

Seaton made two films with Bing Crosby. Little Boy Lost (1953) was not a success but The Country Girl (1954), based on the play by Clifford Odets was a notable triumph. Grace Kelly earned an Oscar for Best Actress and Seaton won an Oscar for his screenplay.Template:Citation needed

Seaton and Perlberg produced The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954), directed by Mark Robson, with Holden and Kelly. It was a huge hit.Template:Citation needed

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.<ref>"Videos -- Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot directed by George Seaton" Anonymous. American Heritage; New York Vol. 45, Iss. 6, (Oct 1994): 109.</ref> Seaton and Perlberg were borrowed by Paramount to direct and produce a comedy with Clark Gable and Doris Day, Teacher's Pet (1958).

In April 1958, Seaton announced he and Perlberg would produce six more films for Paramount.<ref>"GABLE WILL STAR IN MOVIE COMEDY: Cast in 'But Not for Me,' a Perlberg-Seaton Film -Progress on 'Strogoff'" By THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times 6 Apr 1958: 38.</ref> The first of these were But Not for Me (1959) and The Rat Race (1960), directed by Robert Mulligan. Seaton worked as director on The Pleasure of His Company (1961) with Fred Astaire and Debbie Reynolds.

He wrote and directed The Counterfeit Traitor (1962) with Holden. They ended to follow it with The Hook then Night Without End adapted by Eric Ambler from an Alistair MacLean novel.<ref>"SEATON-PERLBERG A BUSY FILM TEAM: One Project Finished, One in Production, 2 in View -- Alastair Sim Sequel" By HOWARD THOMPSON. New York Times 18 Mar 1961: 16.</ref>

Perlberg-Seaton Productions moved to MGM where Seaton directed Kirk Douglas in The Hook (1963), a Korean War drama. Seaton was an uncredited producer on Twilight of Honor (1963) and directed some additional scenes on Mutiny on the Bounty (1963).<ref>"Big Career Looms for Bob Walker Jr.: Director George Seaton Has High Praise for Young Walker" Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 13 July 1962: D11.</ref> Seaton announced he would make Merrily We Roll Along, but the film was never made.<ref>"LOCAL VIEWS: 'MERRILY': In Reverse" By A.H. WEILER. New York Times 3 Nov 1963: X7.</ref> Seaton wrote and directed 36 Hours (1964), a war time thriller based on a story by Roald Dahl.<ref>"George Seaton, Film Writer, Dies: Won Academy Award in 1947 and 1955 Incomplete Source" Cohen, Jerry. Los Angeles Times 29 July 1979: oc1.</ref>

Industry leadership

Seaton served as president of the Writers Guild of America West from 1948-1949. In 1955, he was elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences served three terms, 1955-1958.<ref>"George Seaton Elected to Head Film Academy" Los Angeles Times 11 June 1955: 3.</ref><ref>"George Seaton, Screenwriter; Directed Filming of 'Airport'" The Washington Post 30 July 1979: B4.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Seaton directed the 28th Academy Awards in 1956.Template:Citation needed

In 1968, Seaton won the Valentine Davies Award "given to the Writers Guild of America West member whose contributions...have brought dignity and honor to writers everywhere."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Broadway

In May 1965, Seaton announced the end of his partnership with Perlberg. He returned to Broadway to direct Above William. (1965)<ref>"Producers Get the Action" Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 27 May 1965: C8.</ref> He then directed the Norman Krasna play Love in E Flat, which was a critical and commercial flop.<ref>Love in E Flat at the Internet Broadway Database</ref> The musical Here's Love, adapted from his screenplay for Miracle on 34th Street by Meredith Willson, proved to be more successful.Template:Citation needed

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).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Seaton disliked writing, producing and directing. "It's too much work," he said.<ref>"George Seaton Turns On Manhattan in New Comedy: Seaton Turns Manhattan On" Wigle, Shari. Los Angeles Times 14 April 1968: n16.</ref>

Seaton then had the biggest hit of his career with the all-star Airport (1970), which Seaton adapted from the novel by Arthur Hailey. It was produced by Ross Hunter. Seaton's script earned him an Oscar nomination.<ref>"Movies: How Hunter and Seaton Tackled 'Airport' Task" Brown, Vanessa. Los Angeles Times 6 Apr 1969: p20.</ref>

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.<ref>"Crash of 1929 Made B.H. Citizen Seaton Bullish on Film Industry" Faris, Gerald. Los Angeles Times 8 Feb 1973: ws3.</ref>

Personal life

In 1936, Seaton married Phyllis Loughton Seaton, a Broadway stage manager who became a successful acting coach and was the first female mayor of Beverly Hills in 1973.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They had two children.<ref name="Clark"/>

Seaton died of cancer in Beverly Hills, California in 1979. He had been suffering from it for two years.<ref>"Hollywood film director George Seaton dies" Chicago Tribune 29 July 1979: b19.</ref>

Seaton's papers are in the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives, Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>