History Creator / LeoMcCarey

!! Selected Filmography

[=McCarey=] was the among the least prolific of all major Golden Age directors. He very early on insisted on making films his own way, and more or less worked as an "independent" within the studio system. He continued to direct such iconic films as the much-remade ''Film/LoveAffair'' (remade by [=McCarey=] himself as ''Film/AnAffairToRemember'') and ''Film/GoingMyWay'' (which earned him his second Best Director Oscar). His reputation declined after the war, with some of his films such as ''Good Sam'' made for Republic studios not finding attention (even if it would be seen as a masterpiece by admirers later on). His most controversial film by far was the RedScare-themed 1952 drama ''My Son John'', which tarnished [=McCarey=]'s reputation owing to his support for the anti-communist activities run by [=HUAC=] during the [[UsefulNotes/TheHollywoodBlacklist blacklist]] era. The film's TroubledProduction, with leading man Creator/RobertWalker's accidental death midway into the shoot, further hampered the film. [=McCarey=] would make just three more films after that before retiring.

[=McCarey=] was much admired in his own time by his peers, including Creator/JeanRenoir, Creator/AlfredHitchcock, and Creator/JohnFord among many others. His film ''Film/MakeWayForTomorrow'' is loved by Creator/OrsonWelles as well as Creator/YasujiroOzu (whose famous film ''Film/TokyoStory'' was inspired by it). Despite being obscure, his works continue to be touchstone for modern film-makers, most notably Creator/WesAnderson.

However, [=McCarey=] was interested in making his own kind of films, dealing with more serious subjects (albeit with elements of comedy and satire involved). He considered ''Film/RugglesOfRedGap'' (Creator/CharlesLaughton's BreakthroughHit) his first major film. 1937 would prove to be the height of [=McCarey=]'s personal and professional accomplishment. In that year he made two films nominated for Best Picture; the film that won (''Film/TheAwfulTruth'') was the movie he considered the lesser one, while the one that didn’t (''Film/MakeWayForTomorrow'') was what he considered his greatest film. ''The Awful Truth'', however, would prove to be of greater impact. The film was the star-making role of Creator/CaryGrant who was famous and well regarded but had not yet been established as a romantic male lead. [=McCarey=] played no small part in that, and he modelled Grant's distinct personality of a suave, elegant and somewhat aloof charmer on himself, including his own dressing style. The physical resemblance between Grant and [=McCarey=] likewise helped the transition. In other words, [=McCarey=] is responsible in part for Creator/CaryGrant's SignatureStyle which he would play and repeat in many films he would make subsequently.

[=McCarey=] was the among the least prolific of all major Golden Age directors. He very early insisted on making films his way and refused to make commercial films and more or less worked as an "independent film-maker" in the studios. He continued to direct iconic films such as the much-remade ''Film/LoveAffair'' (remade by [=McCarey=] himself as ''Film/AnAffairToRemember''). His reputation declined after the war, with some of his films such as ''Good Sam'' made for Republic studios not finding attention (even if it would be seen as a masterpiece by admirers later on). His most controversial film by far was the 1952 ''My Son John'' inspired by the RedScare, which tarnished [=McCarey=]'s reputation owing to his support for the anti-communist activities run by [=HUAC=]. The film's TroubledProduction, with leading man Robert Walker's death midway into production further hampered the film. He would make three more films after that before retiring.

[[quoteright:280:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/leo_mccarey.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:280:Creator/CaryGrant's "older brother" in more ways than one.]]

Thomas Leo [=McCarey=] (October 3, 1898 – July 5, 1969) was an American screenwriter and director who was especially prominent in UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood.

Born in Los Angeles, California, [=McCarey=] initially studied to be a lawyer but by his own admission he wasn't very good at it. He eventually felt his true passion was in show business instead and in 1919 he found work as a writer and gagman for Tod Browning and Hal Roach studios. In UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfHollywood, [=McCarey=] was a highly regarded comedy producer and writer. Most notably, he was the one who first paired together Creator/LaurelAndHardy. When sound arrived, [=McCarey=] continued to direct many comic performers such as Creator/WCFields, Creator/HaroldLloyd, and most notably the Creator/MarxBrothers in ''Film/DuckSoup''.

[=McCarey=] was the among the least prolific of all major Golden Age directors. He very early insisted on making films his way and refused to make commercial films and more or less worked as an "independent film-maker" in the studios. He continued to direct iconic films such as the much-remade ''Film/LoveAffair'' (remade by [=McCarey=] himself as ''Film/AnAffairToRemember''). His reputation declined after the war, with some of his films such as ''Good Sam'' made for Republic studios not finding attention (even if it would be seen as a masterpiece by admirers later on). His most controversial film by far was the 1952 ''My Son John'' inspired by the RedScare, which tarnished [=McCarey=]'s reputation owing to his support for the anti-communist activities run by [=HUAC=]. The film's TroubledProduction, with leading man Robert Walker's death midway into production further hampered the film. He would make two more films after that before retiring.

[=McCarey=] was much admired in his own time by his peers, including Creator/JeanRenoir, Creator/AlfredHitchcock, and Creator/JohnFord among many others. His film ''Film/MakeWayForTomorrow'' is loved by Creator/OrsonWelles as well as Creator/YasujiroOzu (whose famous film Film/TokyoStory was inspired by it). Despite being obscure, his works continue to be touchstone for modern film-makers, most notably Creator/WesAnderson.

* ''Film/PassTheGravy'' (1928, short film)(production supervisor)

* ''Film/MyFavoriteWife'' (1940)

[=McCarey=] however was interested in making his own kind of films, dealing with more serious subjects albeit with elements of comedy and satire involved. He considered ''Film/RugglesOfRedGap'' (Creator/CharlesLaughton's BreakthroughHit) his first major film. 1937 would prove to be the height of personal and professional accomplishment. In that year he made two films nominated for Best Picture. The film he won the award for ''Film/TheAwfulTruth'' was the movie he considered the lesser one, that being ''Film/MakeWayForTomorrow'' which he considered his greatest film. ''The Awful Truth'' however would prove to be of greater impact. The film was the star-making role of Creator/CaryGrant who was famous and well regarded but had not yet been established as a romantic male lead. [=McCarey=] played no small part in that, and he modelled Grant's distinct personality of a suave, elegant and somewhat aloof charmer on himself, including his own dressing style. The physical resemblance between Grant and [=McCarey=] likewise helped the transition. In other words, [=McCarey=] is responsible in part for Creator/CaryGrant's SignatureStyle which he would play and repeat in many films he would make subsequently.

Born in Los Angeles, California, [=McCarey=] initially studied to be a lawyer but by his own admission he wasn't very good at it. He eventually felt his true passion was in show business instead and in 1919 he found work as a writer and gagman for Tod Browning and Hal Roach studios. In UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfHollywood, [=McCarey=] was a highly regarded comedy producer and writer. Most notably, he was the one who first paired together Creator/LaurelAndHardy. When sound arrived, [=McCarey=] continued to direct many comic performers such as Creator/WCFields, Creator/HaroldLloyd and most notably the Creator/MarxBrothers in ''Film/DuckSoup''.

Thomas Leo [=McCarey=] (October 3, 1898 – July 5, 1969) is an American screenwriter and director who was especially prominent in UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood.

[=McCarey=] was much admired in his own time by his peers, including Creator/JeanRenoir, Creator/AlfredHitchcock, Creator/JohnFord among many others. His film ''Film/MakeWayForTomorrow'' is loved by Creator/OrsonWelles as well as Creator/YasujiroOzu (whose famous film Film/TokyoStory was inspired by it). Despite being obscure, his works continue to be touchstone for modern film-makers, most notably Creator/WesAnderson.

Thomas Leo [=McCarey=] (October 3, 1898 – July 5, 1969) is a writer director especially prominent in UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood.

[=McCarey=] was the among the least prolific of all major Golden Age directors. He very early insisted on making films his way and refused to make commercial films and more or less worked as an "independent film-maker" in the studios. He continued to direct iconic films such as the much remade ''Film/LoveAffair'' (remade by [=McCarey=] himself as Film/AnAffairToRemember). His reputation declined after the war, with some of his films such as ''Good Sam'' made for Republic studios not finding attention (even if it would be seen as a masterpiece by admirers later on). His most controversial film by far was the 1952 ''My Son John'' inspired by the RedScare, which tarnished [=McCarey=]'s reputation owing to his support for the anti-communist activities run by [=HUAC=]. The film's TroubledProduction, with leading man Robert Walker's death midway into production further hampered the film. He would make two more films after that before retiring.

* ''Film/MightyLikeAMoose'' (1926)(short film)

* ''Film/MakeWayForTomorrow'' (1937)

[[caption-width-right:280:Creator/CaryGrant's older brother in more ways than one]]

* ''Film/RugglesOfRedGap'' (1935).

* ''The Bells of St Mary'' (1945)