Line #13 Creator/LeoMcCarey


1	[[quoteright:305:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/leo_mccarey_photo.jpeg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:305:Creator/CaryGrant's "older brother" in more ways than one.]]
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4	->''"I love when people laugh. I love when they cry, I like a story to say something, and I hope the audience feels happier leaving the theatre than when it came in."''
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6	Thomas Leo [=McCarey=] (October 3, 1898 – July 5, 1969) was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter who was especially prominent in UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood.
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8	Born in Los Angeles, [=McCarey=] initially studied to be a lawyer but by his own admission wasn't very good at it. He eventually decided his true passion was in show business instead, and in 1919 found work as a writer and gagman for Tod Browning and Hal Roach studios. During UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfHollywood, [=McCarey=] was highly regarded as a comedy director and writer. Most notably, it was he who first paired Creator/LaurelAndHardy together. 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''.
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10	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 arguably his two greatest films, one of which was nominated for six UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s and won him Best Director. Oddly enough, that film (''Film/TheAwfulTruth'') was considered by [=McCarey=] himself to be lesser of the two, while the other (''Film/MakeWayForTomorrow'') he regarded as his masterpiece. ''The Awful Truth'', however, would prove to be of greater impact, because it was the star-making role of Creator/CaryGrant, who was already well-known 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=] was largely responsible for Grant's SignatureStyle, which the actor would continue to employ throughout his career.
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12	[=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 was further hampered by its TroubledProduction, including leading man Creator/RobertWalker's accidental off-set death midway into the shoot. [=McCarey=] would make just three more films afterward before retiring.
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14	[=McCarey=] was much admired in his own time by his peers, including Creator/JeanRenoir, Creator/AlfredHitchcock, and Creator/JohnFord among many others. His film ''Make Way for Tomorrow'' was loved by Creator/OrsonWelles as well as Creator/YasujiroOzu (whose own ''Film/TokyoStory'' was inspired by it). Despite his relative obscurity, his works continue to be touchstones for modern-day filmmakers, most notably Creator/WesAnderson.
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17	!!Selected Filmography:
18	* ''Film/MightyLikeAMoose'' (1926, short film)
19	* ''Film/PassTheGravy'' (1928, short film) (production supervisor)
20	* ''Film/BigBusiness'' (1929, short film)
21	* ''Film/DuckSoup'' (1933)
22	* ''Film/RugglesOfRedGap'' (1935)
23	* ''Film/TheMilkyWay'' (1936)
24	* ''Film/MakeWayForTomorrow'' (1937)
25	* ''Film/TheAwfulTruth'' (1937)
26	* ''Film/LoveAffair'' (1939)
27	* ''Film/MyFavoriteWife'' (1940) (produced but not directed)
28	* ''Film/GoingMyWay'' (1944)
29	* ''Film/TheBellsOfStMarys'' (1945)
30	* ''Good Sam'' (1948)
31	* ''My Son John'' (1952)
32	* ''Film/AnAffairToRemember'' (1957)
33	* ''Literature/RallyRoundTheFlagBoys'' (1958)
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Context Creator / LeoMcCarey