Happy Birthday, William A. Wellman! Born today in 1896 as William Augustus Wellman, this American actor and film director is notable for his work in crime, adventure and action genre films, often focusing on aviation themes, a particular passion. He also directed several well-regarded satirical comedies.
Among his credits, Wellman is best known for directing the 1931 American black and white all-talking pre-Code gangster drama/crime film 'The Public Enemy', the 1937 American Technicolor romantic drama film 'A Star is Born' and the 1943 American black and white western adaptation/drama film 'The Ox-Bow Incident'.
However, Wellman's breakthrough feature was the 1927 American silent black and white drama/action war film 'Wings'.
Two years later, the film won an Oscar for Best Picture at the 1st Academy Awards in May 1929. It also won an Oscar for Best Engineering Effects.
Two years later, the film won an Oscar for Best Picture at the 1st Academy Awards in May 1929. It also won an Oscar for Best Engineering Effects.
Three of the aforementioned films were later selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant": 'Wings' in 1997 as well as 'The Public Enemy' and 'The Ox-Bow Incident' in 1998.
Wellman had been active from 1919–1958.
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