László Benedek
Born: 1905-03-05 in Budapest, Hungary
Died: 1992-03-11
Known For: Directing
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia László Benedek (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈlaːsloː ˈbɛnɛdɛk]; March 5, 1905 – March 11, 1992; sometimes Laslo Benedek) was a Hungarian-born film director and cinematographer, most notable for directing The Wild One (1953). Born in Budapest, he worked as a writer and editor in Hungarian cinema until World War II. Louis B. Mayer helped the Jewish Benedek escape and brought him to Hollywood where he directed his first film for MGM in 1944 as a stand-in. He gained recognition for his direction of the film version of Death of a Salesman (1951), for which he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Director and a Best Director nomination from the Directors Guild of America. However, it was for his directorial efforts on his next project that Benedek is best remembered. His motorcycle gang film The Wild One (1953) caused a storm of controversy and was banned in the United Kingdom until 1968. László Benedek spoke several languages and directed the films Kinder, Mütter und ein General (Germany, 1955) and Recours en grâce (France, 1960). In Hollywood, Benedek made more motion pictures, but also became a director of television series, such as the Perry Mason series from 1957. His other credits include episodes of The Outer Limits, Mannix, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Untouchables, and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Benedek also directed Malaga aka Moment of Danger (1960) starring Dorothy Dandridge and Trevor Howard. This low budget crime drama was the last film made by Dandridge. Benedek died in 1992 in The Bronx, New York.
Filmography
1985
- King Kongs Faust as Sammler in England
1975
- Assault on Agathon ... (Director)
1971
- The Night Visitor ... (Director)
1968
- Daring Game ... (Director)
1966
- Felony Squad ... (Director)
- Namu, the Killer Whale ... (Director)
1964
- 12 O'Clock High ... (Director)
- Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea ... (Director)
1963
- The Fugitive ... (Director)
- The Outer Limits ... (Director)
1962
- Combat! ... (Director)
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ... (Director)
- Stoney Burke ... (Director)
1960
- Thriller ... (Director)
- Moment of Danger ... (Director)
- Recourse in Grace ... (Director)
1959
- Rawhide ... (Director)
1958
- Naked City ... (Director)
1957
- Perry Mason ... (Director)
- Affair in Havana ... (Director)
1956
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre ... (Director)
- Telephone Time ... (Director)
- Johnny Moccasin ... (Director)
- The Blessed Midnight ... (Director)
- Boy with a Knife ... (Director)
1955
- Children, Mother, and the General ... (Director)
1954
- Bengal Brigade ... (Director)
1953
- The Wild One ... (Director)
1952
- Four Star Playhouse ... (Director)
- Cavalcade of America ... (Director)
1951
- Death of a Salesman ... (Director)
1949
- Port of New York ... (Director)
1948
- The Kissing Bandit ... (Director)
1936
- The Secret of Stamboul ... (Adaptation)
1931
- The Man Who Killed ... (Editor)
- The Man Who Committed the Murder ... (Editor)
1930
- The Great Passion ... (Assistant Director)
1927
- Die Geliebte ... (Cinematography)