Henry Koster

Directing·May 1, 1905·Berlin, Germany

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Henry Koster (May 1, 1905 – September 21, 1988), born Hermann Kosterlitz, was a German-born film director, who worked in Europe as well as in Hollywood. Although he never won an Oscar, Koster directed six different actors in Oscar-nominated performances. In 1932, Koster directed his first film in Berlin, the comedy Thea Roland. In the midst of directing his second film Das häßliche Mädchen, Jewish Koster had been the subject of antisemitism, and knew he had to leave the country. He left Germany for France, where he was rehired by director Curtis Bernhardt, who had also fled. Eventually Koster went to Budapest, where he met and married Kató Király in 1934. There he also met Joe Pasternak, who represented Universal in Europe, and directed three films for him. Through his friend Gabriel Levy he ended up directing Dutch sound film De Kribbebijter, released internationally as The Cross-Patch, which proved a success both in the Netherlands - where it played in cinemas for no less than seven years - and in the UK. Soon after, Koster signed a deal with Universal Pictures in Hollywood and moved to the United States. Although Koster did not speak English, he convinced the studio to let him make Three Smart Girls, for which he personally coached to-be star Deanna Durbin. This picture, a big success, pulled Universal out of bankruptcy. Koster's second Universal film, One Hundred Men and a Girl, also was successful. After this, Koster discovered Abbott and Costello at a nightclub in New York. He returned to Hollywood and convinced Universal to hire them. Their first picture was One Night in the Tropics; the female lead, Peggy Moran, became Koster's second wife in 1942. Ironically, despite Koster's escape from Nazi Germany, when the United States entered World War II Koster was considered an enemy alien and had to stay in his house in the evening. Actor Charles Laughton would visit Koster and play chess with him. Nonetheless, Koster's postwar career proved equally successful. He was nominated for an Academy Award for The Bishop's Wife (1947). In 1950, he directed his biggest success: the James Stewart comedy Harvey. He directed Richard Burton's first U.S. film, My Cousin Rachel, and then in 1953, he was given The Robe, the first CinemaScope film. His last picture was The Singing Nun in 1965. Koster retired to Leisure Village in Camarillo, California, where he painted a series of portraits of the movie stars with whom he worked.

Film	Credit
Unwanted Cinema2005 · Actor	Actor
Eine Handvoll Helden1967 · Writer	Writer
The Singing Nun1966 · Director	Director
Dear Brigitte1965 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Take Her, She's Mine1963 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Marilyn1963 · Director	Director
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation1962 · Director	Director
Flower Drum Song1961 · Director	Director
The Story of Ruth1960 · Director	Director
The Naked Maja1958 · Director	Director
Fraulein1958 · Director	Director
My Man Godfrey1957 · Director	Director
The Power and the Prize1956 · Director	Director
D-Day the Sixth of June1956 · Director	Director
Good Morning, Miss Dove1955 · Director	Director
The Virgin Queen1955 · Director	Director
A Man Called Peter1955 · Director	Director
Désirée1954 · Director	Director
The Robe1953 · Director	Director
My Cousin Rachel1952 · Director	Director
Stars and Stripes Forever1952 · Director	Director
O. Henry's Full House1952 · Director	Director
Elopement1951 · Director	Director
Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell1951 · Director	Director
No Highway in the Sky1951 · Director	Director
Harvey1950 · Director	Director
My Blue Heaven1950 · Director	Director
Wabash Avenue1950 · Director	Director
The Inspector General1949 · Director	Director
Come to the Stable1949 · Director	Director
The Luck of the Irish1948 · Director	Director
The Bishop's Wife1947 · Director	Director
The Unfinished Dance1947 · Director	Director
Two Sisters from Boston1946 · Director	Director
Music for Millions1944 · Director	Director
Between Us Girls1942 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
It Started with Eve1941 · Director	Director
Spring Parade1940 · Director	Director
First Love1939 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Three Smart Girls Grow Up1939 · Director	Director
The Rage of Paris1938 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
One Hundred Men and a Girl1937 · Director	Director
Farewell Again1937 · Writer	Writer
Three Smart Girls1936 · Director	Director
Catherine the Last1936 · Director	Director
Affairs of Maupassant1935 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Ugly Girl1935 · Director	Director
The Crosspatch1935 · Director	Director