King Vidor

Biography

King Vidor was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter of Hungarian descent, born in Galveston, Texas. He began his career in the early 1910s as a freelance newsreel cameraman and projectionist before directing his first short film, "The Grand Military Parade," in 1913. Vidor moved to Hollywood in 1915, where he worked under Judge Willis Brown, focusing on themes of juvenile delinquency and racial discrimination. His first feature film, "The Turn in the Road," was released in 1919, and he gained recognition with hits like "The Big Parade" (1925) and "The Crowd" (1928). He transitioned smoothly to sound films, directing "Hallelujah" (1929), one of the first all-Black cast films. Vidor's final major film was "Solomon and Sheba" (1959), and he retired in 1980. He passed away in 1982 at age 88, leaving behind a legacy marked by five Academy Award nominations and an Honorary Award in 1979.