Career Highlights: The White Sister, Carousel, The Song of Bernadette
First Major Screen Credit: The Test of Manhood (1914)
Biography
After a start as a stage actor, Henry Kingbegan appearing in films in 1912, and by 1915 was directing. King made numerous dramas, westerns, and actioners over the teens, achieving special distinction with his 1919 comedy 23-1/2 Hours Leave. Two years later he co-wrote, produced, and directed the landmark rural drama Tol'able David; his other important works of the '20s include The White Sister (1923), Romola (1925), and The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926). A prolific and reliable craftsman, King made numerous handsome films into the early 1960s, most notably two outstanding films with Gregory Peck: a psychological drama of World War II, Twelve O'Clock High (1942), and the moody, intelligent western The Gunfighter (1950). King's career is also notable for his feeling for Americana, as found in 1930s projects as different as State Fair (1933), Jesse James (1939), and In Old Chicago (1938), as well as in such later films as Remember the Day (1941) and Wait 'Til the Sun Shines, Nellie (1952). He was also skilled at helming historical dramas (Lloyds of London [1936], The Song of Bernadette [1943]) and adventure tales (The Black Swan [1942], Prince of Foxes [1949]). ~ All Movie Guide
Henry King (January 24, 1886 - June 29, 1982) was an American film director.
Before coming to film, King worked as an actor in various repertoire theatres, and first started to take small film roles in 1912. He directed for the first time in 1915, and grew to become one of the most commercially successful Hollywood directors of the 1920s and 1930s. He was nominated for the best directorOscar twice, but did not win on either occasion. In 1944, he was awarded the first ever Golden Globe Award award for best director for his film The Song of Bernadette, based on the novel of the same name by Franz Werfel. He worked most often with Tyrone Power and Gregory Peck.
During World War II, King served as the deputy commander of the Civil Air Patrol coastal patrol base in Brownsville, TX, holding the grade of captain. In his final years, he was the oldest licensed private pilot in the United States, having obtained his license in 1918.