Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer
May 4–9, 2005

For two generations, Louis B. Mayer (1885–1957) was one of the most respected and feared men in the American film industry. From his early days as an independent producer to his long reign at MGM, Mayer had an unparalleled eye for both the bottom line and his personal view of quality films. He created more stars, as publicity claimed, than there were in heaven. Although viewed as a nemesis by most directors, Mayer oversaw much of the best work of King Vidor, Vincente Minnelli, George Cukor, and Ernst Lubitsch. This exhibition is prompted by the publication of Scott Eyman's Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer (Simon & Schuster, 2005), which promises to be the definitive biography of this titan. While the exhibition highlights some of Mayer's lesser-known films, also included are two features of which he was especially proud: The Big Parade (1925/1930), shown in both the recently preserved silent and sound versions with tinting not seen since the original release, and Meet Me in St. Louis (1944). On May 4, Eyman signs copies of his book and introduces the New York premiere of Warner Bros.' recently preserved print of Vidor's The Big Parade (1925). He will also introduce several other screenings in the program.

Organized by Charles Silver, Associate Curator, Department of Film and Media. Special thanks to Warner Brothers, George Eastman House, and the Library of Congress.

The Big Parade [silent and sound versions]. 1925/1930. USA. Directed by King Vidor. Screenplay by Harry Behn, based on a story by Laurence Stallings. With John Gilbert, Renée Adorée, Karl Dane. Arguably the greatest American film about World War I, Vidor's The Big Parade is exquisitely crafted and highly personal. Gilbert plays the archetypal doughboy who falls in love with Adorée's archetypal French girl. The New York premiere of the tinted print, recently preserved by Warner Bros. Approx. 135 min.
Silent version, with piano accompaniment by Ben Model: Wednesday, May 4, 7:00 (introduced by Scott Eyman); rerelease version from 1930 with music and effects track: Monday, May 9, 7:30. T1

Human Desire. 1919. USA. A Louis B. Mayer Production. Directed by Wilfrid North. Based on the novel by Violet Irwin. With Anita Stewart, Conway Tearle. A melodrama that manages to combine religion, cross-dressing, painting, and adultery. This was one of eleven films that the popular Stewart made in 1919. Approx. 65 min. Silent, with piano accompaniment by Ben Model.
Thursday, May 5, 5:30; Saturday, May 7, 8:45. T1

Sowing the Wind. 1921. USA. Presented by Louis B. Mayer. Directed by John M. Stahl. Screenplay by Franklin Hall. With Anita Stewart, James Morrison, Ralph Lewis. A film about drug addiction, gambling houses, and prostitution, with numerous plot twists and surprises. Approx. 65 min. Silent, with piano accompaniment by Ben Model.
Thursday, May 5, 7:30; Saturday, May 7, 7:00. T1

The Human Comedy. 1943. USA. Directed by Clarence Brown. With Mickey Rooney, Frank Morgan, Van Johnson. Oscar-winning adaptation of William Saroyan's novel, this was one of Mayer's favorite projects and one with which he was most personally engaged. 118 min.                                                 

Friday, May 6, 6:00. T1

His Hour. 1924. USA. Directed by King Vidor. With John Gilbert, Aileen Pringle. This steamy Elinor Glyn romance set in Egypt and Russia was one of Mayer's last independent  productions and helped establish Gilbert as the star he would bring with him to MGM. Czech intertitles, English synopsis provided. Silent, with piano accompaniment by Stuart Oderman. Approx. 70 min. 

Monday, May 9, 5:45. T2

Meet Me in St. Louis. 1944. USA. Directed by Vincente Minnelli. Screenplay by Irving Brecher and Fred F. Finklehoffe. Musical numbers by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin. With Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Leon Ames, Mary Astor. One of the greatest of the Arthur Freed–produced MGM musicals, Meet Me in St. Louis became a signature vehicle for Judy Garland and expressed the prevailing optimism at the end of history's most monumental war. All too soon, it would come to be viewed as lovingly created nostalgia for an America that probably never was. 113 min.
Friday, May 6, 8:30; Sunday, May 8, 2:00. T1

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