As a director and producer, Otto Preminger enjoyed—in all senses of the word—a monstrous reputation. On the few occasions he appeared before the camera, he was often cast as a Nazi officer, an association that only cemented the volatile persona the press ascribed to him in reports that he terrorized his actors. After achieving early success at Twentieth Century Fox (where he was briefly banished by Darryl F. Zanuck), Preminger incurred the wrath of and was picketed by the Catholic Legion of Decency when he independently produced The Moon Is Blue, a cheerful sex comedy that played fast and loose with the word “virgin.” A master promoter and an extraordinarily diverse artist, Preminger was equally gifted with film noir obsessiveness (Laura), forlorn romance (Bonjour Tristesse), CinemaScope musicals (Carmen Jones), and all-star adaptations of national bestsellers (Advise and Consent, Exodus), among other, quasi-unclassifiable genres (Skidoo). This centenary tribute to the provocative director offers a chance to view his most beloved films along with seldom-screened work. All films are from MoMA’s collection, and produced and directed by Preminger, except where noted.
Organized by Leigh Goldstein, Executive Assistant, Department of Film.