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Candidly Cukor

The late director reveals his passion for the movies
in an upcoming documentary.

SUZANNE CHESSLER

Special to the Jewish News

a

eorge Cukor, throughout a
long career, helped trans-
form actors and actresses
into some of their most
enduring characters for the big
screen. Now, nearly 20 years after his
death, Cukor comes to the small
screen strictly as himself.
The directing talents that brought
acclaim to The Philadelphia Story,
Adam's Rib, My Fair Lady and a long
list of other classics are showcased in
the television program On Cukor. The
90-minute program also provides
information on his personal life.
Cukor's story is one segment of the
American Masters series, in its 15th
year. The show, which airs at 9:30
p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, on
WTVS-Channel 56, presents clips
from his movies, interviews with peo-
ple close to him and his work and
footage from the few times he did
talk about himself on camera.
The book On Cukor (Rizzoli; $50),
which features segments of conversa-
tions recorded by Gavin Lambert in
1970 and lots of dramatic pictures
from the films, has been re-released
to complement the program.
"I think George Cukor has not
been given his due," says Susan Lacy,
creator and executive producer of the
series that celebrates American cultur-
al icons. "He was not a man who had
a stamp in the same way that [Alfred]
Hitchcock did, but he was a man
who understood actors.
"I think viewers will see that direct-
ing is a real craft and that this man had
mastered that craft. Each one of his
films is a masterpiece and [illustrates]
the extraordinary range of his work."
Cukor, born into a Jewish family
from Hungary in 1899, grew up in
New York and got an early taste for the-
ater watching his mother dress up and
imitate actresses at parties. While still in
school, he took every opportunity to see
plays and movies and knew early on
that he wanted to be a director.

•

intended to dispel the label of
Cukor's early theater jobs were in
"women's director" by pointing out
stage managing, which prepared him
some of the outstanding perform-
for work in the summer management
ances Cukor was able to elicit from
of a stock company in Rochester,
actors. Besides working with
N.Y., where he began directing.
Katharine Hepburn, Joan Crawford
Soon, he became an assistant to pro-
and Marilyn Monroe, the director
ducer Gilbert Miller, who served as
gave attention to Spencer Tracy,
his mentor and gave him additional
Cary Grant and Jack Lemmon.
directing assignments.
"His films also are the forerunners
When Hollywood began making
to independent cinema,"
"talkies," Cukor was among a group
Trachtenberg says. "When
of directors hired from New
everyone else was making
York theater to help with the George Cukor
huge, overblown produc-
transition. While starting off directs J udy
Garlan
d
in
tions in the '50s, such as
as a dialogue director, Cukor
`A Star Is Born." The Robe and Around the
was reported to be so taken
World in 80 Days, he was
with film and California liv-
making [smaller] films about people,
ing that he never missed the stage.
which now would be considered
Although Cukor was very private
independent films."
about his gay lifestyle, he became
The hurdles in Cukor's career also
known for his many parties that
are explored in the television pro-
included the actors and actresses
gram. Being fired from Gone With
whose stardom he helped shape.
the Wind stands out as his ultimate
Robert Trachtenberg, writer-produc-
disappointment and yet a triumph in
er-director of the TV program and
that it motivated him for stronger
editor of the book, spent three years
pursuits.
researching and putting together infor-
"I was constantly educated as I put
mation about the Cukor legacy.
this film together, and I learned
"The overriding quality — and it's
about survival in a business that's
the hardest to define — is the quali-
very difficult," Trachtenberg says.
ty of the performances he got out of
"Cukor discussed the importance of
people," says Trachtenberg, who