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Mitch Leisen

Highest Rated: 100% Easy Living (1937)

Lowest Rated: 60% The Big Broadcast of 1937 (1936)

Birthday: Oct 6, 1898

Birthplace: Menominee, Michigan, USA

Long neglected by critics and film historians, director and art director Mitchell Leisen underwent a reexamination in later years, leading to more appreciation of his work. While not on par with contemporaries like Ernst Lubitsch or Preston Sturges, Leisen did helm a number of notable screwball comedies that have stood the test of time. After making his mark with "Death Takes a Holiday" (1934), he excelled in the genre with "Hands Across the Table" (1935) and "Swing High, Swing Low" (1937), both starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray. He went on to direct the excellent romantic comedy "Remember the Night" (1940) and the tragic melodrama "Hold Back the Dawn" (1941), before becoming a notable actress' director with "To Each His Own" (1946) and "The Mating Season" (1951). His feature career dropped off in the mid-1950s, with Leisen turning to television by helming episodes of "The Twilight Zone" (CBS, 1959-1964) and "Wagon Train" (NBC/ABC, 1957-1965). But in his waning days, Leisen directed less substantial films that were better left forgotten. Less a maverick than his more accomplished contemporaries, at the height of his powers, Leisen was an expert craftsman of opulent productions that more often than not featured strong performances, witty banter and lavish set pieces.

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Highest rated movies

100% 83% Easy Living
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100% 84% Remember the Night
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100% 78% Hold Back the Dawn
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97% 83% The Thief of Bagdad
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93% 88% Midnight
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88% 79% Death Takes a Holiday
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81% 84% To Each His Own
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80% 71% Hands Across the Table
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78% 38% Murder at the Vanities
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71% 58% Arise, My Love
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 17% The Girl Most Likely Director - 1957
No Score Yet 33% Bedevilled Director - 1955
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tonight We Sing Director - 1953
No Score Yet 10% Young Man With Ideas Director - 1952
No Score Yet No Score Yet Darling, How Could You! Director - 1951
No Score Yet 50% The Mating Season Director - 1951
No Score Yet 14% Captain Carey, U.S.A. Director - 1950
No Score Yet 71% No Man of Her Own Director - 1950
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bride of Vengeance Director - 1949
No Score Yet No Score Yet Song of Surrender Director - 1949
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dream Girl Director - 1948
No Score Yet 39% Golden Earrings Director - 1947
No Score Yet No Score Yet Suddenly It's Spring Director - 1947
81% 84% To Each His Own Director - 1946
No Score Yet No Score Yet Kitty Director - 1945
No Score Yet No Score Yet Masquerade in Mexico Director - 1945
No Score Yet 25% Frenchman's Creek Director - 1944
No Score Yet 23% Lady in the Dark Director - 1944
No Score Yet No Score Yet Practically Yours Director - 1944
No Score Yet 72% No Time for Love Director,
Producer
- 1943
No Score Yet 14% Take a Letter, Darling Director - 1942
No Score Yet 67% The Lady Is Willing Director - 1942
100% 78% Hold Back the Dawn Mr. Dwight Saxon (Character),
Director
- 1941
No Score Yet No Score Yet I Wanted Wings Director - 1941
100% 84% Remember the Night Director,
Producer
- 1940
71% 58% Arise, My Love Director - 1940
93% 88% Midnight Director - 1939
No Score Yet 50% The Big Broadcast of 1938 Director - 1938
100% 83% Easy Living Director - 1937
No Score Yet 53% Swing High, Swing Low Director - 1937
No Score Yet No Score Yet Artists and Models Abroad Director - 1937
60% 52% The Big Broadcast of 1937 Director - 1936
No Score Yet No Score Yet Thirteen Hours by Air Director - 1936
80% 71% Hands Across the Table Director - 1935
No Score Yet 40% Four Hours to Kill Director - 1935
No Score Yet No Score Yet Behold My Wife Director - 1935
88% 79% Death Takes a Holiday Director - 1934
78% 38% Murder at the Vanities Director - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tonight Is Ours Associate Director - 1933
No Score Yet No Score Yet Power Art Director - 1928
No Score Yet 83% Chicago Art Director - 1927
97% 83% The Thief of Bagdad Costume Design - 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet Rosita Costume Design - 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet Conrad in Quest of His Youth Set Decoration - 1920
No Score Yet 55% Male and Female Costume Design - 1919

TV

Credit
10% No Score Yet The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. Director 1967
No Score Yet No Score Yet Follow the Sun Director 1961
No Score Yet No Score Yet Wagon Train Director 1961
No Score Yet No Score Yet Thriller Director 1960
92% 96% The Twilight Zone Producer,
Director
1959-1960