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Stanley Donen

Highest Rated: 100% Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Lowest Rated: 7% Blame It on Rio (1983)

Birthday: Apr 13, 1924

Birthplace: Columbia, South Carolina, USA

One of the most accomplished directors of the 20th century, Stanley Donen was born in Columbia, South Carolina in 1924. Donen began taking dance lessons as a child, and dance would remain his greatest passion, even as he enrolled at the University of South Carolina as a psychology major. He only lasted a single semester however, before, with his family's encouragement, he moved to New York to try his luck as a professional dancer. Donen landed his first role in the chorus of the original production of Rodgers and Hart's "Pal Joey" in 1940, where he first met longtime friend and collaborator Gene Kelly. The pair would work together on a number of Broadway plays, often with Donen acting as assistant choreographer. Eventually, when Kelly made the move to film, Donen did the same, making his debut in and assistant choreographing "Best Foot Forward" (1943). Before long, Donen and Kelly reconnected and began collaborating on the choreography for major movie musicals like "Anchors Aweigh" (1945). Donen eventually paired with Kelly again to not only co-choreograph but co-direct "On the Town" (1949). With his reputation as a bankable director in the difficult genre of musicals fully cemented, he went on to direct his own childhood idol Fred Astaire in "Royal Wedding" (1951) before reteaming with Kelly to co-direct the classic "Singin' in the Rain" (1952). Donen would go on to direct a number of both musical and non-musical hits like "Funny Face" (1957), "Charade" (1963), and "Two for the Road" (1967), not to mention the science fiction film "Saturn 3" (1980). Donen would direct his last feature film, frothy sex comedy "Blame it on Rio" (1984) in 1984, and henceforth largely returned to theater, memorably directing a production of "The Red Shoes" in 1993. Donen passed away in 2019. He was 94 years old.

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Highest rated movies

100% 95% Singin' in the Rain Watchlist
100% 70% Indiscreet
Watchlist
94% 92% Charade
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94% 83% On the Town
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91% 74% It's Always Fair Weather
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91% 70% Royal Wedding
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89% 87% Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
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89% 64% The Grass Is Greener
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87% 80% Funny Face
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87% 63% The Pajama Game
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
86% 90% The Story Of Film: An Odyssey Unknown (Character) - 2011
No Score Yet 59% Love Letters Director - 1999
7% 40% Blame It on Rio Director,
Producer
- 1983
31% 30% Saturn 3 Director,
Producer
- 1980
No Score Yet 57% Movie Movie Director,
Producer
- 1978
30% 33% Lucky Lady Director - 1975
No Score Yet 69% The Little Prince Director,
Producer
- 1974
40% 33% Staircase Director,
Producer
- 1969
74% 73% Bedazzled Director,
Producer
- 1967
83% 84% Two for the Road Director,
Producer
- 1967
74% 53% Arabesque Director,
Producer
- 1966
94% 92% Charade Director,
Producer
- 1963
No Score Yet 33% Once More, With Feeling! Director,
Producer
- 1960
No Score Yet No Score Yet Surprise Package Director - 1960
89% 64% The Grass Is Greener Director,
Producer
- 1960
79% 68% Damn Yankees Director,
Producer
- 1958
100% 70% Indiscreet Director,
Producer
- 1958
87% 63% The Pajama Game Director,
Producer
- 1957
No Score Yet 36% Kiss Them for Me Director - 1957
87% 80% Funny Face Director - 1957
91% 74% It's Always Fair Weather Director - 1955
No Score Yet 52% Deep in My Heart Director - 1954
89% 87% Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Director - 1954
No Score Yet 61% Give a Girl a Break Director - 1953
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fearless Fagan Director - 1952
No Score Yet 29% Love Is Better Than Ever Director - 1952
100% 95% Singin' in the Rain Director $23.9K 1952
91% 70% Royal Wedding Director - 1951
94% 83% On the Town Director - 1949

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Inside the Actors Studio Guest 1999