George Fitzmaurice Biography

Fast Facts

• Before settling in America, he studied fine arts in his native Paris
• Between set designing and directing, he dabbled in screen writing
• Broke into films in 1908, still working as a set designer
• Started his Hollywood career as a set designer for stage productions
• Co-founded Astra Film Corp, which was active from 1916 to 1920, and owned George Fitzmaurice Productions
• Directors in Europe and America strove to duplicate his innovative techniques and lavish sets
• Early stars that made a name for themselves through his films included Rudolph Valentino, Vima Banky, Mae Murray and Cary Grant
• Made a name for himself as a specialist in romantic dramas
• Some of his best known works are "The Son o the Sheik," "Raffles" and "Mata Hari․"
• Many of the silent films he made decomposed or were lost