William A. Wellman

William Augustus Wellman was an American film director. Although Wellman began his film career as an actor, he worked on over 80 films, as director, producer and consultant but most often as a director, notable for his work in crime, adventure and action genre films, often focusing on aviation themes, a particular passion. He also directed several well regarded satirical comedies. Wellman directed the 1927 film Wings, which became the first film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture at the 1st Academy Awards ceremony.

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A Star Is Born (1937)

Esther Blodgett is just another starry-eyed farm kid trying to break into the movies. Waitressing at a Hollywood party, she catches the eye of her idol Norman Maine, is sent for a screen test, and before long attains stardom as newly minted Vicki Lester. She and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Janet Gaynor  •  Fredric March  •  Adolphe Menjou  •  May Robson

Esther Blodgett is just another starry-eyed farm kid trying to break into the movies. Waitressing at a Hollywood party, she catches the eye of her idol Norman Maine, is sent for a screen test, and before long attains stardom as newly minted Vicki Lester. She and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Janet Gaynor  •  Fredric March  •  Adolphe Menjou  •  May Robson

Island in the Sky (1953)

A C-47 transport plane, named the Corsair, makes a forced landing in the frozen wastes of Labrador, and the plane's pilot, Captain Dooley, must keep his men alive in deadly conditions while waiting for rescue.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  John Wayne  •  Lloyd Nolan  •  Walter Abel  •  James Arness

A C-47 transport plane, named the Corsair, makes a forced landing in the frozen wastes of Labrador, and the plane's pilot, Captain Dooley, must keep his men alive in deadly conditions while waiting for rescue.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  John Wayne  •  Lloyd Nolan  •  Walter Abel  •  James Arness

Tarzan Escapes (1936)

White hunter Captain Fry tries to take Tarzan back to civilization, caged for public display. He arrives in the jungle with Jane's cousins, Eric and Rita, who want Jane's help in claiming a fortune left her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Farrow  •  William A. Wellman  •  Richard Thorpe  •  George B. Seitz  •  James C. McKay
CAST:  Johnny Weissmüller  •  Maureen O'Sullivan  •  John Buckler  •  Benita Hume

White hunter Captain Fry tries to take Tarzan back to civilization, caged for public display. He arrives in the jungle with Jane's cousins, Eric and Rita, who want Jane's help in claiming a fortune left her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Farrow  •  William A. Wellman  •  Richard Thorpe  •  George B. Seitz  •  James C. McKay
CAST:  Johnny Weissmüller  •  Maureen O'Sullivan  •  John Buckler  •  Benita Hume

The High and the Mighty (1954)

Dan Roman is a veteran pilot haunted by a tragic past. Now relegated to second-in-command cockpit assignments he finds himself on a routine Honolulu-to-San Francisco flight - one that takes a terrifying suspense-building turn when disaster strikes high above the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  John Wayne  •  Claire Trevor  •  Laraine Day  •  Robert Stack

Dan Roman is a veteran pilot haunted by a tragic past. Now relegated to second-in-command cockpit assignments he finds himself on a routine Honolulu-to-San Francisco flight - one that takes a terrifying suspense-building turn when disaster strikes high above the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  John Wayne  •  Claire Trevor  •  Laraine Day  •  Robert Stack

The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)

A posse discovers a trio of men they suspect of murder and cow theft and are split between handing them over to the law or lynching them on the spot.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Henry Fonda  •  Dana Andrews  •  Mary Beth Hughes  •  Anthony Quinn

A posse discovers a trio of men they suspect of murder and cow theft and are split between handing them over to the law or lynching them on the spot.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Henry Fonda  •  Dana Andrews  •  Mary Beth Hughes  •  Anthony Quinn

The Public Enemy (1931)

Two young Chicago hoodlums, Tom Powers and Matt Doyle, rise up from their poverty-stricken slum life to become petty thieves, bootleggers and cold-blooded killers. But with street notoriety and newfound wealth, the duo feels the heat from the cops and rival ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  James Cagney  •  Jean Harlow  •  Edward Woods  •  Joan Blondell

Two young Chicago hoodlums, Tom Powers and Matt Doyle, rise up from their poverty-stricken slum life to become petty thieves, bootleggers and cold-blooded killers. But with street notoriety and newfound wealth, the duo feels the heat from the cops and rival ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  James Cagney  •  Jean Harlow  •  Edward Woods  •  Joan Blondell

Story of G.I. Joe (1945)

War correspondent Ernie Pyle joins Company C, 18th Infantry as this American army unit fights its way across North Africa in World War II. He comes to know the soldiers and finds much human interest material for his readers back in the States.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Burgess Meredith  •  Robert Mitchum  •  Freddie Steele  •  Wally Cassell

War correspondent Ernie Pyle joins Company C, 18th Infantry as this American army unit fights its way across North Africa in World War II. He comes to know the soldiers and finds much human interest material for his readers back in the States.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Burgess Meredith  •  Robert Mitchum  •  Freddie Steele  •  Wally Cassell

Track of the Cat (1954)

A family saga: In a stunning mountain valley ranch setting near Aspen, complex and dangerous family dynamics play out against the backdrop of the first big snowstorm of winter and an enormous panther with seemingly mythical qualities which is killing cattle.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Robert Mitchum  •  Diana Lynn  •  Tab Hunter  •  Teresa Wright

A family saga: In a stunning mountain valley ranch setting near Aspen, complex and dangerous family dynamics play out against the backdrop of the first big snowstorm of winter and an enormous panther with seemingly mythical qualities which is killing cattle.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Robert Mitchum  •  Diana Lynn  •  Tab Hunter  •  Teresa Wright

Wings (1927)

Two young men, one rich, one middle class, both in love with the same woman, become US Air Corps fighter pilots and, eventually, heroic flying aces during World War I. Devoted best friends, their mutual love of the girl eventually threatens their bond. Meanwhile, a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Clara Bow  •  Charles "Buddy" Rogers  •  Richard Arlen  •  Jobyna Ralston

Two young men, one rich, one middle class, both in love with the same woman, become US Air Corps fighter pilots and, eventually, heroic flying aces during World War I. Devoted best friends, their mutual love of the girl eventually threatens their bond. Meanwhile, a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Clara Bow  •  Charles "Buddy" Rogers  •  Richard Arlen  •  Jobyna Ralston

Battleground (1949)

Members of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division are fighting for their country amidst the rugged terrain of Bastogne, Belgium, in December 1944. Holley and his American compatriots have already seen one of their own, Roderigues, perish under enemy fire. The men ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Van Johnson  •  John Hodiak  •  Ricardo Montalban  •  George Murphy

Members of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division are fighting for their country amidst the rugged terrain of Bastogne, Belgium, in December 1944. Holley and his American compatriots have already seen one of their own, Roderigues, perish under enemy fire. The men ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Van Johnson  •  John Hodiak  •  Ricardo Montalban  •  George Murphy

Nothing Sacred (1937)

When a small-town girl is incorrectly diagnosed with a rare, deadly disease, an unknowing newspaper columnist turns her into a national heroine.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Carole Lombard  •  Fredric March  •  Charles Winninger  •  Walter Connolly

When a small-town girl is incorrectly diagnosed with a rare, deadly disease, an unknowing newspaper columnist turns her into a national heroine.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Carole Lombard  •  Fredric March  •  Charles Winninger  •  Walter Connolly

The Hatchet Man (1932)

When he's forced to kill his best friend, a Chinese hit man adopts the man's daughter.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Edward G. Robinson  •  Loretta Young  •  Dudley Digges  •  Leslie Fenton

When he's forced to kill his best friend, a Chinese hit man adopts the man's daughter.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Edward G. Robinson  •  Loretta Young  •  Dudley Digges  •  Leslie Fenton

Magic Town (1947)

Rip Smith's opinion-poll business is a failure...until he discovers that the small town of Grandview is statistically identical to the entire country. He and his assistants go there to run polls cheaply and easily, in total secrecy (it would be fatal to let the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  James Stewart  •  Jane Wyman  •  Kent Smith  •  Ned Sparks

Rip Smith's opinion-poll business is a failure...until he discovers that the small town of Grandview is statistically identical to the entire country. He and his assistants go there to run polls cheaply and easily, in total secrecy (it would be fatal to let the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  James Stewart  •  Jane Wyman  •  Kent Smith  •  Ned Sparks

Across the Wide Missouri (1951)

In the 1830's beaver trapper Flint Mitchell and other white men hunt and trap in the then unnamed territories of Montana and Idaho. Flint marries a Blackfoot woman as a way to gain entrance into her people's rich lands, but finds she means more to him than a ticket ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Clark Gable  •  Ricardo Montalban  •  John Hodiak  •  Adolphe Menjou

In the 1830's beaver trapper Flint Mitchell and other white men hunt and trap in the then unnamed territories of Montana and Idaho. Flint marries a Blackfoot woman as a way to gain entrance into her people's rich lands, but finds she means more to him than a ticket ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Clark Gable  •  Ricardo Montalban  •  John Hodiak  •  Adolphe Menjou

The Conquerors (1932)

A newlywed couple journeys west to make their fortune, and begins a banking empire.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Richard Dix  •  Ann Harding  •  Edna May Oliver  •  Guy Kibbee

A newlywed couple journeys west to make their fortune, and begins a banking empire.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Richard Dix  •  Ann Harding  •  Edna May Oliver  •  Guy Kibbee

The Happy Years (1950)

Based on a collection of stories with the focus on young John Humperkink "Dink" Stover, a student at the Lawrenceville Prepatory School, in 1896, whose family, in Eastcester, New York, have just about given up on his education because he is an incorrigible student. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Dean Stockwell  •  Darryl Hickman  •  Scotty Beckett  •  Leon Ames

Based on a collection of stories with the focus on young John Humperkink "Dink" Stover, a student at the Lawrenceville Prepatory School, in 1896, whose family, in Eastcester, New York, have just about given up on his education because he is an incorrigible student. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Dean Stockwell  •  Darryl Hickman  •  Scotty Beckett  •  Leon Ames

My Man and I (1952)

In California, a Mexican-American is falsely accused of killing the farmer he was working for after the racist farmer stiffed his immigrant employee with a bad check.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Shelley Winters  •  Ricardo Montalban  •  Wendell Corey  •  Claire Trevor

In California, a Mexican-American is falsely accused of killing the farmer he was working for after the racist farmer stiffed his immigrant employee with a bad check.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Shelley Winters  •  Ricardo Montalban  •  Wendell Corey  •  Claire Trevor

Other Men's Women (1931)

The friendship of two working stiff railroad engineers is put to the test when one falls for the other’s wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Grant Withers  •  Mary Astor  •  Regis Toomey  •  James Cagney

The friendship of two working stiff railroad engineers is put to the test when one falls for the other’s wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Grant Withers  •  Mary Astor  •  Regis Toomey  •  James Cagney

Reaching for the Sun (1941)

Comedy of a North Woods clam-digger who journeys to Detroit to earn money for outboard motor by working on auto assembly line.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Joel McCrea  •  Ellen Drew  •  Eddie Bracken  •  Albert Dekker

Comedy of a North Woods clam-digger who journeys to Detroit to earn money for outboard motor by working on auto assembly line.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Joel McCrea  •  Ellen Drew  •  Eddie Bracken  •  Albert Dekker

The President Vanishes (1934)

The President Vanishes, released in the United Kingdom as Strange Conspiracy, is a 1934 American political drama film directed by William A. Wellman and produced by Walter Wanger. Starring Edward Arnold and Arthur Byron, the film is an adaptation of Rex Stout's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Edward Arnold  •  Arthur Byron  •  Paul Kelly  •  Peggy Conklin

The President Vanishes, released in the United Kingdom as Strange Conspiracy, is a 1934 American political drama film directed by William A. Wellman and produced by Walter Wanger. Starring Edward Arnold and Arthur Byron, the film is an adaptation of Rex Stout's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Edward Arnold  •  Arthur Byron  •  Paul Kelly  •  Peggy Conklin
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