Alexander Korda

Sir Alexander Korda (September 16 1893 - January 23 1956) was a film director and producer, a leading figure in the British film industry and the founder of London Films.

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The elder brother of future filmmakers Zolt?n Korda and Vincent Korda, Alexander Korda was born S?ndor L?szl? Kellner in Pusztat?rp?szt? in Austria-Hungary (now Hungary), where he worked as a journalist before going into films as a producer. He also worked in Vienna, Berlin, Paris and Hollywood, becoming director of United Artists.

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It was in Britain, however, that he made the biggest impression, and in 1932 he founded London Films and the studios at Denham which eventually became a part of the Rank Organisation. His films were lavish and (after the advent of colour) visually striking. They included The Private Life of Henry VIII (1932), nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Rembrandt (1936), both of which starred Charles Laughton, who was also to have appeared in the ill-fated I, Claudius.

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In 1942, Korda became the first film director ever to be knighted.

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Among his greatest successes as producer were The Four Feathers, (1937), The Thief of Bagdad (1940) and The Third Man (1949). The Red Shoes was also originally meant to be a Korda film and was meant as a vehicle for his future wife Merle Oberon. It became a J. Arthur Rank film and was eventually made by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger instead, starring Moira Shearer.

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Alexander Korda was married three times, the first to Hungarian actress Mar?a Corda in 1919. They had one son and divorced in 1930. In 1939, he married Anglo-American film star, Merle Oberon but the marriage ended in divorce in 1945. His last marriage was in 1953 to Alexandra Boycun with whom he remained until his death three years later.

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He died at the age of 62 in London and was cremated, his ashes at Golders Green Crematorium in London.

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The Alexander Korda Award for the "Outstanding British Film of the Year" is given in his honor by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

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September 16: September 16 is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years). There are 106 days remaining....

1893: 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar)....

January 23: January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 342 days remaining, 343 in leap years....

Alexander Korda related Images and Photos (experimental)

Actor Robert Donat Standing Holding Drink with Alexander Korda under Portrait of Henry Viii	Publicity Still of Merle Oberon as Heroine of Alexander Korda's Film "Lydia."	Alexander	Alexander
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