Selznick, David O.

Selznick, David O. (1902-1965), American film-maker, whose films, meticulous in detail and notable for their commercial success, were among the finest of their era. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Selznick learned his craft from his father, the film-maker Lewis Selznick. In 1926 he went to Hollywood, initially working as a scriptwriter for MGM. He then worked as head of production for Paramount and RKO for brief periods, eventually becoming a producer at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio and making the films Dinner at Eight (1933) and David Copperfield (1934). Selznick formed his own independent studio in 1936, producing A Star Is Born (1937) as well as one of the most famous films in Hollywood history, Gone With the Wind (1939). He also produced Anna Karenina (1935), Rebecca (1940), The Paradise Case (1948), The Third Man (1949, and A Farewell to Arms (1957).