Anatole Litvak

<p> During his 40-year career director-producer Anatole Litvak (1902-1974) made films of all genres in Russia Germany England France and the United States. His rootless background was cited by critics lamenting his lack of consistent style but it also added to his mystique as a chameleon-like <I>realisateur</I>.</p><p> Litvak directed Hollywood greats like Edward G. Robinson John Garfield Kirk Douglas Ingrid Bergman Vivien Leigh Sophia Loren Anthony Perkins Olivia de Havilland Yul Brynner Burt Lancaster Barbara Stanwick and many others. He was twice nominated for Best Director by the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences for <I>The Snake Pit</I> (1948) and for <I>Decision Before Dawn</I> (1951). These films--along with <I>Mayerling</I> (1936) <I>Sorry Wrong Number</I> (1946) and <I>Anastasia</I> (1956)--are considered classics but his pictures don't offer many clues about Litvak the man. Apart from passing references to his wartime service as combat documentarian he never discussed his life in print allowing only brief interviews relating exclusively to his work.</p><p>This biography fills that void providing the first detailed portrait of an artist described by film historian Richard Schickel as an adept adaptable and prolific man; the kind of director that Hollywood likes best.</p>