This 'Actors' director' successfully brought to the screen a number of stage hits and best-selling novels in the 1950s. From the stage came "Come Back, Little Sheba" (1952), "The Rose Tattoo" (1955)--both of which he had previously directed on Broadway--and "The Teahouse of the August Moon" (1956). From best-sellers came "The Last Angry Man" (1959) and "Butterfield 8" (1960).
Mann was noted for coaxing bravura performances from actresses, three of whom won Oscars under his direction: Shirley Booth ("Come Back, Little Sheba"), Anna Magnani ("The Rose Tattoo") and Elizabeth Taylor ("Butterfield 8"). But he was also criticized for allowing his stars to indulge themselves in over-the-top performances and for his artless, almost functional style. In the 60s, Mann branched out into comedy with the Dean Martin vehicles "Who's Got the Action?" (1962) and "Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?" (1963), and the James Coburn espionage spoof "Our Man Flint" (1965). Mann's most notable work for TV was the Arthur Miller concentration camp drama "Playing For Time" (1980), which netted an Emmy for Vanessa Redgrave.
- Also Credited As:
Daniel Chugerman
- Born:
August 8, 1912 in Brooklyn, New York
- Died:
November 21, 1991.
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Job Titles:
Director, Actor, Musician, Nightclub comedian, Teacher
Family
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Son: Alex Mann.
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Son: Michael Mann.
Education
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Erasmus Hall High School, Brooklyn, New York
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Professional Children's School, New York, New York
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The Neigborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, New York, New York
Milestones
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1929 Appeared (in a canoe) in film, "Glorifying the American Girl" before attending the Neighborhood Playhouse
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1939 Directed stage productions in Canada
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1939 Performed in Broadway production and on tour in "Pins and Needles"
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1940 Joined the Actors Laboratory in Los Angeles
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1941 Taught at Max Reinhardt's theater workshop
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1942 Served in the Far East with the US Infantry Special Services
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1948 First film credit, as dialogue director on "The Counterfeiters"
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1949 Directed summer tryout of "Come Back, Little Sheba" at Westport Playhouse, CT
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1950 Directed Broadway production of "Come Back, Little Sheba"
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1951 Directed Broadway premiere of Tennessee Williams's "The Rose Tattoo"
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1952 Directed first feature film, "Come Back Little Sheba"
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1971 TV directing debut, "Another Part of the Forest"
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Began career as musician at summer resort hotels in the Catskills
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Formed Mea Productions
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Formed his own band, Daniel and His Music Lions, in which he served as leader, singer and saxophone player
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Taught at the American Theatre Wing, NY
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Worked as a nightclub comedian
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Worked as director at the Las Palmas theater in New York after WWII