Henry Koster
Henry Koster is known for Harvey (1950), The Robe (1953), The Bishop's Wife (1947).
Biography
Henry Koster (May 1, 1905 – September 21, 1988), born Hermann Kosterlitz, was a German-born film director, who worked in Europe as well as in Hollywood. Although he never won an Oscar, Koster directed six different actors in Oscar-nominated performances.
In 1932, Koster directed his first film in Berlin, the comedy Thea Roland. In the midst of directing his second film Das häßliche Mädchen, Jewish Koster had been the subject of antisemitism, and knew he had to leave the country. He left Germany for France, where he was rehired by director Curtis Bernhardt, who had also fled. Eventually Koster went to Budapest, where he met and married Kató Király in 1934. There he also met Joe Pasternak, who represented Universal in Europe, and directed three films for him. Through his friend Gabriel Levy he ended up directing Dutch sound film De Kribbebijter, released internationally as The Cross-Patch, which proved a success both in the Netherlands - where it played in cinemas for no less than seven years - and in the UK. Soon after, Koster signed a deal with Universal Pictures in Hollywood and moved to the United States.
Although Koster did not speak English, he convinced the studio to let him make Three Smart Girls, for which he personally coached to-be star Deanna Durbin. This picture, a big success, pulled Universal out of bankruptcy. Koster's second Universal film, One Hundred Men and a Girl, also was successful. After this, Koster discovered Abbott and Costello at a nightclub in New York. He returned to Hollywood and convinced Universal to hire them. Their first picture was One Night in the Tropics; the female lead, Peggy Moran, became Koster's second wife in 1942.
Ironically, despite Koster's escape from Nazi Germany, when the United States entered World War II Koster was considered an enemy alien and had to stay in his house in the evening. Actor Charles Laughton would visit Koster and play chess with him. Nonetheless, Koster's postwar career proved equally successful. He was nominated for an Academy Award for The Bishop's Wife (1947). In 1950, he directed his biggest success: the James Stewart comedy Harvey. He directed Richard Burton's first U.S. film, My Cousin Rachel, and then in 1953, he was given The Robe, the first CinemaScope film. His last picture was The Singing Nun in 1965. Koster retired to Leisure Village in Camarillo, California, where he painted a series of portraits of the movie stars with whom he worked.
Questions about Henry Koster
How many Henry Koster films are in the catalogue?
The CineQuiz catalogue has 62 films with Henry Koster, from 1926 to 2005.
What is the best rated Henry Koster film?
The best rated Henry Koster film in the catalogue is Harvey (1950), rated 7.7.
What was the first Henry Koster film?
The first Henry Koster film in the catalogue is The Bishop's Wife, from 1947.
Who has Henry Koster worked with the most?
In the catalogue, Henry Koster shares the most credits with James Stewart (3 films), Nicolas Koster (3 films) and Bess Flowers (2 films).
People data: TMDb.
- Awards
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Nominations
- Academy Award for Best Director (1948)
Known for
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7.7 Harvey
1950
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6.8 The Robe
1953
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7.3 The Double
1934
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7.1 The Bishop's Wife
1947
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Unwanted Cinema
2005
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6.6 Désirée
1954
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6.5 Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation
1962
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6.5 My Man Godfrey
1957
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6.9 O. Henry's Full House
1952
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7.5 The Story of Ruth
1960
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6.6 The Inspector General
1949
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5.3 D-Day the Sixth of June
1956
Trivia
- Also works as
- film director · screenwriter · film producer · director · writer
- Spouse
- Peggy Moran · Kató Király
- Siblings
- Hans Kosterlitz
Trivia from Wikidata, licensed CC0.
Full filmography
62 films — 62 in the catalogue
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Unwanted Cinema
2005
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5.6 Take Her, She's Mine
1963
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7.5 Marilyn
1963
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6.5 Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation
1962
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7.5 The Story of Ruth
1960
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6.2 The Naked Maja
1958
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8.0 Fraulein
1958
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6.5 My Man Godfrey
1957
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6.3 The Power and the Prize
1956
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5.3 D-Day the Sixth of June
1956
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7.0 Good Morning, Miss Dove
1955
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7.0 The Virgin Queen
1955
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6.6 Désirée
1954
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6.8 The Robe
1953
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6.7 My Cousin Rachel
1952
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6.9 O. Henry's Full House
1952
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7.0 No Highway in the Sky
1951
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7.7 Harvey
1950
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7.5 My Blue Heaven
1950
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5.3 Wabash Avenue
1950
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6.6 The Inspector General
1949
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6.7 Come to the Stable
1949
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6.1 The Luck of the Irish
1948
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7.1 The Bishop's Wife
1947
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6.4 The Unfinished Dance
1947
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7.5 Between Us Girls
1942
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7.2 It Started with Eve
1941
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7.2 Three Smart Girls Grow Up
1939
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6.4 One Hundred Men and a Girl
1937
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6.5 Three Smart Girls
1936
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7.3 The Double
1934
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6.4 Eine Handvoll Helden
1967
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6.4 Dear Brigitte
1965
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6.3 Flower Drum Song
1961
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6.2 The Switched Bride
1934
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6.1 Der Tunnel
1933
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6.5 There Goes the Bride
1932
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9.0 Stamboul
1931
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5.9 The Singing Nun
1966
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6.3 Two Sisters from Boston
1946
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7.6 First Love
1939
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5.8 The Rage of Paris
1938
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6.5 Catherine the Last
1936
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7.5 Affairs of Maupassant
1935
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6.3 Little Mother
1935
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8.0 Peter
1934
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7.5 The Private Secretary Gets Married
1933
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7.0 Happy Hearts
1932
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7.5 Five from the Jazzband
1932
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8.0 Who Takes Love Seriously?
1931
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5.8 The Man Who Committed the Murder
1931
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6.8 The Last Company
1930
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9.0 Das letzte Fort
1929
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9.0 Sündig und süß
1929
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10.0 Liebfraumilch
1929
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7.0
Eins + Eins = Drei
1927
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9.0
Children's Souls Accuse You
1927
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10.0 Prinz Louis Ferdinand
1927
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7.0 Orphan of Lowood
1926
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6.9 Spring Parade
1940
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6.6 A Man Called Peter
1955
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6.8 Stars and Stripes Forever
1952
People data: TMDb.
Cast