Stanley Donen

Stanley Donen ( ; April 13, 1924 – February 21, 2019) was an American film director and choreographer. He received the Honorary Academy Award in 1998, and the Career Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2004. Four of his films have been inducted into the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress.

Donen began his career as a dancer in the chorus line on Broadway for director George Abbott. From 1943, he worked in Hollywood as a choreographer before collaborating with Gene Kelly where Donen worked as a contract director for MGM under producer Arthur Freed. Donen and Kelly directed the films ''On the Town'' (1949), ''Singin' in the Rain'', and ''It's Always Fair Weather'' (1955). Donen's relationship with Kelly deteriorated during their final collaboration. His other films during this period include ''Royal Wedding'' (1951), ''Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'' (1954), and ''Funny Face'' (1957).

He then broke his contract with MGM to become an independent film producer in 1957. Donen received acclaim for his later films including the romance films ''Indiscreet'' (1958), ''Charade'' (1963), and ''Two for the Road'' (1967). He also directed the spy thriller ''Arabesque'' (1966), the British comedy ''Bedazzled'' (1967), the musicals ''Damn Yankees'' (1958) and ''The Little Prince'' (1974), the dramedy ''Lucky Lady'' (1975), and the sex comedy ''Blame It on Rio'' (1984). Provided by Wikipedia