70 Facts About Alexander Korda

From 1930, Korda was active in the British film industry, and soon became one of its leading figures.

Alexander Korda was the founder of London Films and, post-war, the owner of British Lion Films, a film distribution company.

Alexander Korda produced many outstanding classics of the British film industry, including The Private Life of Henry VIII, Rembrandt, Things To Come, The Thief of Baghdad and The Third Man.

In 1942, Alexander Korda became the first filmmaker to receive a knighthood.

Alexander Korda was born Sandor Laszlo Kellner into a Jewish family in Pusztaturpaszto, Austria-Hungary.

Alexander Korda had two younger brothers, Zoltan and Vincent, who had careers in the film industry, often working with Alexander.

Alexander Korda changed the family name, deriving the new name Korda from the Latin phrase "sursum corda".

Alexander Korda made a film with Gyula Zilahy, The Duped Journalist, and directed Tutyu and Totyo, The Officer's Swordknot and Lyon Lea.

In 1916, Alexander Korda established his own production company, Corvin Film.

Alexander Korda went on to build Corvin into one of the largest film companies in Hungary with such productions as The Grandmother, Tales of the Typewriter, The Man with Two Hearts, The One Million Pound Note, Cyclamen, Struggling Hearts, The Laughing Saskia, Miska the Magnate, St Peter's Umbrella, The Stork Caliph, and Magic.

Alexander Korda later regarded Harrison and Barrison as his best film.

Alexander Korda made Faun, Man of Gold, and Mary Ann.

In October 1919 Alexander Korda was arrested during the White Terror that followed the overthrow of the Communist government, but was released.

Alexander Korda worked alongside Kolowrat, who had attracted several leading Hungarian and German directors into his employment, on the historical epic The Prince and the Pauper.

Alexander Korda had frequent problems with money, and often had to receive support from friends and business associates, but in Berlin he raised funding for the melodrama The Unknown Tomorrow.

Alexander Korda followed this with Dancing Mad, another melodrama.

Alexander Korda cast his wife Maria Corda [sic] as the female lead in all his German-language films.

Alexander Korda cast her again in A Modern Dubarry, an update of the life of Madame Du Barry based on an original screenplay by Lajos Biro.

Alexander Korda made his final German film, Madame Wants No Children, for the Berlin-based subsidiary of the American studio Fox.

Alexander Korda had to wait some time before gaining his first directorial assignment, The Stolen Bride, a Hungarian-themed romance about a peasant's love for a countess.

Alexander Korda was generally given similar assignments for the remainder of his first period in Hollywood.

Although, like many other directors, Alexander Korda had misgivings about the new technology, he quickly adapted to making sound films.

Alexander Korda became increasingly resentful of the switch in their relationship, as her career was now over while Korda, who had once relied on her for the success of his films, was relatively flourishing.

Alexander Korda made two more sound films at First National: Her Private Life and Lilies of the Field, both of which were remakes of earlier silent films.

Alexander Korda grew more frustrated in Hollywood as he came to strongly dislike the studio system.

Alexander Korda hoped to save up enough money to return to Europe and begin producing on a large scale there, but his lavish personal spending and the large amounts he lost in the Wall Street Crash prevented this.

Alexander Korda collaborated with several figures who would contribute to his future success in Britain.

Alexander Korda was offered a series of scripts, all of which he disliked, before he finally agreed to make The Princess and the Plumber.

Alexander Korda went to France where he made The Men Around Lucy for Paramount.

Alexander Korda had a success with Marius starring Raimu from the play by Marcel Pagnol.

Alexander Korda followed it with Longing for the Sea, and The Golden Anchor.

Alexander Korda relocated to London where he made Service for Ladies for Paramount.

Alexander Korda then produced Men of Tomorrow, co-directed by his brother Zoltan Korda, That Night in London starring Robert Donat, Strange Evidence, Counsel's Opinion, and Cash.

Alexander Korda had a huge hit with The Private Life of Henry VIII, which he directed.

Alexander Korda followed it with The Girl from Maxim's, which he shot in English and French.

Alexander Korda tried to repeat the success of Henry with The Private Life of Don Juan starring Douglas Fairbanks, which he directed, and The Rise of Catherine the Great which he did not.

Alexander Korda produced a well-respected short, The Private Life of the Gannets, and enjoyed a big success as producer of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Alexander Korda directed Rembrandt with Laughton, which was a critical rather than a commercial success.

Alexander Korda commissioned and financed the documentary Conquest of the Air.

Alexander Korda bought property in Denham, Buckinghamshire, including Hills House, and built film studios on the property.

Alexander Korda concluded: "Hollywood, as well as the rest of the world, will be watching with interest what Korda does at Denham".

Alexander Korda was naturalised as a British subject on 28 October 1936.

That same year Alexander Korda was an important contributor to the Moyne Commission, formed to protect British film production from competition, mainly from the United States.

Alexander Korda produced Fire Over England with Olivier and Vivien Leigh.

Alexander Korda attempted a version of I, Claudius with Laughton and Merle Oberon, but it was abandoned with only a few scenes shot.

Alexander Korda made Dark Journey with Conrad Veidt and Leigh, and had a big hit with Elephant Boy directed by his brother from a Rudyard Kipling story; it made a star of Sabu.

Alexander Korda made some cheaper films: Farewell Again, Storm in a Teacup with Leigh and Rex Harrison, The Squeaker, Action for Slander, Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel and Paradise for Two.

Alexander Korda had a big success with The Drum, directed by Zoltan and starring Sabu.

Alexander Korda produced South Riding, The Challenge, The Rebel Son and Prison Without Bars.

Alexander Korda had a massive hit with another adventure film directed by Zoltan, The Four Feathers.

Alexander Korda set him to work on some projects such as Burmese Silver that were subsequently cancelled.

Alexander Korda produced the comedy Over the Moon and the drama 21 Days.

Alexander Korda soon ran into financial difficulties, and management of the Denham complex was merged with Pinewood in 1939, becoming part of the Rank Organisation.

The outbreak of the Second World War in Europe meant that The Thief of Bagdad had to be completed in Hollywood, where Alexander Korda was based again for a few years.

Alexander Korda supervised Jungle Book, a live-action version of Kipling's stories, directed by Zoltan Korda.

Alexander Korda had minor involvement in To Be or Not to Be.

Alexander Korda was appointed a Knight Bachelor, for his contribution to the war effort, in the 1942 Birthday Honours.

Alexander Korda was the first film director to receive the honour.

The only film to come out of the deal was Perfect Strangers, directed by Alexander Korda, and starring Robert Donat and Deborah Kerr.

Via London Films Alexander Korda bought a controlling interest in British Lion Films.

Alexander Korda released three other films, Bonnie Prince Charlie, The Winslow Boy and The Fallen Idol.

Alexander Korda was badly hurt by the trade war between the British and American film industries in the late 1940s.

In 1948 Alexander Korda signed a co-production deal with David O Selznick.

Alexander Korda then helped to make The Heart of the Matter, Hobson's Choice, The Belles of St Trinian's, and The Teckman Mystery.

Alexander Korda was married three times, first to the Hungarian actress Maria Corda in 1919.

Alexander Korda married, lastly, on 8 June 1953, Alexandra Boycun.

Alexander Korda died of a heart attack at the age of 62 at his home in London in 1956.

Alexander Korda was cremated and his ashes were deposited at Golders Green Crematorium in London.

Alexander Korda wrote a memoir, Charmed Lives, about his father, his two uncles and the rest of their large extended family.

Alexander Korda announced a number of projects which were never made, including:.