Hungarian-born Karoly Vidor spent the First World War as a lieutenant in the Austro-Hungarian infantry. Following the armistice, he made his way to Berlin and worked for the German film company Ufa, as editor and assistant director. In 1924, he emigrated to the U.S. and, for several years, earned his living as a singer in Broadway choruses and , other factors may have played a part. In the final analysis, for "Gilda" alone, Charles Vidor deserves a niche in Hollywood heaven.
The 2nd husband of Evelyn Keyes.
Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890-1945." Pages 1125-1130. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1987.
Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1958.
Fought in the Hungarian army during World War I.
Vidor worked for many years at Columbia Pictures, although he did not get along particularly well with Harry Cohn , the studio owner. Cohn had a reputation as a crude and foul-mouthed man, in addition to being a vindictive one. Vidor tired of Cohns constant swearing and profanity--much of it directed at him--and in 1946 he took Cohn to court in an attempt to get him to stop. He lost the case, and Cohn made his life a living hell until 1948, when Vidor bought out his contract for $75,000.
Two of Vidors sons and one stepson were enormously successful in the restaurant business: Michael Vidor (mother actress Karen Morley ) opened "LAuberge," one of the first French restaurants in Portland, Oregon, while Brian Vidor (mother Warner Bros. heiress Doris Warner) runs "Typhoon," a fashionable restaurant at the Santa Monica airport in Los Angeles; Charles stepson, Warner Leroy (mother Doris Warner, father director Mervyn LeRoy ) owned New Yorks famous "Maxwells Plum".
Directed 3 actors to Oscar nominations: Cornel Wilde (Best Actor, A Song to Remember ), James Cagney (Best Actor, Love Me or Leave Me ), and Vittorio De Sica (Best Supporting Actor, A Farewell to Arms ).
Vidors stepson, Warner LeRoy, designed the Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park in Jackson, New Jersey.
Frequently worked with Rita Hayworth. He directed her in The Lady in Question , Cover Girl , Gilda and The Loves of Carmen .
