Clarence Leon Brown was the son of Larkin Harry and Catherine Ann at Peerless Productions in Fort Lee. During his career Brown directed or produced more than 50 widely-acclaimed full-length films--many during his long association with prestigious MGM--and worked with many of the industry's most illustrious performers. He also maintained close ties with the University of Tennessee, donating the money necessary to construct the institution's Clarence Brown Theatre during the 1970s and an additional $12 million after his death.
Had one daughter, Adrienne (sometimes given as Arabella), by his first wife in 1917.
Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890-1945". Pages 63-66. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1987.
Directed 10 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Greta Garbo , Lionel Barrymore , Norma Shearer , Marie Dressler , Beulah Bondi , Charles Boyer , Mickey Rooney , Anne Revere , Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman. Barrymore and Revere won Oscars for their performances in one of Browns movies.
Was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War I.
At six, he holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations for Best Director without a win. He was nominated for Anna Christie (1930/I) , Romance (1930) , A Free Soul , The Human Comedy , National Velvet and The Yearling .
The governor of Tennessee declared May 27, 1970, as Clarence Brown Day with the start of the inaugural film festival in the 626 Clarence Brown Theater on the campus of the University of Tennessee.
Brown is on record as stating that the happiest working conditions of his career were at 20th Century-Fox where he made the only non-MGM picture during the last 25 years of his career on double loan-out with Myrna Loy.
After seeing that many of the finest pictures were produced by World Pictures and Maurice Tourneur , he found his way to Fort Lee, NJ--World Pictures headquarters--and introduced himself to the director. The studio was looking for an assistant and hired him. Tourneur took him on and Brown remained with him for seven years.
Graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1910 at age 19 with a double degree in mechanical and electrical engineering.
First I want everything an actress knows. I get her interpretation, then,we talk.
Sometimes I would be dissatisfied with a take, but would go ahead and,print it anyway. On the screen Garbo multiplied the effect of the scene,I had taken. It was something that no one else ever had.
I direct children as I direct adults, always trying to understand their,personalities, and to make them trust me wholeheartedly. Children have,a very keen mental perception. They know when you speak to them,condescendingly or try to trick them into doing something.
