Culture
New Biography Remembers the Life of Rouben Mamoulian
By Tavit Minassian
Mention Rouben Mamoulian and most people will respond with a blank stare. But mention what the director did on Broadway and in Hollywood, and those same faces light up in recognition. Mamoulian directed the premieres of such groundbreaking musicals as “Oklahoma,” “Carousel,” and “Porgy and Bess,” and classic films including “Mark of Zorro,” “Queen Christina,” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” His importance has finally been acknowledged in David Luhrssen’s new biography, Mamoulian: Life on Stage and Screen, published by University Press of Kentucky.
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Mamoulian was a genius and way ahead of his time in many ways. Unfortunately, his ethnic affiliation was not really in favor among the Hollywood elite, who would have lauded him and his achievements much more if he had been one of their own.
Mamoulian was one of the greatest in his time,but sadly the Hollywood elite did not want him to go to the top,as he was not one of them.
They were racist.
Is that what it says in the book or is that your interpretation?
It is my interpretation of events,as he was cold shouldered by the Hollywood elite,what else could there be,as he was not one of them.
Hope a movie will follow this book…
What you’re saying is that because Mamoulian wasn’t Jewish he was eventually blacklisted. I think that’s utter bull—- and your own anti-semitism coming to the fore. There is only one thing that matters in Hollywood, as in most businesses and that’s MONEY. Mamoulian was an artistic and uncompromising director who was somewhat difficult to get along with and he ended getting fired from two movies. Hollywood only cares about art if it makes money. Look at the career of Orson Welles.
I found another biographical work on Mamoulian on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/On-My-Way-Mamoulian-Gershwin/dp/0393240134/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1
His wife, Azadia, was my father’s cousin. I never met him, but met her at her father’s funeral. She was absolutely gorgeous, dressed in Dior and diamonds. He was not the least interested in his wife’s relatives, but (probably through her) we got tickets to Oklahoma, Carousel, Porgy and Bess, etc. We lived only 60 miles from NYC.
Azadia’s sister was named Artemesia (sp?) , an artist. Of sorts. Another sister had an ordinary name which I’ve forgotten. Both Azadia and Artemesis were beautiful, but Azadia was absolutely stunning. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
Compliments for featuring one of our unsung heroes.
I hope you will make such articles a regular feature of Armenian Weekly.