Darryl F Zanuck

Studio founder whose dynamism and gift for gauging audience appeal made him one of the most durable and influential executives in Hollywood history.

Zanuck began submitting stories to film studios in the early 1920s and was a staff screenwriter for Warner Bros. by 1924. He had a knack for catchy, crafty narratives, including a series of Rin Tin Tin vehicles; more importantly, he displayed energy and a talent for administration which led to his being named production chief in 1929. In this position, Zanuck oversaw the transition to sound (which made Warners a major studio overnight) and put into