Immigrated to USA; sources are divided over at what age he arrived in the USA; most indicate c. 1906 when he was eight years of age, although some claim he arrived after WWI in order to study law at NYU

While studying at NYU, joined the Washington Square Players as a stage director

Signed by Warner Bros.; worked initially as a dialogue coach and assistant director; worked under Michael Curtiz and William Dieterle

Served as dialogue director on "Kid Galahd"

Turned down several directing assignments while waiting for the right script

Feature directorial debut, "Shining Victory"; sources claim that Bette Davis made a cameo appearance as a nurse

First major success as a director, "One Foot in Heaven", which was one of the 10 nominees that year for the Best Picture Oscar; replaced Anatole Litvak

Helmed what is considered his best feature, the Davis vehicle "Now, Voyager", also starring Claude Rains and Paul Henried

Made first biopic, "The Adventures of Mark Twain", starring Frederic March

Reteamed with Davis as director of "The Corn Is Green"

Directed "Rhapsody in Blue", the whitewashed musical biopic of George Gershwin

Reteamed Davis, Henreid and Rains in "Deception"

Left Warner Bros.

First film as a free-lancer, "Anna Lucasta"

Returned to Warner Bros. to helm "The Glass Menagerie"

Final film with Bette Davis, "Another Man's Poison"; shot in England

Directed "The Brave One", loosely inspired by "Androcles and the Lion"

Returned to Warner Bros. as director of "Marjorie Morningstar", starring Natalie Wood and Gene Kelly

Went to Italy to direct several films, beginning with "Joseph and His Brethren"

Last film for eight years, the Italian-French co-production, "Pontius Pilate"

Made return to feature directing with "The Christine Jorgensen Story"

Again returned to filmmaking; directed last film, "Born Again", the biopic of Watergate conspirator turned Christian Charles Colson