Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Dorothy Arzner

Role / Field:

Pioneering American film director, notable for her long career in Hollywood.

Born:

1897-01-03

Died:

1979-10-01

Century / Era:

1897s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Dorothy Emma Arzner (January 3, 1897 – October 1, 1979) was an American film director whose career in Hollywood spanned from the silent era of the 1920s into the early 1940s. With the exception of long-time silent film director Lois Weber, Arzner was the only female director working in Hollywood from 1927 until her retirement from feature directing in 1943. She was one of a very few women able to establish a successful and long career in Hollywood as a film director until the 1970s. Arzner made a total of twenty films between 1927 and 1943 and launched the careers of a number of Hollywood actresses, including Katharine Hepburn, Rosalind Russell, and Lucille Ball.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Arzner was the first woman to join the Directors Guild of America and the first woman to direct a sound film. Arzner was born in San Francisco, California, in 1897 to Jenetter (née Young) and Louis Arzner but grew up in Los Angeles, where her father owned the Hoffman Café, "a famous Hollywood restaurant next to a theatre". Her parents' restaurant was the first place Arzner came into contact with Hollywood elite; it was frequented by many silent film stars and directors, including Mary Pickford, Mack Sennett...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alphonse Daudet — Contemporary (Died in 1897) (1897): French novelist celebrated for his evocative short stories and novels.
• Amelia Earhart — Contemporary (Born in 1897) (1897): Iconic American aviator whose pioneering flights shaped early 20th-century aviation.
• Andrés Bonifacio — Contemporary (Died in 1897) (1897): Father of the Philippine Revolution, founder of the Katipunan.
• A. P. Elkin — Contemporary (Died in 1979) (1979): Influential Australian anthropologist and Anglican clergyman (1891–1979)
• A. Philip Randolph — Contemporary (Died in 1979) (1979): Pioneer labor unionist and civil rights activist who fought for racial equality.
• Aaliyah — Contemporary (Born in 1979) (1979): Pioneering R&B artist known for redefining urban pop and hip hop sounds.
• Alexei Stakhanov — Shared historical date (01-03 · Born) (1906): Soviet mining celebrity and pioneer of the Stakhanovite productivity movement.
• Anna May Wong — Shared historical date (01-03 · Born) (1905): Pioneering Chinese-American star, recognized for international film success.
• Abby Stein — Shared historical date (10-01 · Born) (1991): Israeli-American author, rabbi, and activist who speaks on faith and gender identity.
• Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr — Shared historical date (10-01 · Died) (692): Mecca-based leader of a caliphate opposing the Umayyads during the Second Fitna.
• 1897 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1897
• January 3 (01-03) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 3
• 1979 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1979
• October 1 (10-01) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 1

Frequently Asked Questions about Dorothy Arzner