Leo McCarey: Movies, Awards & Box Office

Thomas Leo McCarey was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer born on October 3, 1898, in Los Angeles, California. He was involved in nearly 200 films including critically acclaimed Duck Soup, Make Way for Tomorrow, The Awful Truth, Going My Way, The Bells of St. Mary's, My Son John and An Affair to Remember. McCarey turned towards producing more socially-conscious and overtly religious films during the 1940s, ultimately finding success and acclaim in both genres. He was one of the most popular and established comedy directors of the pre-World War II era, focusing mainly on screwball comedies during the 1930s.

McCarey attended St. Joseph's Catholic School and Los Angeles High School before graduating from the University of Southern California law school. Eventually, he was persuaded by director Tod Browning to transition towards writing. He honed his skills at the Hal Roach Studios, initially writing gags for the Our Gang series and then producing and directing shorts. An innovative style was McCarey's filming method which involved improvisation resulting to scenes with freshness and spontaneity. He continued to create films even in the sound era, working with some of the biggest stars of that time. His works became more serious and his politics more conservative in the 1940s. McCarey died on July 5, 1969, from emphysema.