Irwing Talberg American film director, nicknamed 'the wonder boy of Hollywood'. Date of Birth: 30.05.1899 Country: USA

1. Irving Thalberg: The Wonder Boy of Hollywood
2. Early Career and Rise to Prominence
3. The Shadow Producer
4. The Rivalry and Legacy

Irving Thalberg: The Wonder Boy of Hollywood

Irving Thalberg, also known as the "wunderkind of Hollywood," was an American filmmaker. His exceptional ability to recognize successful scripts and in-demand actors earned him the legendary status of Hollywood producer. Since 1937, the most talented producers have been awarded the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award at the Oscars.

Early Career and Rise to Prominence

Thalberg entered Hollywood as the secretary to Carl Laemmle, the founder of Universal Pictures. When Laemmle embarked on an extended trip abroad, he left the 21-year-old Thalberg in charge of the studio. In 1924, the promising producer joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and made a global impact with the triumphant film "The Big Parade." Competitors coined the phrase "the reshoot valley" for MGM during Thalberg's era, as every scene that received a lukewarm response from test audiences was relentlessly reshot at Thalberg's insistence.

The Shadow Producer

Although many stars of classical Hollywood owe their careers to Thalberg, the producer preferred to remain in the shadows and forbade the mention of his name in credits. The success of Thalberg's films at the box office was so immense that the studio's founder, Louis B. Mayer, had to relinquish control of production to him, retaining only the authority over financial matters. In 1927, Thalberg married film star Norma Shearer, and three years later, their son Irving was born. However, two years after that, Thalberg had to temporarily step away from work due to heart problems.

The Rivalry and Legacy

During Thalberg's medical leave, Mayer pushed the young competitor aside and appointed his son-in-law, D. Selznick, to take over the studio's management. Despite this setback, Thalberg remained loyal to MGM until 1936 when he started envisioning plans to establish his own studio. A year later, he tragically passed away from pneumonia. F. Scott Fitzgerald immortalized Thalberg as Monroe Stahr, the protagonist of his unfinished novel "The Last Tycoon" (1939-40).