Victor Fleming

Victor Lonzo Fleming was an influential American film director, cinematographer, and producer, active from 1910 to 1949. He is best known for directing the iconic films, Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz in 1939, both of which have secured top spots in the American Film Institute's 100 best movies. He won an Academy Award for Best Director for Gone with the Wind. Before stepping into the film industry, Fleming worked for the United States Army during World War I, taking up the critical role of a chief photographer for President Woodrow Wilson. Moreover, he taught at and headed Columbia University's School of Military Cinematography, training over 700 soldiers in the cinematic arts.

His wide range of silent films largely included action movies and Westerns, often starring Douglas Fairbanks. Fleming had a strong aptitude towards camera angles and lenses, often credited as the most knowledgeable director in these areas. Among his extensive filmography were influential films like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941), and Joan of Arc (1948), which added to his dynamic profile as a director. Fleming was remembered as a tough but masterful director, training some of the biggest stars, such as Clark Gable. Later in his life, he owned the Moraga Estate in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, where he entertained guests like Gable, Vivien Leigh, Ingrid Bergman, and Spencer Tracy. His life came to an early end in 1949, suffering a heart attack while en route to a hospital in Arizona.