John Huston

August 5, 1906

In Nevada, Missouri an actor named Walter Huston and his wife, a sports reporter named Rhea Gore had a son. His name was John. His maternal grandparents, John Marcellus and Adelia (Richardson) Gore had the task of raising him.

As a young boy John had a unique perspective of life. He wanted to engage himself in challenges that would test him physically and mentally. Having been sick for several years it left him in bed too ill to do anything. Then and there he made up his mind to expand to his potential and beyond.

Vaudeville, News Reporting and Boxing

By the age of seven John was literally following in his parents footsteps. Although his parents divorced he alternated between them.

He performed on stage with his fathers' vaudeville act and he was traveling with his mother to research news stories. Despite being a sickly child he pushed forward with his dreams and became a full-fledged boxer. He won the Amateur Lightweight Boxing Championship of California. Throughout his young adult years John tried his hand at acting, news reporting, marriage and screenwriting.

In 1932 not wanting to settle down he traveled to Paris and London. There he tried to make a living with his artwork and sketches. Things didn't go as planned. He needed money so badly that he resorted to panhandling.

"I'm told there is a Huston style; if so I'm not aware of it. I just make the film to its own requirements" - John Huston

Returning to the United States in 1933 John Huston began a journey into the world of cinema. His films would influence and entertain the world over.

Around this time John began a relationship with Warner Bros. Working with other writers his collaborative efforts were noticed and Warners appointed him screenwriter and director of the Maltese Falcon.

"It's the stuff that dreams are made of" - Humphrey Bogart - The Maltese Falcon

Hailed as the best detective movies ever made The Maltese Falcon put Bogart on the map and made him star. The key players of the film are some of the biggest names in Classic Hollywood. Peter Lorre, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, Ward Bond and a special cameo of John's father Walter Huston. Who had a brief scene playing the fatally wounded Captain Jacobi.

John Huston also put Bogart in the starring role of The African Queen, Key Largo, Across the Pacific and in 1948 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. John won the screenplay and director Oscars while his father, Walter received the best supporting actor Oscar for their work on The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

The Next Generation

John Huston was an activist of sorts. In 1947 Blacklisting was rampant in Hollywood. Huston and director William Wyler attempted to break the foundation of the House of Un-American Activities Committee but to no avail. Huston left America and his daughter Anjelica Huston was born in Ireland where they now lived.

Years later starring in Prizzi's Honor Anjelica Huston gave an Oscar winning performance. The film was directed by her father John.

He directed many notable films later in his life including Fat City, Wise Blood, The Dead and Under the Volcano. Of course we can't forget 1982's musical Annie. Which Carol Burnett starred in.

"The directing of a picture involves coming out of your individual loneliness and taking a controlling part in putting together a small world. A picture is made. You put a frame around it and move on. And one day you die. That is all there is to it." - John Huston

In 1987 John Huston died from pneumonia and emphysema. He worked hard and kept busy even when he needed to utilize the oxygen machine. He was doing a cameo in his son's (Danny) debut film Mr. North. He was 81 years old.

John Huston has left behind a rich legacy of film. He possessed many talents and was kind enough to share them with us. His stories, characters and settings still play on screens big and small around the world. He has rightfully earned a place as one of the best filmmakers in the history of cinema.

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