A talent for trouble

by Herman, Jan

William Wyler was Laurence Olivier's mentor, the love of Bette Davis's life, John Huston's best friend, Audrey Hepburn's discoverer and Barbra Streisand's father figure - and much more. His major motion pictures were touchstones for an entire generation. He made thirty-two of them (and as many silents), including Jezebel, Wuthering Heights, The Letter, The Little Foxes, Mrs. Miniver, The Best Years of Our Lives, Roman Holiday, The Heiress, Ben-Hur and Funny Girl. Wyler's pictures won thirty-eight Academy Awards in all, twice as many as any other director's. Their 127 Oscar nominations - half of them in best picture, director and acting categories - are not remotely approached by the closest competition. Wyler also guided more actors to Academy Awards than anyone - thirteen of thirty-five nominations. And he himself won three Oscars of twelve nominations, in addition to Hollywood's most prestigious prizes, the Irving G. Thalberg Award, the D. W. Griffith Award and the American Film Inst