Edwin B. Willis

Edwin Booth Willis ( born January 28, 1893 in Decatur, Illinois, † November 26, 1963 in Hollywood, Los Angeles) was an American production designer in film.

Life

After his military service in World War Edwin B. Willis came in 1919 at the Goldwyn Studios. In 1925 he was commissioned by MGM contract and was to end his career in Hollywood as a production designer and Setdekorateur work exclusively for this film studio. He came at numerous prestigious productions for use, such as in the Greta Garbo film Queen Christina (Queen Christina, 1933), Anna Karenina (1935 ), The Lady of the Camellias ( Camille, 1936) and Ninotchka ( Ninotchka, 1939). He worked under the direction of renowned directors such as Howard Hawks, Ernst Lubitsch, Fritz Lang and George Cukor and particularly frequently collaborated with the legendary production designer Cedric Gibbons, with whom he was nominated several times for an Oscar. For eight films, including the Dramas Blossoms in the Dust ( Blossoms in the Dust, 1941) and The Gaslight ( Gaslight, 1944) and the movie musical An American in Paris ( An American in Paris, 1951), he was the coveted trophy. win After his involvement in more than 600 different film productions Willis in 1957 retired from the film business.

From 1922 to 1930 he was married to Naomi Agnes. The marriage produced a child went forth. Edwin B. Willis died in 1963 at the age of 70 years in Hollywood with cancer. He was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Filmography (selection)

Awards

Edwin B. Willis was nominated along with other scene formers, mostly with Cedric Gibbons, a total of 32 times for the Oscar in the category Best Art Direction. He could win the trophy for the following eight films: