The Art Director poster

The Art Director( 1949)

TV-MADocumentary
60%
User
Score

Overview

A film's art director is in charge of the set, from conception to construction to furnishing. This short film walks the viewer through art directors' responsibilities and the demands on their talents. They read a script carefully and design a set to capture the time and place, the social strata, and the mood. They must be scholars of the history of architecture, furnishings, and fashion. They choose the colors on a set in anticipation of the lighting and the mood. Their work also sets styles, from Art Deco in the 20's to 30s modernism. Then it's on to the next project. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2012.

    Top Billed Cast

    1. cast image

      Dana Andrews

      Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

    2. cast image

      Ronald Colman

      Self - from 'Late George Apley' (archive footage) (uncredited)

    3. cast image

      Joan Fontaine

      Self / Jane Eyre (archive footage) (uncredited)

    4. cast image

      Ann Harding

      Self - from unidentified film (archive footage) (uncredited)

    5. cast image

      Rita Johnson

      Self - from 'The Big Clock' (archive footage) (uncredited)

    6. cast image

      Charles Laughton

      Self - from 'The Big Clock' (archive footage) (uncredited)

    7. cast image

      George Macready

      Self - from 'The Big Clock' (archive footage) (uncredited)

    8. cast image

      Dorothy McGuire

      Self / Kathy Lacy (archive footage) (uncredited)

    9. cast image

      Ray Milland

      Self - from 'The Big Clock' (archive footage) (uncredited)

    10. cast image

      Gregory Peck

      Self - Philip Schuyler Green (archive footage) (uncredited)

    11. cast image

      Jack Stoney

      Self - from unidentified film (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Social

    Review 1Discussion

    A review by CinemaSerf

    6
    Written by CinemaSerf on Tue Jul 15 2025
    This is quite an interesting short feature that spotlights the creative skills of the art director. Often creating the scenario from scratch, and equipped with a considerable knowledge of the styles of halcyon days as well as an imagination for what might be yet to come, this person has to create detailed sketches from which extensive and obviously expensive sets are built. It’s an integrated position that sees those with lighting and photography roles playing a complementary part in delivering the raw structure from which the director and the actors work to create the bright and airy or the da...

    Media

    Videos 0Backdrops 0Posters 1

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    Facts

    Status

    Released

    Original Language

    English

    Budget

    -

    Revenue

    -

    Keywords