Darryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmaker

Ironically, "Biography: Darryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmaker" tells us more about the man than the mogul. Many details of his unusual career are left out due to time constraints, and more emphasis is put on his role as a husband, father, his work during World War II, and his love affairs. Most notable of the affairs was his liaison with Bella Darvi, a discovery of not only Zanuck's, but Mrs. Zanuck's. The couple took the young woman (who bears a strong resemblance to Tyrone Power's second wife, Linda Christian) under their wing, put her up in their home, and encouraged her to become an actress. She was like a sister to Mrs. Zanuck but to Mr. Zanuck, she was no daughter. When Virginia found out, she kicked both of them out of the house. Nineteen years later, when an old and sick Zanuck wanted to return home, Virginia was there waiting.

The documentary spends time on Zanuck's chaotic childhood and early escapades and his ending up in Hollywood writing for Rin Tin-Tin. While he was still in his twenties, he became a Hollywood mogul and went on to produce films such as "The Grapes of Wrath," "Gentlemens Agreement," "Pinky," and "The Robe" before resigning and going to Europe. He returned to take over the company again during the "Cleopatra" debacle to keep the studio from closing its doors. I could have used a little more of his work at 20th Century Fox - but you can only do so much in 40-odd minutes. Certainly this episode of "Biography" tells us more than we ever knew about Zanuck, the man.