Curiosidades

An MGM executive said of him, "[He] is very frail, but give him a picture and he's about as frail as the Empire State Building".

Brother of director Chester M. Franklin

In 1937 it was announced that he would direct Bambi (1942), but production delays (it was eventually filmed five years after this announcement, in 1942) moved him away from the production. He eventually got a credit for artistic collaborator.

Directed five different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Alfred Lunt, Lynn Fontanne, Norma Shearer, Merle Oberon and Luise Rainer. Rainer won for her performance in Terra dos Deuses (1937).

After Irving Thalberg's death, MGM gave him producing rather than directing assignments.

Bore a strong resemblance to Adolphe Menjou.

Father of Sidney Franklin Jr.