Nonagenarian still has tales to tell

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    Viewing the world through eyes that have seen nearly a century of history, Vincent Sherman, film director and Malibu resident, now looks beyond the hills spanning the front of his home in Escondido Canyon, observing the changes on the horizon, and reflects on changes in the film industry.

    Cinema has become a technological art as opposed to a just mechanical process of producing entertainment, he notes.

    But in the last few years, Sherman observes the artistry of filmmaking has disappeared in terms of story and characterization. “The industry has lost the original quality of story telling,” he said.

    However, telling stories has never been a problem for this director who reflects on a successful and fulfilling career.

    His talent, recognized worldwide and throughout decades of a century, will be honored once again this week as Turner Classic Movies airs many of the films he has directed.

    He is named “Director of the Month” for movies he has made, such as “All Through The Night” with Humphrey Bogart and “The Hard Way,” staring Ida Lupino and Dennis Morgan, since the 1930s.

    And Sherman, 94, continues to be creative from his home despite his advanced age; he just finished writing a new script, hoping to produce it independently soon. The script, called “Mister Wally,” tells a story about the South of the past.

    “At my age, studios are reluctant to hire me,” said Sherman, who hopes to begin production on the picture sometime in May, 2001.

    Before he arrived to live in his cozy home in the Malibu hills in 1970, Sherman had already lived a full life.

    Born Abraham Orowitz, on July 16, 1906 in Southern Georgia, Sherman never expected to work in the industry that has brought him so much success over the years.

    “The idea of ever being in the theater or pictures was remote,” he said. “It was for fly-by-night bums, no one thought of this business to make a living.”

    His father emigrated from Russia and owned a lucrative dry goods store in Vienna, Georgia during prosperous times.

    However, in 1919, the bottom fell out in the market and following the deflation, the cotton crops of the South were destroyed in the dust bowl era, leading the family to lose most of what they gained over the better years

    Despite hard times, his family struggled to make sure Sherman received an education. He attended Oglethorpe University in Atlanta where he was honored in 1998 and received a doctorate in literature.

    Growing up in an environment that encouraged education, he soon became an adept public speaker.

    “That led to my thinking about becoming a lawyer, which would have pleased my Jewish mother,” he said.

    But he discovered later, what appealed to him most in law was the theatrics involved in law, not the law itself.

    Sherman was first introduced to the entertainment industry in 1924 when he got a job selling silent motion pictures throughout the South. After seven month of selling, his mother wanted him to go to law school, which he did, while at the same time working as a reporter for The Atlanta Journal.

    His talent as a writer and storyteller emerged and Sherman began to write plays. The first play he wrote was based on an already existing play, but with a twist, he said.

    “We decided this could be successful so we left for New York,” said Sherman, who co-wrote it with James Larwood.

    But the play did not sell this time around and Sherman began acting instead. This is when he was advised to change his name to Vincent Sherman to help his career along.

    The hurdles were not over yet.

    “I couldn’t get a job because of my Southern accent,” said Sherman. “So I was told to go to the Theater Guild and they offered me a job as an extra.”

    Sheryl Crawford, who became the founder of the Great Group Theater, was the casting director.

    “She introduced a movement of artistic credibility in theater,” said Sherman.

    Sherman soon advanced from being cast as an extra to playing small parts where he met people who could get him places.

    When Sherman got a part as a young Communist in a play called “Counselor at Law,” he began to get some attention for his talent. Subsequently, the play was sold to Universal Pictures and Sherman was introduced to Hollywood.

    He acted in B movies for a while and wrote another play. Sherman’s true skills were soon recognized as he signed a contract to write, act and direct for Warner Brothers in 1937.

    “I was looking to work on a picture called “Crime School” with Humphrey Bogart,” he said. “The movie only cost $200,000 to make, but it generated huge profits when it grossed $2 million dollars.”

    After this success, Sherman was increasingly invited to work on scripts and direct. His talent continued to impress studio officials. “Little by little they had more confidence in me,” said Sherman.

    In 1942, Sherman began to direct women. One of them was Bette Davis, with whom he said he had a unique relationship, leading to an affair.

    But the gossip was not as it is today.

    “At the time, newspapers were careful and the studios protected their people,” said Sherman, who remained married despite the affair.

    Throughout his career Sherman directed 30 films. As he was about to retire in 1970, CBS asked him to direct “Medical Center” for television, and he ended up doing 30 episodes for the TV series.

    Sherman completed his active career by directing Movies Of The Week for CBS in the 1970s.

    He worked until he was past the age of 75. Sherman’s wife of 53 years, Heather, died 14 years ago. He has one daughter, Hedwin, and one son, Eric. Sherman is also the proud grandfather of four and he has one great-grandchild.

    In 1996, he wrote the autobiography, Studio Affairs — My Life as a Film Director, published by the University Press of Kentucky.

    And while living to a ripe old age is not always easy because many friends have already gone, Sherman is grateful for what life has brought him.

    “It’s been a long and wonderful life.”