HOUSTON, John (Huston John)

(1906-1987)
Born August 5, 1906 in Nevada (pc. Montana) to the family of the actor. As a young man engaged in painting, journalism, breeding horses, then settled in Hollywood, playing bit parts and worked as an assistant director on Dialogue. In 1930 he studied painting in Paris, . played in the theater, . was editor of the magazine in New York and only the beginning of 1940's developed as a screenwriter, . won the famous film Jezebel (Jezebel, . 1938), . High Sierra (High Sierra, . 1941) and Sergeant York (Sergeant York, . 1941),
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In 1941, his debut as a director, filmed mystical detective D. Hammett The Maltese Falcon (The Maltese Falcon). A year later began working in cinema service of the U.S. Army. His documentary film The Battle of San Pietro (The Battle of San Pietro, 1945) and Let there be light! (Let There Be Light, 1946) as among the best films, shot during the Second World War.

Resuming his career directed feature films, Houston reached the highest levels of fame and success. Movie Treasure of the Sierra Madre (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, 1948) was awarded the Oscar for best screenplay and for directing. Was followed by Key Largo (Key Largo, 1948), sad melodrama with H. Bogart and L. Bokol in the lead roles, and political militant We were strangers (We were Strangers, 1949). Among the films 1950 are allocated gangster story Asphalt Jungle (The Asphalt Jungle, . 1950), . screen adaptation of the novel S. Crane Red Badge of Courage (The Red Badge of Courage), . original adventure drama The African Queen (The African Queen, . 1951), . film about A.Tuluz-Lautrec Moulin Rouge (Moulin Rouge) and the picture of a strange novel, sailor and nuns, God only knows, . Mr. Ellison (Heaven Knows, . Mr,
. Allison, 1957)

. In the future of Houston's career stand out picture Misfits (The Misfits, . 1961), . Night of the Iguana (The Night of the Iguana, . 1965; by T. Williams), . Fed town (Fat City, . 1972), . Man, . who would be king (The Man Who Would Be King, . 1975; by R. Kipling), . Prizzi's Honor (Prizzi's Honor, . 1985) and Dead (The Dead, . 1987; on Dzh.Dzhoysu),
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In 1960, Houston resumed his acting career, earning the appreciation of criticism for playing in a vivid film The Cardinal (The Cardinal, 1963), Chinatown (Chinatown, 1974), the Wind and the lion (The Wind and the Lion, 1975). In 1985 he was awarded the American Film Institute 'for outstanding achievements in cinema'. Houston died in Middletown (pc. Rhode Island) 28 August 1987.