In Remembrance: Delbert Mann

     Delbert Mann, the director who transformed live television productions into the films Marty (1955) and The Bachelor Party (1957), has passed away in Los Angeles, CA on November 11, 2007. He was 87.

     Both Marty and The Bachelor Party were originally written by Paddy Chayefsky for the early television anthology series Philco-Goodyear Playhouse, for which Mann was the series’ most prolific directors. Using techniques honed in the fast-paced atmosphere in the early days of the medium, Mann was able to shot a feature film version of Marty on a small budget in the unheard of time of 19 days, including retakes. Ernest Borgnine starred in the film as a Brooklyn butcher whose feeling that he is too ugly to find love changes when he meets a shy woman played by Betsy Blair. The film would go on to earn four Academy Awards- a Best Director statuette for Mann, a Best Actor award for Borgnine, the Best Screenplay award for Chayefsky and the Oscar for Best Picture.

     Born January 20, 1930 in Lawrence, Kansas, Mann served in World War II in the Army Air Corps and enrolled in the Yale Drama School after his discharge. After directing live theater in Columbia, South Carolina, Mann was offered a job directing live television drama for NBC in 1949.

     Following the success of Marty and The Bachelor Party, Mann found himself being offered plenty of work in Hollywood. Working steadily for the next decade, he directed Desire Under The Elms (1957), Separate Tables (1958), Middle Of The Night (1959), The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs (1960), The Outsider (1961), That Touch Of Mink (1962), A Gathering Of Eagles (1963), Dear Heart (1964) and Fiztwilly (1967).

     Although Mann migrated back to television work in the 1970s and 80s, he still directed the theatrical features Kidnapped (1971), Night Crossing (1982) and Bronte (1983).

     Mann also served as President of the Director’s Guild of America from 1967 to 1971.