David O. Selznick
A producer whose obsessive, budget-shattering perfectionism created two of Hollywood's most enduring and controversial cinematic landmarks.
1902–1965 (age 63)·American film producer·Birthday: May 10·The Greatest Generation
Biography
David O. Selznick was Hollywood’s ultimate producer-auteur, a man whose name above the title promised spectacle, romance, and monumental production headaches. The son of a silent-film distributor, he quickly climbed the studio ladder, known for his voracious memo-writing and unshakable belief in his own taste. His crowning achievement was wresting ‘Gone with the Wind’ to the screen, a years-long ordeal of script changes, director firings, and a legendary search for Scarlett O’Hara that captivated the nation. The film’s staggering success validated his high-stakes methods. He followed it immediately by bringing Alfred Hitchcock to America and producing ‘Rebecca,’ winning Best Picture again. Selznick’s later career was marked by struggles to maintain independence and a fraught mentorship of his second wife, Jennifer Jones. His legacy is the blueprint of the powerful, hands-on producer who imprints his personality on every frame, for better or worse.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
David was born in 1902, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1902
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1902Born
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1907Started school
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1915Became a teenager
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Could drive
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Could vote
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1923Turned 21
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1932Turned 30
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1942Turned 40
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1952Turned 50
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 60
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1965Died at 63
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
Key Achievements
- Produced ‘Gone with the Wind’ (1939), which held the record for highest-grossing film for over two decades and won 10 Academy Awards.
- Won back-to-back Academy Awards for Best Picture for ‘Gone with the Wind’ (1939) and ‘Rebecca’ (1940).
- Received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1940 for his consistent high quality of production.
- Brought director Alfred Hitchcock to the United States from Britain under a personal contract, launching Hitchcock's Hollywood career.
Did You Know?
He was famous for writing incredibly detailed, lengthy memos to his staff, often dictating them late into the night.
The screen test for ‘Gone with the Wind’ involved filming actresses like Paulette Goddard in full Technicolor tests, a costly and unusual practice at the time.
He discovered and later married actress Jennifer Jones, producing several films specifically tailored for her.
“In ‘Gone with the Wind,’ you have the best book ever written, the best screenplay ever written, the best director ever obtained, and the best cast ever assembled.”
