American Cinematheque & the Art Directors Guild Hall of Fame screenings series tributing Production Designer John Decuir, Sr. with MY COUSIN RACHEL May 27, 2007

The American Cinematheque and the Art Directors Guild will continue its year-long monthly screening series, heralding the work of The Art Directors Guild Hall of Fame’s legendary Production Designers and Art Directors with Henry Koster’s My Cousin Rachel on Sunday, May 27th at 7:30 PM at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Following the film, there will be a presentation of images of artwork and designs from John De Cuir Sr., who did the Production Design on the film. President Tom Walsh will lead a discussion with Production Designer John De Cuir Jr. regarding his father’s work.
John Decuir, Sr. (1918-1991) originally began his career at the age of 20 at Universal in 1938 where he remained until 1949. He then moved to 20th Century Fox where he specialized in large-scale productions and was one of the first art directors to work with Cinemascope. He won Academy Awards for art direction for The King & I (1956), Cleopatra (1962) and Hello, Dolly! (1969). He received eight other Oscar nominations, including The House on Telegraph Hill (1951), The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952), My Cousin Rachel (1952), Daddy Long Legs (1955) and The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965). DeCuir also designed theme parks and museums, stage plays and opera, both in the United States and Europe. He was inducted into the ADG Hall of Fame in 2005.)
My Cousin Rachel (1952, 20th Century Fox, 98 min). Henry Koster directed Richard Burton as he made his American screen debut in this standout adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s gothic mystery. Olivia de Havilland keeps Burton (and us) guessing until the very end whether she killed her husband, Burton’s older cousin and guardian, for his wealth, or whether she is a victim of circumstance genuinely concerned for Burton’s welfare. The interiors and exteriors of the house on the cliffs, as well as the other sets in general, all serve to create a genuinely delirious, dark romanticism that perfectly embodies this early 19th century saga. Art director John DeCuir was Oscar-nominated for his work here (along with colleagues, Lyle R. Wheeler and Walter M. Scott.) The film received three other Academy Awards nominations, including Burton for Best Supporting Actor.

General Admission is $10; $7 Cinematheque; $9 Seniors (65+ years) and students with valid ID card. For 24-Hour ticket information please call 323.466.FILM.

Official Website: http://www.artdirectors.org