Charles Walters (November 17, 1911 – August 13, 1982) was a Hollywood director and choreographer most noted for his work in MGM musicals and comedies in from the 1940s to the 1960s.He was born in Pasadena, California, and educated at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.He is notable for directing Esther Williams' musicals involving underwater swimming and diving sequences, such as Dangerous When Wet, as well as several musicals starring Leslie Caron, such as Gigi (for which he is uncredited) and Lili. He has also directed musical remakes, including High Society, a remake of The Philadelphia Story (1940), and Bundle of Joy, a remake of Bachelor Mother (1939). That film began his professional relationship with Debbie Reynolds, whom he directed in her greatest triumph, the film version of The Unskinable Molly Brown. Walters also directed the last pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, The Barkleys of Broadway, as well as Cary Grant in the actor's last film Walk, Don't Run.Walters died from lung cancer at the age of 71.According to William J. Mann's book Behind the Screen, Walters was gay.
[on Esther Williams] She's a dear dame. The only person I know who didn't want a theatrical career -- she got into the business by mistake.
2
[on Judy Garland] I never had any problems with Judy. But Judy loved to growl, loved to pretend, and when she heard I was assigned to "Easter Parade" she said, "Look sweetie, I'm no June Allyson, you know. Don't get cute with me. None of that batting-the-eyelids bit, or the fluffing the hair routine, buddy! I'm Judy Garland and you just watch it!"
#
Fact
1
Walters met his life partner, actor/agent John Darrow, in 1936 and were publicly together until Darrow's death in 1980.
2
He was under contract to M-G-M, first as a choreographer and then as a director, for over 20 years and all the films he directed were made for that company except his last one, "Walk Don't Run" (1966), which he made for Columbia. In the later days of his Metro contract, he was often called in to direct additional scenes for other people's movies - these tended to be very unlike his own films, and included the erotic drama "Go Naked In The World", the western epic "Cimarron" and the Biblical epic "King Of Kings". All these assignments were uncredited.
3
Had a reputation as a 'women's director'.
4
Actor, dancer and choreographer on Broadway. Signed in 1942 by Arthur Freed for the new MGM musical unit. Worked as dance director from 1943 to 1946, then made the transition to full motion picture director, specialising in musicals and comedies. He remained at MGM in that capacity from 1947 to 1964.
$100,000
