David O. Selznick

David O. Selznick – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Discover the life, career, and legacy of David O. Selznick (1902–1965), the visionary American film producer behind Gone with the Wind and Rebecca. Explore his biography, achievements, philosophy, and famous sayings in this in-depth article.

Introduction

Who was David O. Selznick?
David O. Selznick was one of Hollywood’s most ambitious and influential film producers during the so-called Golden Age of cinema. His name is forever linked with Gone with the Wind (1939) and Rebecca (1940)—films that not only achieved colossal commercial success but cemented his reputation as a creative and controlling force in production. He remains unique among Hollywood producers for winning back-to-back Academy Awards for Best Picture, and his approach to overseeing every detail of his films has made him both legendary and controversial.

In this article, we will explore his early life, his methods, his achievements, and the enduring lessons drawn from his career. We'll also collect some of his most memorable quotes to shed light on his worldview and working style.

Early Life and Family

David Selznick was born on May 10, 1902, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Florence (née Sachs) and Lewis J. Selznick. His father, Lewis, was a notable figure in the silent era of film—he ran Selznick Pictures, distributing and producing films.

The Selznick household was not devoid of turbulence: Lewis’s film company eventually suffered bankruptcy in the early 1920s, falling victim to financial overreach and changing conditions in the film business.

To distinguish himself, David added the “O.” to his name (though it stands for nothing) because he felt it added gravitas.

He had siblings, one of whom was Myron Selznick, who later became a prominent talent agent in Hollywood.

Youth and Education

David’s education included studies at Columbia University in New York City, though he did not complete a traditional academic route.

When his father’s company collapsed, David sought work in the film industry in earnest. In 1926, he moved to Hollywood, where through connections and his early film experience he secured jobs as a script reader and assistant at MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer).

He then shifted to Paramount Pictures in 1928, where he honed his skills in development and production oversight.

Career and Achievements

David O. Selznick's career can be viewed in phases: his early studio work, his move to independent production, his peak period, and his later years.

Early Studio Work

• At RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum), in 1931, Selznick became head of production, implementing the unit production system—a structure in which individual producers had more freedom instead of centralized control.

• During his brief tenure, he helped streamline costs and improve quality. But creative conflicts and studio politics led to his resignation after about 15 months.

• Returning to MGM in 1933, he supervised prestige films under a special unit created by his father-in-law, Louis B. Mayer. Under this aegis, he worked on films such as Dinner at Eight, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Anna Karenina.

Founding Selznick International Pictures

In 1935, Selznick struck out as an independent producer. He leased RKO’s back lot, founded Selznick International Pictures, and distributed via United Artists.

Among his early successes under that banner were The Garden of Allah (1936), The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), A Star Is Born (1937), Intermezzo (1939), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938), Nothing Sacred (1937), and Made for Each Other (1939).

But his crowning triumph came in 1939 with Gone with the Wind.

Gone with the Wind and Rebecca

• Selznick purchased the rights to Margaret Mitchell’s blockbuster novel Gone with the Wind in 1936—reportedly for $50,000.

• The production was famously complex and fraught—casting controversies, reshoots, and big-budget demands. Yet, Selznick’s tireless oversight and vision brought the film to life in 1939. It won 8 Oscars and earned massive box-office returns.

• That same year, Selznick earned the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, recognizing his drive in bringing Gone with the Wind from concept to blockbuster.

• In 1940, he produced Rebecca, directed by Alfred Hitchcock (whom Selznick had contracted to come to Hollywood). Rebecca also won Best Picture—making Selznick the only producer to win consecutive Oscars for Best Picture.

During his peak, for ten successive years Selznick was regarded among the top producers by exhibitors.

Later Career and Decline

After the success of Rebecca, Selznick gradually wound down major production. He closed Selznick International Pictures, retooled his business, and occasionally developed films for sale to other producers.

Some notable later films include:

• Since You Went Away (1944) — also credited as a writer.

• Spellbound (1945) and The Paradine Case (1947) with Hitchcock.

• The Third Man (1949) — co-production with Alexander Korda.

• A Farewell to Arms (1957) became his final film production.

During A Farewell to Arms, Selznick reportedly sent more than 10,000 memos to the production team, a testimony to his obsessive attention to detail.

By the time of his death in 1965, Selznick had produced 67 feature films, three shorts, and one television production (active chiefly between 1923 and 1957).

Historical Context & Milestones

To understand Selznick’s career arc, one must consider the shifting landscape of Hollywood:

• The studio system of the 1930s–1940s centralized control in the major studios. Selznick’s push for independent production challenged that paradigm.

• His use of unit production systems, giving individual films more autonomy, prefigured later dissolutions of centralized studio control.

• His dominance declined after major regulatory changes. In 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Paramount Pictures struck down the vertical integration of studios, loosening studio control over theaters and distribution. That ruling helped shift production power away from the kind of producer-centric model Selznick represented.

• In his later years, Selznick often expressed a sense of alienation from a changing Hollywood, lamenting that the industry had become a “junk industry” manipulated by bean counters rather than art-driven creators.

Selznick died on June 22, 1965, in Los Angeles, California, at age 63 (following a series of heart attacks).

Legacy and Influence

David O. Selznick left multiple enduring legacies in film history:

1. Model of the producer as auteur / micro-manager
   Selznick’s hands-on style—sending memos, reworking scripts, demanding reshoots—created a template for those who saw the producer as creative visionary, not just financier.

2. Independent production in Hollywood
   He proved that a producer outside the studio system could mount large-scale films and compete on prestige.

3. Discoverer/promoter of talent

   • He was instrumental in bringing Alfred Hitchcock to Hollywood.

   • He helped launch and promote Jennifer Jones, whom he married and centered many productions around.

4. Cultural impact
   Some of his films—Gone with the Wind, Rebecca, The Third Man—are preserved as culturally or historically significant (e.g. in the U.S. National Film Registry).

5. Cautionary tale about perfectionism
   Many biographers note that his obsessive perfectionism and personal intensity may have taken tolls on collaborators, finances, and his own well-being.

His name remains a byword for a time when the producer’s vision ruled the studio lot.

Personality and Talents

David O. Selznick was a force of contradictions: dreamer and micromanager, idealist and pragmatist.

• He was known for inexhaustible drive, working long hours and overseeing every aspect of production—from story edits to trimming scenes to resequencing.

• He had a keen eye for detail and would often send voluminous memos to directors, actors, editors, and technicians.

• At the same time, he was passionate about narrative, character development, and aesthetic coherence. His judgments were often bold and imaginative.

• But his intensity sometimes led to conflict—directors or collaborators chafed under his control.

• On a more personal level, Selznick was known to struggle with emotional moods. A number of his quotes reveal melancholic sentiments or self-reflection.

• He also valued continuity and generational improvement, writing that the little religion he clung to was that what matters most is “the continuity of life, and its improvement from one generation to another.”

Famous Quotes of David O. Selznick

Here are some of Selznick’s notable sayings, which reflect his temperament, creativity, and outlook:

“The success of a production depends on the attention paid to detail.” “There are only two kinds of class: First class and no class.” “If you're not accurate, you'll cause untold trouble.” “Hollywood's like Egypt, full of crumbled pyramids. It'll never come back. It'll just keep on crumbling until finally the wind blows the last studio prop across the sands.” “It's somehow symbolic of Hollywood that Tara was just a facade, with no rooms inside.” “The little religion that I have clung to — that what matters most is the continuity of life, and its improvement from one generation to another.” “I never ate of the grapes nor feared of the eruptions.” “If and when we get married, only a completely opposite system will prevail.” “I cannot permit you to disrupt the Paramount schedule.” “They’re stealing my ideas. They’re imitating my shots.” “I’m so depressed. Christmas is the worst of all. Holidays are terrible, worse than Sundays. I get melancholia.”

These lines show his mixture of ambition, sensitivity, humor, and tension.

Lessons from David O. Selznick

From Selznick’s life and work, several lessons can be drawn:

1. Vision + diligence — A big idea demands consistent attention, hard work, and intolerance for slackness.

2. Balance control and collaboration — While Selznick’s control produced masterpieces, it also caused friction. Creative projects often benefit from both strong leadership and collaborative freedom.

3. Don’t fear risk — He invested heavily in Gone with the Wind when many thought it unlikely to succeed. Taking calculated risks often yields breakthroughs.

4. Know your medium — Selznick understood film not only as entertainment but as a craft requiring aesthetic, narrative, technical, and logistical coherence.

5. Adapt to change — The industry shifted, and the independent producer model that Selznick championed was later overtaken by new structures; even great careers must evolve.

6. Leave room for legacy — Focusing on continuity of life and generational progress, Selznick believed in building works that outlast a lifetime.

Conclusion

David O. Selznick was more than a film producer—he was a visionary craftsman whose ambition, precision, and flair reshaped Hollywood’s possibilities. His successes with Gone with the Wind and Rebecca, and his method of combining detail-driven oversight with bold narrative instincts, set a high watermark in cinema. Though the era he embodied would fade, his legacy endures in how we think about the role of the producer, the balance of art and commerce, and the enduring power of storytelling.

If you’d like to explore more quotes, deep dives into specific films, or comparisons of Selznick with other legendary producers, I’d be glad to provide it.