Harry Horner

Art director Harry Horner (July 24, 1910 - December 5, 1994) was a Hollywood art director. He was born to parents of the German speaking minority in Austria-Hungarys crown land Bohemia, in the town of Holitz, which now belongs to the Czech Republic.

He began his career working with Max Reinhardt in Vienna. When Reinhardt moved to the United States in the early 30s, Horner went with him.

During World War II, he served as production designer and set designer for the U.S. Army Air Forces show Winged Victory.

He won an Oscar in 1949 for his work on William Wyler's The Heiress and another in 1961 for Robert Rossen's drama The Hustler.

One of his first notable successes was George Cukor's A Double Life (1947). and he soon found himself up on the Oscar podium in 1949 for his work on William Wyler's The Heiress. He worked with Cukor again in 1950 on Born Yesterday and then tried his hand at directing on several TV series, including Gunsmoke. He was nominated for a third time in 1969 for Sydney Pollack's 30s drama They Shoot Horses, Don't They?.

He retired after completing the Neil Diamond remake of The Jazz Singer in 1980. He died of pneumonia in 1994 in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. His son is the Oscar-winning composer James Horner. His other son, Christopher Horner, is also working in several positions in the film business.

[edit] Interview

Harry Horner: "Das Herz rutschte mir in die Hose, als ich nach Ellis Island gebracht wurde". In: Christian Cargnelli, Michael Omasta (eds.): Aufbruch ins Ungewisse. Österreichische Filmschaffende in der Emigration vor 1945. Vienna, Wespennest: 1993