Seymour Stern: American Film Critic, Guardian and Prophet-6- 1933 brought with it yet another of Stern's thwarted projects. He had begun production on PUEBLO, docudrama on the Pueblo Indian nation that was being financed independently by a wealthy heiress. Unable to obtain the services of the director of his choice, Stern assumed the role himself as an adjunct to his being the producer of the film. He completed his screenplay, hired Floyd Crosby as the director of photography, and commenced actual production. Early on in the work, however there was another general falling-out amongst virtually the entire staff, and had happened on IMPERIAL VALLEY, and the production was halted. It was a project that would remain unfinished.25 Prior to his departure from Hollywood, Stern had become a close collaborator with Irving Thalberg at MGM and Stern's work within the confines of the industry were attracting attention. In addition to his continuity work on MARIE ANTOINETTE, Stern was to have a hand in the image continuity of THE GOOD EARTH, CHINA SEAS, DAVID COPPERFIELD and other MGM features. Having predisposed himself to new directions, Stern left MGM and, with the brief exceptions of work with Rouben Mamoulian as special consultant on various projects, with William Saroyan on the acclaimed short subject, THE GOOD JOB A third hiatus with Preston Sturges from 1944-47 including work on LADY EVE & THE GREAT McGINTY, the balance of Stern's life would be spent as a literary conscience and Grand Inquisitor of the motion picture as an art form.27 Stern had gradually become a stronger and stronger advocate of ideals and causes that were anathema to the industry in which he was working. The inevitable result was Stern's gradual disassociation from the studio atmosphere and his embracing of the role of critic and essayist, wherein his teachings and preachings were not bound by the standards of decorum of others. Stern's involvement with the critical side of cinema assumed a full time preoccupation following his break with the studios but he had begun involvements during his Hollywood period that seemed incongruous with his studio roles and may, in fact, have helped hasten his break with them. |