filmica.

AG

Anton Grot

Art
1884(Poland])-1974
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Anton Grot (18 January 1884 – 21 March 1974) was a distinguished Polish art director long in Hollywood. He was known for his prolific output with Warner Brothers, contributing, in such films as Little Caesar, and Gold Diggers of 1933 to the distinctive Warners look and style. According to TCM.com, he showed a "flair for harsh realism, Expressionistic horror and ornate romantic moods alike". He was born Antocz Franciszek Groszewski in Kiełbasin, Poland and died in Stanton, California. He studied at the Krakow art academy and at technical school in Koenigsberg, Germany, majoring in interior decoration, illustration, and design. He changed his name and emigrated to the U.S. in 1909. The Lubin Company hired him to paint and design sets in 1913, in Philadelphia; and he also worked on films for Vitagraph and Pathé. At Pathé he developed his innovative techniques, along with William Cameron Menzies, in the way of using continuity sketches. His method of presenting a series of sketches of all the film’s sets would later become standard practice among Art Directors, particularly with Menzies (his assistant in 1917, on The Naulahka). Cinematographer Arthur Miller remembered Anton Grot: “a gifted and talented artist who made beautiful charcoal drawings...of the set before it was completed. All his compositions showed a full shot of each set, with all the delicate tones and shadings that suggested ideas for lighting and, in general, were of great help to me as a cameraman.” Grot came to Hollywood in 1922 to assist Wilfred Buckland with the sets for the Douglas Fairbanks Robin Hood; and stayed on, to work with Cecil B. DeMille and William K. Howard. He was eventually signed by Warner Bros, as “art director, artist, and designer", and designed 80 films before his retirement in 1948. Grot collaborated notably with fellow émigré, director Michael Curtiz, on 15 films. Beginning with the biblical epic Noah’s Ark (1928), these included The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1938), Captain Blood (1935), The Sea Hawk (1940), and Mildred Pierce (1945). Grot is credited with contributing significantly to Curtiz’ personal style.

Participates in

  • Doctor X
  • Sing Me a Love Song
  • The Sea Wolf
  • The Two Mrs. Carrolls
  • The Great Garrick
  • British Agent
  • 6 Day Bike Rider
  • Big City Blues
  • The Song of the Flame
  • Mandalay
  • Sweet Mama
  • Tovarich
  • The Road to Yesterday
  • White Gold
  • The Volga Boatman
  • Vanity
  • The Country Doctor
  • A Ship Comes In
  • Stand and Deliver
  • The Blue Danube
  • Walking Back
  • The Little Adventuress
  • One Sunday Afternoon
  • 20,000 Years in Sing Sing
  • Little Caesar
  • Red Hot Tires
  • The Sea Hawk
  • Body and Soul
  • Svengali
  • Son of a Sailor
  • The Golden Arrow
  • Rhapsody in Blue
  • They Made Me a Criminal
  • The Squall
  • Upperworld
  • Nora Prentiss
  • Gold Diggers of 1933
  • The White Angel
  • Mildred Pierce
  • Secrets of an Actress
  • Anthony Adverse
  • Baby Face
  • Footlight Parade
  • Bright Lights
  • The Mad Genius
  • Captain Blood
  • The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
  • Juarez
  • Deception
  • June Bride
  • Thank Your Lucky Stars
  • High Pressure
  • One Way Passage
  • Mystery of the Wax Museum
  • The Keyhole
  • The Secret Bride
  • Gambling Lady
  • Ever in My Heart
  • Backfire
  • Man Wanted
  • My Reputation
  • Side Show
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream
  • Mothers Cry
  • Scarlet Dawn
  • The Road to Singapore
  • A Notorious Affair
  • Street of Women
  • The Firebird
  • Easy to Love
  • Bright Lights
  • Never Say Goodbye
  • The Widow from Chicago
  • Stranded
  • Confession
  • Young April
  • Smiling Irish Eyes
  • Dr. Socrates
  • Arms and the Woman
  • Going Wild
  • Two Seconds
  • Possessed
  • Traveling Saleslady
  • He Was Her Man
  • Kiss Me Again
  • The Woman from Monte Carlo
  • The Florentine Dagger
  • The Unsuspected
  • The King's Vacation
  • The Match King
  • Beauty and the Boss
  • Broadway Gondolier
  • Top Speed
  • The Conspirators
  • Romance on the High Seas
  • The Life of Emile Zola
  • Hard to Get
  • A Successful Calamity
  • Dr. Monica
  • Affectionately Yours
  • Light At Dusk