Harry Horner (July 24, 1910 – December 5, 1994) was aCzech-born Americanart director who made a successful career inHollywood as anOscar-winning art director and as a feature film and television director.[1] He was the father ofAcademy Award-winning film composerJames Horner.
He began his career working withMax Reinhardt inVienna. When Reinhardt moved to the United States in the early 1930s, Horner travelled with Max Reinhardt's production group acting as his stage manager. Max Reinhardt's staging of Shakespeare'sA Midsummer Night's Dream (1934) for the summer Hollywood Bowl season in Los Angeles, Harry Horner was the production's stage manager and also an actor in the production. Following Max Reinhardt to New York, Harry Horner assisted Reinhardt in his staging of the Biblical musical spectacleThe Eternal Road (Der Weg der Verheissung); the production had music by Kurt Weill; conducted by Harry Horner; opening at the Manhattan Opera House 1/7/1937-5/15/1937 with scenic design, costume design and lighting byNorman Bel Geddes. Max Reinhardt, disgusted with Norman Bel Geddes lack of interest by not showing up for production rehearsals, pressed Harry Horner into acting as art director supervising the sets, costumes, and the lighting. Because Horner had been faithful to Reinhardt as his stage manager, Reinhardt knew that he could depend upon Horner's many faceted talents and abilities. Consequently, Harry Horner fell into the scenic design craft and was employed as a stage designer. Harry Horner designed the scenery for the dramaLady In The Dark, a drama with a musical dream sequence (music: Kurt Weill); opening January 23, 1941 – June 15, 1941 (reopening 10/2/41-5/30/42, revived 2/27/43-5/15/43). Harry Horner's stage design legacy is the first use of a center stage donut turntable ring, inner and outer turntable rings moving simultaneously and in reverse of each other. The innovative stage design forLady In The Dark was the first turntable usage on a Broadway stage. DuringWorld War II, he served as production designer and set designer for theU.S. Army Air Forces showWinged Victory.[2]
He won anOscar in1949 for his work onWilliam Wyler'sThe Heiress and another in1961 forRobert Rossen's dramaThe Hustler. Gene Callahan wasThe Hustler film's set decorator. When Gene Callahan was nominated in the Oscar Art Direction category for Elia Kazan'sAmerica, America, Harry Horner drew the set sketch for Gene, which was used in the telecast's program Art Direction category.
Married to Betty Pfaelzer in 1938; she died in 1951. In 1952 he married Joan Ruth Fraenkel, who was his wife until his death. They had three sons. His eldest son was the Oscar-winningcomposerJames Horner. His middle son,Christopher Horner, is also working in several positions in the film business. Anthony (Tony), the youngest, is a doctor specializing in pediatric immunology and related research.
Harry Horner:"Das Herz rutschte mir in die Hose, als ich nach Ellis Island gebracht wurde" ("My heart was in my mouth as I was brought to Ellis Island"). In: Christian Cargnelli, Michael Omasta (eds.):Aufbruch ins Ungewisse. Österreichische Filmschaffende in der Emigration vor 1945. Vienna, Wespennest: 1993
