CINEFILER

Anton Grot

Born
January 18, 1884
Died
March 21, 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.
Known For
Gold Diggers of 1933
(1933)
Art Direction
The Mad Genius
(1931)
Art Direction
Baby Face
(1933)
Art Direction
Captain Blood
(1935)
Art Direction
Mildred Pierce
(1945)
Art Direction
Footlight Parade
(1933)
Art Direction
Little Caesar
(1931)
Art Direction
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
(1939)
Art Direction
The Life of Emile Zola
(1937)
Art Direction
Possessed
(1947)
Art Direction
The Sea Hawk
(1940)
Art Direction
Mystery of the Wax Museum
(1933)
Art Direction
The Unsuspected
(1947)
Art Direction
Doctor X
(1932)
Art Direction
A Midsummer Night's Dream
(1935)
Art Direction
Full Filmography
Art
Arms and the Woman
(1916)
Art Direction
The Road to Yesterday
(1925)
Art Direction
The Volga Boatman
(1926)
Art Direction
Young April
(1926)
Art Direction
The Little Adventuress
(1927)
Art Direction
White Gold
(1927)
Art Direction
The Country Doctor
(1927)
Art Direction
Vanity
(1927)
Art Direction
A Ship Comes In
(1928)
Art Direction
The Blue Danube
(1928)
Art Direction
Walking Back
(1928)
Art Direction
Stand and Deliver
(1928)
Art Direction
The Squall
(1929)
Art Direction
Smiling Irish Eyes
(1929)
Set Designer
The Song of the Flame
(1930)
Set Decoration
Bright Lights
(1930)
Art Direction
Mothers Cry
(1930)
Art Direction
A Notorious Affair
(1930)
Set Designer
The Widow from Chicago
(1930)
Art Direction
Going Wild
(1930)
Art Direction
Top Speed
(1930)
Art Direction
Sweet Mama
(1930)
Art Direction
Little Caesar
(1931)
Art Direction
Svengali
(1931)
Art Direction
Body and Soul
(1931)
Art Direction
The Mad Genius
(1931)
Art Direction
Side Show
(1931)
Art Direction
The Road to Singapore
(1931)
Art Direction
Kiss Me Again
(1931)
Art Direction
Doctor X
(1932)
Art Direction
Big City Blues
(1932)
Art Direction
High Pressure
(1932)
Art Direction
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
(1932)
Art Direction
One Way Passage
(1932)
Art Direction
Man Wanted
(1932)
Art Direction
Scarlet Dawn
(1932)
Art Direction
Street of Women
(1932)
Art Direction
Two Seconds
(1932)
Art Direction
The Woman from Monte Carlo
(1932)
Art Direction
Beauty and the Boss
(1932)
Art Direction
The Match King
(1932)
Art Direction
A Successful Calamity
(1932)
Production Design
Baby Face
(1933)
Art Direction
Mystery of the Wax Museum
(1933)
Art Direction
Son of a Sailor
(1933)
Art Direction
Gold Diggers of 1933
(1933)
Art Direction
Footlight Parade
(1933)
Art Direction
Ever in My Heart
(1933)
Art Direction
The Keyhole
(1933)
Art Direction
The King's Vacation
(1933)
Art Direction
6 Day Bike Rider
(1934)
Art Direction
British Agent
(1934)
Art Direction
Mandalay
(1934)
Art Direction
Upperworld
(1934)
Art Direction
The Secret Bride
(1934)
Art Direction
Gambling Lady
(1934)
Art Direction
Easy to Love
(1934)
Art Direction
The Firebird
(1934)
Art Direction
He Was Her Man
(1934)
Art Direction
Dr. Monica
(1934)
Art Direction
Red Hot Tires
(1935)
Art Direction
Captain Blood
(1935)
Art Direction
A Midsummer Night's Dream
(1935)
Art Direction
Bright Lights
(1935)
Art Direction
Stranded
(1935)
Art Direction
Dr. Socrates
(1935)
Art Direction
Traveling Saleslady
(1935)
Art Direction
The Florentine Dagger
(1935)
Art Direction
Broadway Gondolier
(1935)
Art Direction
The Golden Arrow
(1936)
Art Direction
The White Angel
(1936)
Art Direction
Anthony Adverse
(1936)
Art Direction
Sing Me a Love Song
(1936)
Art Direction
The Great Garrick
(1937)
Art Direction
Tovarich
(1937)
Art Direction
Confession
(1937)
Art Direction
The Life of Emile Zola
(1937)
Art Direction
Hard to Get
(1938)
Production Design
Secrets of an Actress
(1938)
Art Direction
They Made Me a Criminal
(1939)
Art Direction
Juarez
(1939)
Art Direction
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
(1939)
Art Direction
The Sea Hawk
(1940)
Art Direction
Affectionately Yours
(1941)
Art Direction
The Sea Wolf
(1941)
Art Direction
Thank Your Lucky Stars
(1943)
Art Direction
The Conspirators
(1944)
Art Direction
Rhapsody in Blue
(1945)
Art Direction
Mildred Pierce
(1945)
Art Direction
Deception
(1946)
Art Direction
My Reputation
(1946)
Art Direction
Never Say Goodbye
(1946)
Art Direction
Nora Prentiss
(1947)
Art Direction
Possessed
(1947)
Art Direction
The Unsuspected
(1947)
Art Direction
The Two Mrs. Carrolls
(1947)
Art Direction
June Bride
(1948)
Art Direction
Romance on the High Seas
(1948)
Art Direction
One Sunday Afternoon
(1948)
Art Direction
Backfire
(1950)
Art Direction
Data provided by TMDB