Otto Preminger: The Man Who Would Be King

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This comprehensive biography explores the life of the influential and often misunderstood director/producer known as “Otto the Terrible.” Otto Preminger's journey began in a privileged Viennese upbringing as the son of a successful Jewish lawyer, leading to a remarkable career in film and theater across Europe and America. His directorial range was vast, encompassing romantic comedies like *The Moon Is Blue*, musicals such as *Carmen Jones* and *Porgy and Bess*, courtroom dramas including *Anatomy of a Murder*, and adaptations of classic plays. Preminger was known for challenging the norms of Hollywood, famously defying the Production Code by retaining controversial dialogue in *The Moon Is Blue* and addressing drug addiction in *The Man with the Golden Arm*. His film *Anatomy of a Murder* marked a pivotal moment in the decline of censorship, despite initial objections to its frank language. Hirsch highlights Preminger's mastery of classical Hollywood style and his groundbreaking work in racial representation, notably in *Carmen Jones* and *Porgy and Bess*. He also broke barriers by depicting a gay bar scene in *Advise and Consent* and credited Dalton Trumbo in *Exodus*, defying the Hollywood blacklist. The biography captures Preminger's complex personality, his belief in understated performances, and his impactful films on the American justice and political systems, revealing both the man and his remarkable contributions to