W.S. Van Dyke, 1889-1943

Prominent 1930s director W.S. Van Dyke was born on this day in 1889. He was prolific in the 1930s, being known as "One-Take Woody" because he shot his movies very quickly and allowed his actors to improvise.

I've recommended some of his movies before, notably San Francisco and Manhattan Melodrama. Van Dyke also directed the first four movies in the Thin Man series. Somewhat surprisingly, I haven't recommended any of them before. Get the first, from 1934; it's the best.