Arthur Freed (née Grossman; September 9, 1894 – April 12, 1973) was an American lyricist and a Hollywood film producer. He won the Academy Award for Best Picture twice, in 1951 for An American in Paris and in 1958 for Gigi. Both films were musicals, and both were directed by Vincente Minnelli. In addition, he produced the film Singin' in the Rain, the soundtrack for which primarily consisted of songs he co-wrote earlier in his career. In the decades following his death, Freed has become the subject of several sexual assault allegations, most notably from child actress Shirley Temple and actress and dancer Barrie Chase.

Early life

Freed was born in Charleston, South Carolina to a Jewish family, and wrote poetry as a high schooler at Phillips Exeter Academy. After graduating in 1914, he began his career as a song-plugger and pianist in Chicago. After meeting Minnie Marx, he sang as part of her sons' act, the Marx Brothers, on the vaudeville circuit and also wrote material for them.

He soon began to write songs, and he was hired by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. on The Wizard of Oz, he was promoted to being the head of his own unit within MGM, and helped elevate the studio to the leading creator of film musicals. His first solo credit as producer was the film version of Rodgers and Hart's smash Broadway musical Babes in Arms (also 1939),

Two of his films won the Academy Award for Best Picture: An American in Paris and Gigi.

Death

Freed died of a heart attack on April 3, 1973.

Sexual misconduct allegations

Shirley Temple wrote in her 1988 autobiography that when she had been 12 in 1940, she was interviewed by Freed, who was age 46, about transferring her career to MGM. She wrote that during the interview, Freed unzipped his trousers and exposed himself to her. According to The New York Times obituary of Temple, "Being innocent of male anatomy, she responded by giggling, and he threw her out of his office". She also related this account during a October 25, 1988 interview on Larry King Live, further stating that Louis B. Mayer sexually propositioned her mother in an adjacent room during this incident. Temple stated these were the reasons she left MGM after only one film and returned to Fox.

In 2017, actress and dancer Barrie Chase also recounted being the subject of inappropriate conduct by Freed during the mid-1950s.

Hit songs

With Nacio Herb Brown

With others

  • "I Cried for You" (with Gus Arnheim and Abe Lyman)
  • "Our Love Affair" (with Roger Edens)
  • "This Heart of Mine" (with Harry Warren)
  • "There's Beauty Everywhere" (with Harry Warren)
  • "Here's to the Girls" (with Roger Edens)

Producing credits

  • The Wizard of Oz (1939) (associate producer)
  • Babes in Arms (1939)
  • Strike Up the Band (1940)
  • Little Nellie Kelly (1940)
  • Lady Be Good (1941)
  • Babes on Broadway (1941)
  • Panama Hattie (1942)
  • For Me and My Gal (1942)
  • Cabin in the Sky (1943)
  • Best Foot Forward (1943)
  • Du Barry Was a Lady (1943)
  • Girl Crazy (1943)
  • Meet the People (1944) (executive producer)
  • Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
  • The Clock (1945)
  • Yolanda and the Thief (1945)
  • The Harvey Girls (1946)
  • Ziegfeld Follies (1946)
  • Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
  • Good News (1947)
  • Summer Holiday (1948)
  • The Pirate (1948)
  • Easter Parade (1948)
  • Words and Music (1948)
  • Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949)
  • The Barkleys of Broadway (1949)
  • Any Number Can Play (1949)
  • On the Town (1949)
  • Annie Get Your Gun (1950)
  • Crisis (1950)
  • Pagan Love Song (1950)
  • Royal Wedding (1951)
  • Show Boat (1951)
  • An American in Paris (1951)
  • The Belle of New York (1952)
  • Singin' in the Rain (1952)
  • The Band Wagon (1953)
  • Brigadoon (1954)
  • It's Always Fair Weather (1955)
  • Kismet (1955)
  • Invitation to the Dance (1956)
  • Silk Stockings (1957)
  • Gigi (1958)
  • Bells Are Ringing (1960)
  • The Subterraneans (1960)
  • The Light in the Piazza (1962)

References

  • SHoF page on Arthur Freed
  • Full list of Freed's songs on SHoF site
  • Arthur Freed – Filmography – The New York Times
  • Arthur Freed recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings