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William Cameron Menzies (July 29, 1896 – March 5, 1957) was an Academy Award-winning American film production designer (a job title he invented) and art director who also worked as a director, producer, and screenwriter during a career spanning five decades. He earned acclaim for his work in silent movies, and later pioneered the use of color in film for dramatic effect. Menzies was born in New Haven, Connecticut to Scots immigrant parents, Charles A. and Helen originally from Aberfeldy, Scotland. 1910 US Census He studied at Yale and the University of Edinburgh, and after serving in... MORE

William Cameron Menzies (July 29, 1896 – March 5, 1957) was an Academy Award-winning American film production designer (a job title he invented) and art director who also worked as a director, producer, and screenwriter during a career spanning five decades. He earned acclaim for his work in silent movies, and later pioneered the use of color in film for dramatic effect. Menzies was born in New Haven, Connecticut to Scots immigrant parents, Charles A. and Helen originally from Aberfeldy, Scotland. 1910 US Census He studied at Yale and the University of Edinburgh, and after serving in the US Army during World War I he attended the Art Students League of New York. Menzies joined Famous Players-Lasky (later to evolve into Paramount Pictures) working in special effects and design. Menzies established himself in Hollywood with his elaborate settings for The Thief of Bagdad (1924), The Bat (1926), The Dove (1927), Sadie Thompson (1928), and Tempest (1928). In 1929, Menzies partnered with producer Joseph M. Schenck to create a series of early sound short films visualizing great works of music, including a 10-minute version of Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice, and created the production LESS