---
name: "David O. Selznick"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-o-selznick"
fi1m_id: "david-o-selznick"
imdb_id: "nm0006388"
tmdb_id: 3248
wikidata_id: "Q72291"
roles: ["Writer","Producer"]
born: "10 May 1902"
died: "22 June 1965"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "writer"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-20T01:19:14.551928+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# David O. Selznick

## Identity

David O. Selznick

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-o-selznick
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** david-o-selznick
- **IMDb ID:** nm0006388
- **TMDB ID:** 3248
- **Wikidata ID:** Q72291
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_O._Selznick, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q72291, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006388/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3248

Writer and producer. Born 10 May 1902 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Died 22 June 1965.

## Details

- **Work:** Writer, Producer
- **Born:** 10 May 1902, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- **Died:** 22 June 1965
- **Active:** 1934–1949
- **Also known as:** Oliver Jeffries, David Selznick
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 10: 2 writing, 7 producing, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Ben Hecht](https://film.one/person/ben-hecht.md), [Alfred Hitchcock](https://film.one/person/alfred-hitchcock.md), [Edna May Oliver](https://film.one/person/edna-may-oliver.md), [Jack Conway](https://film.one/person/jack-conway.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as writer, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 75 (5), 1940s 77 (5)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_O._Selznick, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q72291, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006388/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3248

## Streaming the US now

- **Pluto TV:** [*A Star Is Born*](https://film.one/film/a-star-is-born-1937.md) (78)
- **HBO Max:** [*Gone with the Wind*](https://film.one/film/gone-with-the-wind.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

David O. Selznick was an American film producer, screenwriter and studio executive. The son of producer Lewis J. Selznick, he began working in the industry in New York before moving to Hollywood in 1926. He held positions at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount Pictures and RKO Radio Pictures, where he served as head of production.

In 1935 Selznick established his own company, Selznick International Pictures. His productions included *A Star Is Born* (1937), *Gone with the Wind* (1939) and *Rebecca* (1940). Both *Gone with the Wind* and *Rebecca* won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He also received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.

Later credits include *Spellbound* (1945) and *The Third Man* (1949). Selznick died in Los Angeles in 1965.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com.*

## On Fi1m (10)

### Wrote (2) — the average rests on these

- *Since You Went Away* (1944), Fi1m 63, Screenplay, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/since-you-went-away.md)
- *A Star Is Born* (1937), Fi1m 78, Producer, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/a-star-is-born-1937.md)

### Produced (7)

- *The Third Man* (1949), Fi1m 92, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-third-man.md)
- *Spellbound* (1945), Fi1m 66, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/spellbound.md)
- *Rebecca* (1940), Fi1m 85, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/rebecca.md)
- *Gone with the Wind* (1939), Fi1m 74, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/gone-with-the-wind.md)
- *A Tale of Two Cities* (1935), Fi1m 76, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/a-tale-of-two-cities.md)
- *David Copperfield* (1935), Fi1m 81, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/david-copperfield.md)
- *Viva Villa!* (1934), Fi1m 66, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/viva-villa.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Gaslight* (1944), Fi1m 81, Thanks — [page](https://film.one/film/gaslight.md)

## Complete filmography (83)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *1939: Secrets of Hollywood's Golden Year* (2023), series, Actor
- *That's Entertainment, Part II* (1976), Thanks
- *A Farewell to Arms* (1957), Producer
- *Indiscretion of an American Wife* (1953), Executive Producer
- *Gone to Earth* (1950), Presenter
- *The Third Man* (1949), Executive Producer — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/the-third-man.md)
- *Portrait of Jennie* (1948), Producer
- *The Paradine Case* (1947), Screenplay, Producer
- *Duel in the Sun* (1946), Screenplay, Producer, Presenter
- *Spellbound* (1945), Producer — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/spellbound.md)
- *The Fighting Generation* (1944), Producer
- *Since You Went Away* (1944), Screenplay, Producer — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/since-you-went-away.md)
- *Gaslight* (1944), Thanks — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/gaslight.md)
- *Selznick Home Movie* (1944), Actor
- *Rebecca* (1940), Producer — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/rebecca.md)
- *Gone with the Wind* (1939), Producer — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/gone-with-the-wind.md)
- *Intermezzo: A Love Story* (1939), Producer
- *Joan Fontaine Wardrobe Test* (1939), Producer
- *Made for Each Other* (1939), Producer
- *The Young in Heart* (1938), Producer
- *The Adventures of Tom Sawyer* (1938), Producer
- *Nothing Sacred* (1937), Producer
- *The Prisoner of Zenda* (1937), Producer
- *A Star Is Born* (1937), Producer, Writer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/a-star-is-born-1937.md)
- *The Garden of Allah* (1936), Producer
- *Little Lord Fauntleroy* (1936), Producer
- *Imogene Coca Screen Test* (1936), Producer
- *A Tale of Two Cities* (1935), Producer — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/a-tale-of-two-cities.md)
- *Anna Karenina* (1935), Producer
- *Reckless* (1935), Story, Producer
- *David Copperfield* (1935), Producer — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/david-copperfield.md)
- *Manhattan Melodrama* (1934), Producer
- *Viva Villa!* (1934), Producer — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/viva-villa.md)
- *Dinner at Eight* (1933), Producer
- *Dancing Lady* (1933), Executive Producer
- *Meet the Baron* (1933), Producer
- *Night Flight* (1933), Executive Producer
- *Cross Fire* (1933), Producer
- *Sweepings* (1933), Producer
- *King Kong* (1933), Executive Producer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/king-kong.md)
- *Our Betters* (1933), Producer
- *Scarlet River* (1933), Executive Producer
- *Christopher Strong* (1933), Producer
- *The Great Jasper* (1933), Producer
- *Topaze* (1933), Producer
- *Lucky Devils* (1933), Executive Producer
- *The Cheyenne Kid* (1933), Executive Producer
- *The Past of Mary Holmes* (1933), Executive Producer
- *The Animal Kingdom* (1932), Producer
- *The Half-Naked Truth* (1932), Executive Producer
- *The Penguin Pool Murder* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Secrets of the French Police* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Rockabye* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Renegades of the West* (1932), Executive Producer
- *The Conquerors* (1932), Executive Producer
- *The Sport Parade* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Little Orphan Annie* (1932), Producer
- *The Phantom of Crestwood* (1932), Executive Producer
- *A Bill of Divorcement* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Hell's Highway* (1932), Executive Producer
- *The Most Dangerous Game* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Thirteen Women* (1932), Executive Producer
- *The Age of Consent* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Hold 'Em Jail* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Bird of Paradise* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Roar of the Dragon* (1932), Executive Producer
- *What Price Hollywood?* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Is My Face Red?* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Westward Passage* (1932), Executive Producer
- *State's Attorney* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Symphony of Six Million* (1932), Executive Producer
- *The Roadhouse Murder* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Young Bride* (1932), Executive Producer
- *The Lost Squadron* (1932), Executive Producer
- *Street of Chance* (1930), Producer
- *The Dance of Life* (1929), Associate Producer
- *The Four Feathers* (1929), Associate Producer
- *The Man I Love* (1929), Producer
- *Chinatown Nights* (1929), Associate Producer
- *Forgotten Faces* (1928), Editor
- *Roulette* (1924), Producer
- *Rudolph Valentino and His 88 American Beauties* (1923), Director
- *The Glorious Lady* (1919), Producer

## Gallery

- ![David O. Selznick](https://film.one/media/person/103516/gallery-9432fa75a742.jpg) David O. Selznick — Unknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/DavidSelznick.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of a dinner given by the motion picture industry to mark Adolph Zukor's 25th anniversary in the industry. The event was held at The Trocadero in 1936. Fro](https://film.one/media/person/103516/gallery-bd034b2ff61d.jpg) Photo of a dinner given by the motion picture industry to mark Adolph Zukor's 25th anniversary in the industry. The event was held at The Trocadero in 1936. Fro — Acme Newspictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Adolph_Zukor_anniversary_1936.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Alfred Hitchcock and David O. Selznick talks about Spellbound (1945)](https://film.one/media/person/103516/gallery-787713f48dd3.jpg) Alfred Hitchcock and David O. Selznick talks about Spellbound (1945) — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Alfred_Hitchcock_%26_David_O._Selznick_Spellbound_1945.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![[David O. Selznick, bust portrait, facing front] (1940)](https://film.one/media/person/103516/gallery-5e1ffe5f5e48.jpg) [David O. Selznick, bust portrait, facing front] (1940) — World Telegram photo by Edward Lynch., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/DavidOSelznick.jpg/1280px-DavidOSelznick.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David O. Selznick (1940)](https://film.one/media/person/103516/gallery-e038288e8f84.jpg) David O. Selznick (1940) — World Telegram staff photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/David_O._Selznick_NYWTS.jpg/1280px-David_O._Selznick_NYWTS.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David O. Selznick, three-quarter length portrait, seated, facing right / World-Telegram photo by Edward Lynch. (1941)](https://film.one/media/person/103516/gallery-3ea23be639a6.jpg) David O. Selznick, three-quarter length portrait, seated, facing right / World-Telegram photo by Edward Lynch. (1941) — New York World-Telegram and the Sun staff photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/David_O._Selznick_NYWTS_2.jpg/1280px-David_O._Selznick_NYWTS_2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award 1939: Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/david-o-selznick