When Budd Schulberg landed the job of head of production at Paramount, he brought only two contractees over from his previous employer, Preferred Pictures. These were Clara Bow and director William A. Wellman. Ali (1927) was Paramount's major prestige production of its day and the chances of Wellman landing the directing gig were very minimal thanks to his reputation as a director of B Westerns. But Schulberg was determined to push for Wellman, saying he was the only director on staff who had direct combat experience from World War I. Paramount boasted Cecil B. DeMille and Victor Fleming on their roster and Wellman was asked why he should be given the gig. He replied "My war record [says it all], and I'll make it the best goddamn picture this studio has ever had". He got the job; he was only 30 at the time.

Film

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