I started out to be a painter and was born into the theater.

Meaning of the quote

Vincente Minnelli, an American director, started out wanting to be a painter, but ended up working in the theater instead. He discovered that his true passion was not just visual art, but the art of creating theatrical productions.

About Vincente Minnelli

Vincente Minnelli, an acclaimed American stage and film director, is best known for his innovative and artistic musical films. He directed numerous critically acclaimed movies, including several Best Picture winners, during his prolific 50-year career at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Minnelli’s personal life was also eventful, as he was briefly married to legendary actress Judy Garland, with whom he had a daughter, the famous Liza Minnelli.

More about the author

More quotes from Vincente Minnelli

I allow an area for improvisation because the chemical things actors bring to stories make it not work.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

It’s the story that counts.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

But I think musicals are going to have to deal with important subjects.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

West Side Story was terribly important because of the style of the dancing and the gangs of New York.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

I use colors to bring fine points of story and character.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

Dali was the great painter then and surrealism was a way of life.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

If anybody reads a story in a magazine or book, different pictures compete in their minds.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

I had given up the theater and everything propelled me into entertainment. And I didn’t resist it.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

Designing Woman was written for the screen.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

Color can do anything that black-and-white can.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

Cedric Gibbons was the grand cardinal of the art department.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

But I went down to Venezuela and spend a few weeks going through jungles. It’s fantastic looking.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

Fortunately, John Houseman is a marvelous writer and he sat in on so many story conferences. He worked with Welles, you know, and he’s a marvelous man.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

We shot that in all the real places where Van Gogh worked.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

That’s what I think musicals will come to. No backstage stories, nothing of that sort.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

But surrealism is present in most of my pictures.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

In the Thirties, when I was in New York, I did the first surrealistic ballet in a show of mine.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

No, I only like whether I like the story or not, essentially see something in it that isn’t completely there.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

I made three films with Douglas, two with Charles Boyer.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

I always liked the Van Gogh story because I was terribly involved in that.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

I learn new things all the time.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

American films are terribly popular all over the world and American movie stars are terribly important. I don’t know why.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

I always have coffee without sugar, you know. Just cream.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

I see wonderful films by Bertolucci, Visconti, and Fellini.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

I started out to be a painter and was born into the theater.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

It’s always the story that interests me.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

I’ve worked with an awful lot of people. Katy Hepburn, Spencer Tracy.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

I seem to be drawn to things that actually happen.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

The Pirate is surrealism and so, in a curious way, is Father of the Bride.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)

Nowadays the audience has changed. No one can anticipate the audience.

Vincente Minnelli

American stage and film director (1903-1986)