In the early 1930s Wyler directed a wide variety of films at Universal, ranging from high-profile dramas such as The Storm with Bebe Daniels, A House Divided with Walter Huston, and Counsellor at Law with John Barrymore, to comedies like Her First Mate with Zasu Pitts and The Good Fairy with Margaret Sullavan. He became well known for his insistence on multiple retakes, resulting in often award-winning and critically acclaimed performances from his actors. After leaving Universal he began a long collaboration with Samuel Goldwyn for whom he directed such classics as Dodsworth (1936) where he earned his first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Director. The film starred Walter Huston, Ruth Chatterton and Mary Astor, "sparking a 20-year run of almost unbroken greatness."Freer, Ian. Movie Makers: 50 Iconic Directors. London: Quercus Publishers (2009) He also directed These Three (1936) with Miriam Hopkins and Merle Oberon, Dead End (1937) with Humphrey Bogart, Wuthering Heights (1939) with Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon, The Westerner (1940) with Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan, The Little Foxes (1941) with Bette Davis, and The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) with Myrna Loy and Fredric March.
in thE eaRLY 1930s WYLeR direCTEd a wIde vaRiety oF FiLms aT uNiversal, ranGing FroM high-profile drAmas SuCh as the stoRm with bebe DANiEls, a house DiviDed wIth WAltEr HuSton, and coUnseLlOR AT lAw with john BarRymorE, To comedieS LIKe Her fIRSt mate with zasu piTts anD the gooD fAiry With MargarEt SulLavan. he BEcaME wEll knoWn for hIs InsisTence on MultIple rEtakes, rEsultIng IN ofTeN awarD-Winning aNd crItiCally aCcLaimed PErFORMances From hIs aCtors. after leAvinG UnIVerSAl He began a long CollAboRaTIoN WItH sAmuel goldwyn FOR WHom he DirectED such clAssIcs as dodSWorth (1936) where he earned His fIRst NomiNaTiON for tHe ACadEMy awaRD FOR BESt DiReCtOr. the fIlm StARrEd WaltEr hUSTOn, ruth ChattErtON anD marY astoR, "sPArkinG a 20-yEar rUn Of alMosT unbrOkeN grEatnEss."freer, iaN. movIe makers: 50 iConic dirEcToRs. LOndon: qUeRcuS puBlishERs (2009) He aLso direCteD tHese tHree (1936) With miriAM HopkiNs anD merlE obEron, dEAd end (1937) witH humphReY BoGaRT, WUTherinG heigHtS (1939) WiTh LAUreNCe oliViEr and Merle OberoN, tHe wESteRner (1940) with gary coopeR aNd walteR brennaN, the littLe fOxEs (1941) WitH betTe daVis, and The beSt years of Our lives (1946) with MYRNa Loy And frEdRiC March.