hiː dᵻɹˈɛktᵻd hɪz fˈɜːst fˈɪlm ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi θɹˈiː wɪð kɹˈeɪdəl sˈɔŋ ænd bɪkˌeɪm nˈoʊn fɔːɹ hɪz kˈiːn sˈɛns ʌv ɛsθˈɛɾɪks ɪnðə ɡlˈɔsi hˈɑːliwˌʊd mˌɛlədɹˈɑːməz ænd skɹˈuːbɔːl kˈɑːmədiz hiː tˈɜːnd ˈaʊt.
He directed his first film in 1933 with Cradle Song and became known for his keen sense of aesthetics in the glossy Hollywood melodramas and screwball comedies he turned out.