John DeCuir


John DeCuir was a Hollywood art director and production designer known for his elaborate set designs that were illustrated with his own watercolor paintings.
DeCuir studied at the Chouinard Art School, joined Universal in the late 1930s, and by the mid-1940s was designing sets. In 1949, he signed with 20th Century Fox where he worked on productions with elaborate sets. These included dramatic material such as The House on Telegraph Hill, and comedy Ghostbusters. DeCuir earned eleven Oscar nominations, winning three: The [King and I (1956 film)|The King and I], Cleopatra, and Hello, Dolly!. DeCuir designed the short-lived exhibit devoted to horror film at Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park, CA called The Black Box.
His son, John DeCuir Jr. is also a production designer.

Partial filmography

The Naked City The House on Telegraph Hill My Cousin Rachel The [Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952 film)|The Snows of Kilimanjaro] Diplomatic Courier Call Me Madam There's [No Business like Show Business] Three [Coins in the Fountain (1954 film)|Three Coins in the Fountain] Daddy Long Legs The King and I South Pacific A Certain Smile The Big Fisherman Seven Thieves Cleopatra Circus World The [Agony and the Ecstasy (film)|The Agony and the Ecstasy] The Honey Pot The Taming of the Shrew Hello, Dolly The Great White Hope On a [Clear Day You Can See Forever] The [Other Side of Midnight (film)|The Other Side of Midnight] Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid