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Delbert Mann

Delbert Mann

Director and producer · Died November 11, 2007, aged 87 · Lawrence, Kansas, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Delbert Martin Mann, Jr. (January 30, 1920 – November 11, 2007) was an American television and film director. He won the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Director for the film Marty. It was the first Best Picture winner to be based on a television program, being adapted from a 1953 teleplay of the same name which he had also directed. Mann is also the only director other than Billy Wilder and Roman Polanski to win an Oscar for his direction and a Cannes Palme d'Or for the same film. From 1967 to 1971, he was president of the Directors Guild of America. Mann was born in Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas, the son of Ora (née Patton), a civic worker and teacher, and Delbert Martin Mann, Sr., a college professor. Mann graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. After school, he served with the U.S. Army Air Corps in WW II, then got discharged after service in the European theater. He then attended Yale Drama School, and graduated, followed by work in theater and eventually, TV and movies. He was married to Ann Caroline Mann from 1941 until his wife's death in 2001. Mann died from pneumonia on November 11, 2007 at a Los Angeles hospital.   Description above from the Wikipedia article Delbert Mann, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 30, 1920
Died
November 11, 2007 (aged 87)
From
Lawrence, Kansas, USA
Works as
Director and producer
Titles
34 on Motif · 73 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 6% in 30 days

What are Delbert Mann's films like?

Across their 32 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama20 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
38%
Morality
18%
Survival
14%
Self
13%
Society
7%
Power
7%
Ideas
3%
Romantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 32 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 25 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 12 · Charged 13 · Intense 7

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 21 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 22 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 3

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 19 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 20 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 9 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 11

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 30 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
19
Warm
15
Tense
13
Romantic
7
Contemplative
6
Other
24

How their films linger

Bittersweet15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Delbert Mann's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 34 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Delbert Mann's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

73 credits, 34 with a Motif page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Lily in Winter (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Incident in a Small Town(1994)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore(1992)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Ironclads(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • April Morning(1988)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Grace Kelly: The American Princess(1987)

    Thanks · as Self

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Last Days of Patton(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Ted Kennedy Jr. Story (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • A Death in California (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Love Leads the Way: A True Story(1984)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story(1983)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Brontë (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    Director

  • The Member of the Wedding (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Director

  • Night Crossing(1982)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • All the Way Home(1981)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • To Find My Son (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    Director

  • All Quiet on the Western Front(1979)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Torn Between Two Lovers(1979)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Director

  • Tom and Joann (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Director

  • Home to Stay (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Director

  • Love’s Dark Ride (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Director

  • Breaking Up (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Director

  • Tell Me My Name (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Director

  • Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident(1976)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Birch Interval (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Director

  • A Girl Named Sooner(1975)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond(1975)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The First Woman President (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Director · Producer

  • The Man Without a Country (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • No Place to Run(1972)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • She Waits(1972)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Kidnapped(1971)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Jane Eyre(1970)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • David Copperfield (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    Director

  • Heidi(1968)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Pink Jungle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Director

  • Fitzwilly(1967)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • CBS Playhouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Mister Buddwing(1966)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Dear Heart(1964)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Quick, Before It Melts(1964)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • A Gathering of Eagles(1963)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • That Touch of Mink(1962)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Outsider(1961)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Lover Come Back(1961)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Dark at the Top of the Stairs(1960)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Startime (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • What Makes Sammy Run? (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Director · Producer

  • NBC Sunday Showcase (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Sunday Showcase (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Director

  • Middle of the Night(1959)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Separate Tables(1958)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Plot to Kill Stalin (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    Director

  • Desire Under the Elms(1958)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • DuPont Show of the Month (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Bachelor Party (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • Playwrights '56 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Ford Star Jubilee (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Our Town (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Director

  • The Petrified Forest (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Director

  • Marty(1955)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Producers' Showcase (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • Middle of the Night (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1954)

    Director

  • The Bachelor Party (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    Director

  • Marty (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    Director

  • Omnibus (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Goodyear Television Playhouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 37 episodes · Director

  • Lights Out (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Philco Television Playhouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 72 episodes · Director

  • The Iron Horse(1924)

    as Charles Crocker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 73 titles from 1925 to 1996.

Biggest box office

Night Crossing (1982)

$8M worldwide

Highest rated

Marty (1955)

Midcredits 95th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting2 of 73: 2 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting70 of 73: 63 only directing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thProducing7 of 73: 0 only producing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score43rdOther crew1 of 73: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

73 titles, 7 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 7 of them.

By decade

1920s1 · acting1940s2 · crew1950s22 · crew1960s13 · crew1970s18 · crew1980s12 · crew1990s5 · 1 acting · 4 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored.

How do Delbert Mann's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 34; across their 32 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Reach · how many have seen their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · director, producer

The Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond (1975)

86th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Marty (1955)

Midcredits 95th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 68/100 and the pacing 48/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Delbert Mann's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 Motif titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 3 · minimalMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 10 · minimalMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Delbert Mann work with?

People who share at least 2 of Delbert Mann's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Allyn Ferguson shares the most, 5.

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles