Nathan Juran

Nathan Juran, an Austrian-born architect turned art director, embarked on a remarkable career in the film industry, commencing in 1937. Prior to his Hollywood journey, he honed his skills as a professional architect before transitioning to the art direction realm. His remarkable work on How Green Was My Valley (1941) earned him an Academy Award for outstanding art direction. However, World War II intervened, and he spent his war years serving with the OSS. Upon his return to Hollywood, Juran redirected his focus towards directing films in the 1950s, predominantly crafting low-budget westerns and science fiction masterpieces. His most notable, albeit infamous, creation was Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958),which he produced under the pseudonym Nathan Hertz. On the other hand, he also brought to life the enchanting fantasy adventure The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958). Subsequently, Juran ventured to Europe in the early 1960s, where he spent several years crafting adventure epics and spaghetti westerns, leaving an indelible mark on the film industry.