Everyone is (rightfully) focused on Greta Gerwig possibly becoming only the second female Best Director Oscar winner, but that won’t be the only benchmark she’d set with a victory: She would also become the fourth youngest directing champ ever.
Gerwig will be 34 years and 212 days old at the March 4 ceremony and would displace “American Beauty” helmer Sam Mendes, who was 34 years and 238 days old when he won 18 years ago, for the No. 4 slot. She’d be behind “La La Land” director Damien Chazelle (32 years and 38 days), who ended the 86-year “youngest ever” reign of “Skippy”’s Norman Taurog (32 years and 260 days) last year. “Two Arabian Knights”’ Lewis Milestone, who was 33 years and 228 days old when he won one of night’s two directing awards at the first ceremony, is the third youngest champ. Milestone has the distinction of holding two spots in the youngest top 10, which currently is:
1. Damien Chazelle, “La La Land” (2016): 32 years and 38 days
2. Norman Taurog, “Skippy” (1930/31): 32 years and 260 days
3. Lewis Milestone, “Two Arabian Knights” (1927/28): 33 years and 228 days (comedy picture director)
4. Sam Mendes, “American Beauty” (1999): 34 years and 238 days
5. Frank Borzage, “7th Heaven” (1927/28): 35 years and 23 days (dramatic picture director)
6. Lewis Milestone, “All Quiet on the Western Front” (1929/30): 35 years and 36 days
7. Tony Richardson, “Tom Jones” (1963): 35 years and 313 days
8. Francis Ford Coppola, “The Godfather Part II” (1974): 36 years and 1 day
9. Delbert Mann, “Marty” (1955): 36 years and 51 days
10. Kevin Costner, “Dances with Wolves” (1990): 36 years and 66 days
Gerwig is also just the third directing nominee to be born in the ‘80s after Chazelle and “Beasts of the Southern Wild”’s Benh Zeitlin, who was 30 years and 88 days old when he was nominated five years ago. Zeitlin is the seventh youngest directing nominee in Oscar history.
Per out latest predictions, Gerwig is smack dab in the middle in third place at 33/1 odds. “The Shape of Water”’s Guillermo del Toro (1/10 odds) and “Dunkirk”’s Christopher Nolan (22/1 odds) are in front, while “Get Out”’s Jordan Peele (50/1 odds) and “Phantom Thread”’s Paul Thomas Anderson (80/1 odds) are bringing up the rear.
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