**Vincente Minnelli (1903-1986)** was an influential American director, celebrated for his mastery of musicals and dramas. Coming from the theater, he brought a refined visual aesthetic and an innovative use of color to Hollywood, particularly to MGM.

He is remembered for musical masterpieces such as *Meet Me in St. Louis* (1944), *An American in Paris* (1951, Academy Award for Best Picture), and *The Band Wagon* (1953). His Academy Award for Best Director came with the musical *Gigi* (1958).

Minnelli also excelled in psychological dramas, with works like *Lust for Life* (1956), on the life of Van Gogh, and *Some Came Running* (1958). His distinctive style was characterized by sumptuous art direction, a vibrant use of Technicolor, and a profound attention to character psychology, often exploring the ambivalence and unease behind a brilliant facade.