ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, March 16, 1997                 TAG: 9703170076
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-4  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: LONDON  
                                             TYPE: NEWS OBIT
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 

'HIGH NOON' DIRECTOR DIES AT 89 - WON 2 OSCARS

Fred Zinnemann's film credits also include "A Man for All Seasons," "Julia" and "From Here to Eternity."

Fred Zinnemann, the Oscar-winning film director who wrestled with questions of conscience, morality and bravery in precedent-setting movies such as ``High Noon,'' ``A Man for All Seasons'' and ``Julia,'' has died in London. He was 89.

Zinnemann died Friday at his home, where his family had been making plans for his 90th birthday party April 29. He suffered a heart attack in his sleep, said his son, producer Tim Zinnemann.

``High Noon'' (1951) lifted the Western to new heights, telling the story of a marshal struggling to balance his commitments to an ungrateful community, his wife and the law.

Zinnemann won his first Oscar in 1952 for ``From Here to Eternity,'' the story of army life in Hawaii before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. ``A Man for All Seasons'' (1966) was a subtle, textured treatment of Robert Bolt's acclaimed play about Roman Catholic statesman Sir Thomas More's reluctant rebellion of conscience against Henry VIII. Itwon the director his second Oscar.

``I've always been fascinated by the idea of conscience,'' Zinnemann said. ``To photograph that conflict as expressed in the actions or choices a person makes is very photogenic.''

In 1977, he won rave reviews for ``Julia,'' based on Lillian Hellman's autobiographical story of the friendship between the leftist playwright, played bythe anti-fascist millionaire of the title, played by Vanessa Redgrave.

``Fred Zinnemann was one of the great directors of film history,'' said Gene Reynolds, president of the Directors Guild of America.

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