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How did W.S. Van Dyke's fast shooting style help MGM studio executives?

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W.S. Van Dyke W.S. Van Dyke (standing, right) directing Myrna Loy and William Powell during the filming of *The Thin Man* (1934); cinematographer James Wong Howe is on the left.

W.S. Van Dyke, an American film director who joined MGM in 1926, was highly valued by studio executives for his ability to complete productions on time and under budget.1

His reputation for a quick and casual shooting style earned him the nickname "One Take Woody". This efficiency was particularly useful to executives, who frequently hired him to reshoot scenes for troubled movies. While his rapid approach allowed for reliable project completion, it was sometimes criticized for resulting in sloppy productions.1