Why was William Wyler called “40-Take Wyler”?

William Wyler earned the nickname “40-Take Wyler” due to his reputation as a perfectionist on set. His relentless pursuit of realism and emotional complexity in his motion pictures often involved painstaking filming methods that required numerous takes to achieve the desired result.1

While these demanding techniques were sometimes criticized by budget-conscious studio executives and exhausted actors, they were highly effective. Many performers who worked under his direction went on to win Academy Awards for their performances.1