Leopoldo Torre Nilsson

Infobox actor
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name = Leopoldo Torre Nilsson


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birthdate = May 5 1924
location = ARG
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deathdate = September 8 1978
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Leopoldo Torre Nilsson (5 May 1924 – 8 September 1978), also known as Leo Towers and by his nickname Babsy, was an Argentine film director, producer and screenwriter.

Torre Nilsson was born in Buenos Aires, the son of pioneer film director Leopoldo Torres Ríos, with whom he collaborated between 1939 and 1949. He debuted in 1947 with the short "El muro". His first full-length film was "El crimen de Oribe" (1950), an adaptation of Adolfo Bioy Casares's novel "El perjurio de la nieve". In 1954 he directed "Días de odio", based on Jorge Luis Borges's short story "Emma Zunz". He also directed films about icons of Argentine history and culture: "Martín Fierro" (1968), about the main character of Argentina's national poem; "El santo de la espada" (1970), about General José de San Martín; and "Güemes, la tierra en armas" (1971), about Martín Miguel de Güemes.

Torre Nilsson was married to writer Beatriz Guido, whose work served as inspiration and who worked alongside him in many of his scripts. He is acknowledged as the first Argentine film director to be critically acclaimed outside the country, making Argentina's film production known in important international festivals. He died of cancer in 1978, at the age of 54.

A novelized biography of Torre Nilsson, "El Gran Babsy" (ISBN 950-07-0895-7), by Mónica Martín, was published in 1993. Another biography, "Leopoldo Torre Nilsson: Imagen y Poesía" (ISBN 987-04-0581-9) was published in 2006 by the newspaper "La Nación" and the Aguilar editorial house.

He was buried at the Cementerio Británico in Buenos Aires.

References

* [http://www.torrenilsson.com.ar/ Official website]
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* [http://www.pantalla.info/persona/14/14888.html Leopoldo Torre Nilsson] at [http://www.pantalla.info Pantalla.info] .