The Michael Curtiz School Of Management

Some of you know who Michael Curtiz is.  For those who don't, he was a film director who has definitely directed some films you have heard of  :- The Adventures Of Robin Hood, The Charge Of The Light Brigade, Angels With Dirty Faces, Casablanca, Yankee Doodle Dandy, & Mildred Pierce among many others.

He was born in Hungary and naturally had a few problems with learning a second language.  He could make himself understood in English, but sometimes the nuances of the language - shall we say - escaped him.

David Niven tells the story about working on the film Charge Of The Light Brigade.  Curtiz called out "Bring on the empty horses".  Errol Flynn & Niven laughed out loud.  And Curtiz responded by saying "You think I know <Very Bad Word> nothing - in fact, I know <Very Bad Word> all".

Working with some managers who definitely think like that. Gets quite wearing.