Rouben Mamoulian ( Armenian : ?????? ?????????) ( October 8 , 1897 ? December 4 , 1987 ) was an Armenian - American movie and theatre director .

Born in Tbilisi , Georgia (ruled at that time by imperial Russia ) to an Armenian family, Rouben relocated to England and started directing plays in London in 1922 . He moved to America the next year to teach in Eastman School of Music and was involved in directing opera and theatre. In 1930 , he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.