The life of multi-Oscar® winning set decorator / designer Emile Kuri told by his youngest son John. Emile Kuri, a Lebanese motion picture talent whose parents immigrated to Mexico from Beirut in 1900, is the first Lebanese motion picture talent and first person born in Mexico to be awarded an Oscar®. (8 nominations, 2 Oscars®.) Immigrating to the U.S. for schooling his career path began in St. Louis, MO when he was hired at 15 1/2 years of age to do English / Spanish translations of business correspondence with Latin America, this for the Hamilton Brown Shoe Company. The revolution in Mexico caused the Kuri family to immigrate to Los Angeles and there Emile discovered his sense and ability with design, from storefront windows to home furnishings and ultimately to large scale projects. As he entered the movie industry he was rapidly discovered and within a few years began doing major films for Hal Roach, David O. Selznick, Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Capra, William Wyler, George Stevens, George Cukor, and his final two-decades with Walt Disney - from "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" to "Mary Poppins," along with all decorating for Disneyland and Disney World Florida. In July of 1955 Emile Kuri was named "Art Craftsman of the Century - The most talented American designer of Syrian / Lebanese origin" by the American Federation of Syrian-Lebanese Clubs. His portrait was featured on the back cover of Aramco Magazine, March / April 1975 edition.