Daniel Mann, Director Of `Rose Tattoo'

LOS ANGELES - Film director Daniel Mann, who guided Elizabeth Taylor to her Oscar-winning performance in "Butterfield 8" and directed the TV miniseries "How the West Was Won," has died of heart failure. He was 79.

Mr. Mann died Thursday (Nov. 21) at UCLA Medical Center, said hospital spokesman Ola Gayles.

Besides Tylor, he directed some of Hollywood's most enduring stars, including Marlon Brando, Jimmy Stewart, Sophia Loren and Geraldine Page.

He guided Shirley Booth to an Academy Award in the first film he directed in 1952 in "Come Back Little Sheba," and he directed Anna Magnani in her Oscar-winning role in the 1955 film "The Rose Tattoo."

In 1966, he directed "Our Man Flint," the satirical takeoff of the James Bond movies, and in 1971 he directed "Willard," a horror film about an army of rats trained to kill the enemies of its owner.

His other movies included "I'll Cry Tomorrow" in 1955, "Teahouse of the August Moon" in 1956, "Hot Spell" in 1958, "The Last Angry Man" in 1959, "Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed?" in 1963, "Judith" in 1965 and "For Love of Ivy" in 1968.

He also directed the television miniseries "Playing For Time" in 1980.

He is survived by three children, Michael Mann, Erica Mann Ramis and Alex Mann.

Funeral arrangements are pending.