Born Vidor Károly to a Jewish family in Budapest, Hungary, he served in the Hungarian Army during World War I. He first came to prominence during the final years of the silent film era.

Among his film successes are The Bridge (1929), Cover Girl (1944), A Song to Remember (1945), Gilda (1946), The Loves of Carmen (1948), Love Me or Leave Me (1955), The Swan (1956) , The Joker Is Wild (1957), and A Farewell to Arms (1957).

He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6676 Hollywood Boulevard for his contribution to motion pictures.