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Arthur Wimperis

December 04, 2023

Arthur Harold Wimperis (3 December 1874 – 14 October 1953) was an English playwright, lyricist and screenwriter, who contributed lyrics and libretti to popular Edwardian musical comedies written for the stage. But, with the advent of talking films, he switched to screenwriting, finding even greater success in this medium.

1909 postcard: The Arcadians, with lyrics by Wimperis

Early in his career, Wimperis was an illustrator. For 25 years beginning in 1906, he became a lyricist and librettist for musical comedies, including the hit The Arcadians in 1909 and many others. After serving in the First World War, he resumed his career, writing for shows like Princess Charming (1926). Beginning in 1930, he moved into writing screenplays for British films, and, by 1940, for Hollywood films, contributing to dozens of screenplays. He won an Oscar for his contribution to the screenplay of Mrs. Miniver (1942) and was nominated for another Oscar for his contribution to the screenplay of Random Harvest (1942). He continued writing screenplays until his death.

Biography edit

Wimperis was born in London, the son of Edmund Morison Wimperis and Anne Harry Edmonds.[1] Educated at Dulwich College and University College London, he began a career as an illustrator on the Daily Graphic.[2][3] This was soon interrupted by service in the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902 with Paget's Horse.[2][4]

1906–1930: Theatre and songwriting years edit

 
1914 sheet music

Wimperis then began a theatre writing career as a lyricist and librettist for Edwardian musical comedies in London. His first major show was The Dairymaids (1906), which was favourably reviewed by The Times, though the derivative nature of the plot was noted, as was the similarity between the lyrics for the song "Mary in the Dairy" and an earlier Punch magazine parody of a musical comedy number which contained the words, "Mary, Mary, managed a dairy". This similarity was attributed to the paucity of rhymes for Mary, rather than deliberate plagiarism.[5] The show was followed by The Gay Gordons written with Seymour Hicks in 1907. He next contributed songs (including "The Pipes of Pan", "I've Got a Motter", "Arcady Is Always Young", and "Half Past Two") for one of the most popular musicals of the Edwardian age, The Arcadians (1909), as well as to the short-lived The Mountaineers. In addition to contributing lyrics or dialogue to other shows, he then began adapting Viennese operettas into English. The best-known of these are The Balkan Princess (1910) and The Girl in the Taxi (Die keusche Susanne; 1912). He also wrote for The Sunshine Girl (1912). Wimperis also wrote lyrics for reviews such as The Follies and The Passing Show of 1914, and many of his songs became music hall hits, such as "Gilbert the Filbert" and "I'll Make a Man of You".[6]

He served in the Royal Artillery as a temporary second lieutenant during the First World War,[7] and then resumed playwriting and songwriting, including for My Lady Frayle (1916) and Pamela (1917). In 1925, he wrote the English-language adaptation of for the American production of Sigmund Romberg's Louie the Fourteenth, and the next year he had another hit with Princess Charming in London. His last London success was a vehicle for Binnie Hale in 1930 called Nippy. Wimperis also contributed lyrics and scenes to many other reviews and musicals in London and New York and created English-language adaptations of several French and German plays.[6]

1930–1953: Film years edit

Wimperis then wrote screenplays and additional dialogue for British films. His first major film was Harmony Heaven in 1930. His film career quickly began to flourish under the guidance of director and producer Alexander Korda.[8] He collaborated on many screenplays with Lajos Bíró.[4] Some of his best-known films of the 1930s were Men of Tomorrow (1932), Wedding Rehearsal (1932), Cash (1933), The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933), The Private Life of Don Juan (1934), Catherine the Great (1934), The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), Princess Charming (1934), Brewster's Millions (1935), Knight Without Armour (1937), The Divorce of Lady X (1938),[9] The Drum (1938) and The Four Feathers (1939).[4]

Wimperis also wrote the lyrics for the songs heard in the Paul Robeson film Sanders of the River (1936). In the 1940s, and until his death, Wimperis worked in Hollywood for MGM.[4] He survived the sinking of the passenger liner SS City of Benares while crossing the Atlantic in 1940 at the height of the Second World War during the Battle of the Atlantic; it was torpedoed by a Nazi submarine. He escaped in a lifeboat with 32 people aboard (only 8 of them survived) and was rescued by HMS Hurricane.[2][10] He won an Academy Award for Best Writing for his contribution to the screenplay of Mrs. Miniver (1942), in which he also had a small acting part. He was also nominated for another Oscar for his contribution to the screenplay of Random Harvest (1942).[11] His later films included If Winter Comes (1947), Julia Misbehaves (1948), The Red Danube (1949), That Forsyte Woman (1949), Calling Bulldog Drummond (1951), Young Bess (1953) and Storm Over the Nile (1955).[8][9]

Wimperis died in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, at the age of 78.

Selected filmography edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Edmund Walter Wimperis", Dictionary of Scottish Architects, accessed 24 September 2016; and Dodgson, Campbell. "Wimperis, Edmund Morison" in Sidney Lee, Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement, London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  2. ^ a b c "Mr. Arthur Wimperis – Craftsmanin the Theatre", The Times Obituaries, 15 October 1953, issue 52753, p. 10, col. E
  3. ^ Biography for Arthur Wimperis at the IMDB database
  4. ^ a b c d Erickson, Hal. Arthur Wimperis[dead link], AllMovieGuide, accessed 23 September 2016
  5. ^ "Apollo. The Dairymaids, The Times, Reviews, 16 April 1906, issue 37995, p. 10, col. A
  6. ^ a b Arthur Wimperis 20 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine biography at the British Musical Theatre site of The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive (2004)
  7. ^ "No. 32571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 January 1922. p. 264.
  8. ^ a b Langman, pp. 152–53
  9. ^ a b "Arthur Wimperis (1874–1953)", Biography at Katz's Film Encyclopedia
  10. ^ Nagorski, Tom (2006). Miracles on the Water the Heroic Survivors of a World War II U-boat Attack. United States: Hyperion Books. ISBN 9781401301507.
  11. ^ Awards page for Arthur Wimperis at the IMDB database

References edit

  • Gänzl, Kurt. The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre
  • Langman, Larry. Destination Hollywood: The Influence of Europeans on American Filmmaking, McFarland, 2000 ISBN 0-7864-0681-X

External links edit

December 04, 2023
arthur, wimperis, arthur, harold, wimperis, december, 1874, october, 1953, english, playwright, lyricist, screenwriter, contributed, lyrics, libretti, popular, edwardian, musical, comedies, written, stage, with, advent, talking, films, switched, screenwriting,. Arthur Harold Wimperis 3 December 1874 14 October 1953 was an English playwright lyricist and screenwriter who contributed lyrics and libretti to popular Edwardian musical comedies written for the stage But with the advent of talking films he switched to screenwriting finding even greater success in this medium 1909 postcard The Arcadians with lyrics by WimperisEarly in his career Wimperis was an illustrator For 25 years beginning in 1906 he became a lyricist and librettist for musical comedies including the hit The Arcadians in 1909 and many others After serving in the First World War he resumed his career writing for shows like Princess Charming 1926 Beginning in 1930 he moved into writing screenplays for British films and by 1940 for Hollywood films contributing to dozens of screenplays He won an Oscar for his contribution to the screenplay of Mrs Miniver 1942 and was nominated for another Oscar for his contribution to the screenplay of Random Harvest 1942 He continued writing screenplays until his death Contents 1 Biography 1 1 1906 1930 Theatre and songwriting years 1 2 1930 1953 Film years 2 Selected filmography 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksBiography editWimperis was born in London the son of Edmund Morison Wimperis and Anne Harry Edmonds 1 Educated at Dulwich College and University College London he began a career as an illustrator on the Daily Graphic 2 3 This was soon interrupted by service in the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902 with Paget s Horse 2 4 1906 1930 Theatre and songwriting years edit nbsp 1914 sheet musicWimperis then began a theatre writing career as a lyricist and librettist for Edwardian musical comedies in London His first major show was The Dairymaids 1906 which was favourably reviewed by The Times though the derivative nature of the plot was noted as was the similarity between the lyrics for the song Mary in the Dairy and an earlier Punch magazine parody of a musical comedy number which contained the words Mary Mary managed a dairy This similarity was attributed to the paucity of rhymes for Mary rather than deliberate plagiarism 5 The show was followed by The Gay Gordons written with Seymour Hicks in 1907 He next contributed songs including The Pipes of Pan I ve Got a Motter Arcady Is Always Young and Half Past Two for one of the most popular musicals of the Edwardian age The Arcadians 1909 as well as to the short lived The Mountaineers In addition to contributing lyrics or dialogue to other shows he then began adapting Viennese operettas into English The best known of these are The Balkan Princess 1910 and The Girl in the Taxi Die keusche Susanne 1912 He also wrote for The Sunshine Girl 1912 Wimperis also wrote lyrics for reviews such as The Follies and The Passing Show of 1914 and many of his songs became music hall hits such as Gilbert the Filbert and I ll Make a Man of You 6 He served in the Royal Artillery as a temporary second lieutenant during the First World War 7 and then resumed playwriting and songwriting including for My Lady Frayle 1916 and Pamela 1917 In 1925 he wrote the English language adaptation of for the American production of Sigmund Romberg s Louie the Fourteenth and the next year he had another hit with Princess Charming in London His last London success was a vehicle for Binnie Hale in 1930 called Nippy Wimperis also contributed lyrics and scenes to many other reviews and musicals in London and New York and created English language adaptations of several French and German plays 6 1930 1953 Film years edit Wimperis then wrote screenplays and additional dialogue for British films His first major film was Harmony Heaven in 1930 His film career quickly began to flourish under the guidance of director and producer Alexander Korda 8 He collaborated on many screenplays with Lajos Biro 4 Some of his best known films of the 1930s were Men of Tomorrow 1932 Wedding Rehearsal 1932 Cash 1933 The Private Life of Henry VIII 1933 The Private Life of Don Juan 1934 Catherine the Great 1934 The Scarlet Pimpernel 1934 Princess Charming 1934 Brewster s Millions 1935 Knight Without Armour 1937 The Divorce of Lady X 1938 9 The Drum 1938 and The Four Feathers 1939 4 Wimperis also wrote the lyrics for the songs heard in the Paul Robeson film Sanders of the River 1936 In the 1940s and until his death Wimperis worked in Hollywood for MGM 4 He survived the sinking of the passenger liner SS City of Benares while crossing the Atlantic in 1940 at the height of the Second World War during the Battle of the Atlantic it was torpedoed by a Nazi submarine He escaped in a lifeboat with 32 people aboard only 8 of them survived and was rescued by HMS Hurricane 2 10 He won an Academy Award for Best Writing for his contribution to the screenplay of Mrs Miniver 1942 in which he also had a small acting part He was also nominated for another Oscar for his contribution to the screenplay of Random Harvest 1942 11 His later films included If Winter Comes 1947 Julia Misbehaves 1948 The Red Danube 1949 That Forsyte Woman 1949 Calling Bulldog Drummond 1951 Young Bess 1953 and Storm Over the Nile 1955 8 9 Wimperis died in Maidenhead Berkshire England at the age of 78 Selected filmography editHarmony Heaven 1930 The Man They Couldn t Arrest 1931 Men of Tomorrow 1932 That Night in London 1932 Wedding Rehearsal 1932 Cash 1933 The Private Life of Henry VIII 1933 The Private Life of Don Juan 1934 Catherine the Great 1934 The Scarlet Pimpernel 1934 Princess Charming 1934 Brewster s Millions 1935 Sanders of the River 1936 lyrics only Knight Without Armour 1937 The Divorce of Lady X 1938 The Drum 1938 The Four Feathers 1939 Mrs Miniver 1942 Random Harvest 1942 If Winter Comes 1947 Julia Misbehaves 1948 The Red Danube 1949 That Forsyte Woman 1949 Calling Bulldog Drummond 1951 Young Bess 1953 Storm Over the Nile 1955 The Fourth War 1990 songs only Notes edit Edmund Walter Wimperis Dictionary of Scottish Architects accessed 24 September 2016 and Dodgson Campbell Wimperis Edmund Morison in Sidney Lee Dictionary of National Biography 1901 supplement London Smith Elder amp Co a b c Mr Arthur Wimperis Craftsmanin the Theatre The Times Obituaries 15 October 1953 issue 52753 p 10 col E Biography for Arthur Wimperis at the IMDB database a b c d Erickson Hal Arthur Wimperis dead link AllMovieGuide accessed 23 September 2016 Apollo The Dairymaids The Times Reviews 16 April 1906 issue 37995 p 10 col A a b Arthur Wimperis Archived 20 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine biography at the British Musical Theatre site of The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive 2004 No 32571 The London Gazette Supplement 9 January 1922 p 264 a b Langman pp 152 53 a b Arthur Wimperis 1874 1953 Biography at Katz s Film Encyclopedia Nagorski Tom 2006 Miracles on the Water the Heroic Survivors of a World War II U boat Attack United States Hyperion Books ISBN 9781401301507 Awards page for Arthur Wimperis at the IMDB databaseReferences editGanzl Kurt The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre Langman Larry Destination Hollywood The Influence of Europeans on American Filmmaking McFarland 2000 ISBN 0 7864 0681 XExternal links editArthur Wimperis at IMDb Arthur Wimperis at the Internet Broadway Database Arthur Wimperis Annotated filmography at Fandango com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arthur Wimperis amp oldid 1146534017, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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