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Ben Markson

April 27, 2024

Ben Markson (August 6, 1897 – October 20, 1971) was an American screenwriter active from the very beginning of the sound film era through the end of the 1950s. During his 30-year career he was responsible for the story and/or screenplay of 45 films, as well as writing the scripts for several episodic television shows in the 1950s.

Benjamin Allen Markson
Born(1897-08-06)August 6, 1897
Creston, Iowa, United States
DiedOctober 20, 1971(1971-10-20) (aged 74)
Los Angeles County, California, United States
OccupationScreenwriter
Years active1928–59
Spouse(s)Janet Pavelik(e) aka Dawn (m. 1931-?),[1]
Miriam Edwards née Harkins (m. 1944)[2]

Life and career edit

Benjamin Allen Markson was born on August 6, 1897, in Creston, Iowa.[3] His parents were Abraham Markson (born Lithuania) and Goldie Baior (born Poland).[2] Prior to writing screenplays, Markson worked as a journalist,[4] and then was part of the publicity department for Paramount Pictures.[5] He would break into the film industry as the co-screenwriter on the 1928 film The River Pirate, a silent film with sound sequences starring Victor McLaglen.[6]

In the pre-code era of the early 1930s, Markson was known for his racy scripts.[7] Some of his early successes include: The Half-Naked Truth, a 1932 comedy directed by Gregory La Cava and starring Lupe Vélez and Lee Tracy;[8] Is My Face Red? (1932), which Markson and co-screenwriter Casey Robinson based on Markson's play which he co-wrote with Allen Rivkin;[9] co-wrote the screenplay (with Jane Murfin) for What Price Hollywood?, also in 1932, directed by George Cukor, and starring Constance Bennett and Lowell Sherman;[10] Lady Killer (1933), starring James Cagney;[11] and 1934's Here Comes the Navy, a romantic comedy again starring Cagney.[12] Other notable films on which Markson contributed to the script included: 1937's screwball comedy, Danger – Love at Work, directed by Otto Preminger, for which he co-wrote the screenplay;[13] the 1938 classic Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, starring Shirley Temple;[14] and Mr. District Attorney (1947), starring Dennis O'Keefe and Adolphe Menjou.[15] Markson served on the board of directors of the Screen Writers Guild in the latter half of the 1930s.[7]

Later in his career, Markson worked on the scripts for several film series, including A Close Call for Boston Blackie (the Boston Blackie series),[16] and The Falcon in San Francisco in 1945 (The Falcon series).[17] In the 1950s, Markson wrote the teleplays for several episodic television shows, including The Cisco Kid and Racket Squad.[18] Markson's last contribution to film was the story for the 1959 crime drama, Edge of Eternity, starring Cornel Wilde and Victoria Shaw.[19]

Markson was the brother-in-law of actor George Montgomery.[20] Markson died on October 20, 1971, in Los Angeles County, California.[21]

Filmography edit

(Per AFI database)[22]

References edit

  1. ^ "Affidavit for marriage license by Ben Markson and Janet Pavelike". Ancestry.com. Yuma County, Arizona. 19 December 1931. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "California, County Marriages, 1850-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K86R-PWN : 9 March 2021), Ben Allen Markson and Miriam H Edwards, 06 Aug 1944; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,135,749.
  3. ^ "Iowa, Delayed Birth Records, 1850-1939", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24D-1TZL : Thu Mar 07 20:09:00 UTC 2024), Entry for Benjamin Markson and Abraham Markson, 6 August 1897.
  4. ^ "At the Theaters: Strand, "Is My Face Red?"". The Ruston Daily Leader. December 19, 1932. p. 4. Retrieved June 12, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "Hollywood's Publicity Men Cutting Swath in Filmdom". The Pantagraph. October 23, 1927. p. 12. Retrieved June 12, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ . American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Erickson, Hal. . AllMovie. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  8. ^ . American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  9. ^ . American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  10. ^ . American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  11. ^ . American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  12. ^ . American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  13. ^ . American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  14. ^ . American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  15. ^ . American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  16. ^ . American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  17. ^ . American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  18. ^ . Internet Movie Database. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  19. ^ . American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  20. ^ "George Montgomery Planning to Form Own Company". The Independent Record. May 18, 1950. p. 12. Retrieved June 12, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  21. ^ "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPH6-LZ2 : 26 November 2014), Benjamin A Markson, 20 Oct 1971; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
  22. ^ "Ben Markson". American Film Institute. Retrieved April 13, 2024.

External links edit

April 27, 2024
markson, august, 1897, october, 1971, american, screenwriter, active, from, very, beginning, sound, film, through, 1950s, during, year, career, responsible, story, screenplay, films, well, writing, scripts, several, episodic, television, shows, 1950s, benjamin. Ben Markson August 6 1897 October 20 1971 was an American screenwriter active from the very beginning of the sound film era through the end of the 1950s During his 30 year career he was responsible for the story and or screenplay of 45 films as well as writing the scripts for several episodic television shows in the 1950s Benjamin Allen MarksonBorn 1897 08 06 August 6 1897Creston Iowa United StatesDiedOctober 20 1971 1971 10 20 aged 74 Los Angeles County California United StatesOccupationScreenwriterYears active1928 59Spouse s Janet Pavelik e aka Dawn m 1931 1 Miriam Edwards nee Harkins m 1944 2 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Filmography 3 References 4 External linksLife and career editBenjamin Allen Markson was born on August 6 1897 in Creston Iowa 3 His parents were Abraham Markson born Lithuania and Goldie Baior born Poland 2 Prior to writing screenplays Markson worked as a journalist 4 and then was part of the publicity department for Paramount Pictures 5 He would break into the film industry as the co screenwriter on the 1928 film The River Pirate a silent film with sound sequences starring Victor McLaglen 6 In the pre code era of the early 1930s Markson was known for his racy scripts 7 Some of his early successes include The Half Naked Truth a 1932 comedy directed by Gregory La Cava and starring Lupe Velez and Lee Tracy 8 Is My Face Red 1932 which Markson and co screenwriter Casey Robinson based on Markson s play which he co wrote with Allen Rivkin 9 co wrote the screenplay with Jane Murfin for What Price Hollywood also in 1932 directed by George Cukor and starring Constance Bennett and Lowell Sherman 10 Lady Killer 1933 starring James Cagney 11 and 1934 s Here Comes the Navy a romantic comedy again starring Cagney 12 Other notable films on which Markson contributed to the script included 1937 s screwball comedy Danger Love at Work directed by Otto Preminger for which he co wrote the screenplay 13 the 1938 classic Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm starring Shirley Temple 14 and Mr District Attorney 1947 starring Dennis O Keefe and Adolphe Menjou 15 Markson served on the board of directors of the Screen Writers Guild in the latter half of the 1930s 7 Later in his career Markson worked on the scripts for several film series including A Close Call for Boston Blackie the Boston Blackie series 16 and The Falcon in San Francisco in 1945 The Falcon series 17 In the 1950s Markson wrote the teleplays for several episodic television shows including The Cisco Kid and Racket Squad 18 Markson s last contribution to film was the story for the 1959 crime drama Edge of Eternity starring Cornel Wilde and Victoria Shaw 19 Markson was the brother in law of actor George Montgomery 20 Markson died on October 20 1971 in Los Angeles County California 21 Filmography edit Per AFI database 22 The River Pirate 1928 Masked Emotions 1929 The Half Naked Truth 1932 Is My Face Red 1932 What Price Hollywood 1932 Rackety Rax 1932 Gold Diggers of 1933 1933 Girl Missing 1933 Picture Snatcher 1933 Lady Killer 1933 Lucky Devils 1933 The Silk Express 1933 Goodbye Again 1933 Babbitt 1934 Upperworld 1934 Big Hearted Herbert 1934 Here Comes the Navy 1934 The Case of the Howling Dog 1934 The White Cockatoo 1935 Bright Lights 1935 The Case of the Lucky Legs 1935 Going Highbrow 1935 Brides Are Like That 1936 Nobody s Fool 1936 Flying Hostess 1936 That I May Live 1937 Woman Wise 1937 Ready Willing and Able 1937 Sing Me a Love Song 1937 Sing and Be Happy 1937 Danger Love at Work 1937 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm 1938 Pride of the Navy 1939 I Was a Convict 1939 The Great Mr Nobody 1941 The Smiling Ghost 1941 Thieves Fall Out 1941 He Hired the Boss 1943 The Beautiful Cheat 1945 The Falcon in San Francisco 1945 Prison Ship 1945 A Close Call for Boston Blackie 1946 It Happened on 5th Avenue 1947 Mr District Attorney 1947 Edge of Eternity 1959 References edit Affidavit for marriage license by Ben Markson and Janet Pavelike Ancestry com Yuma County Arizona 19 December 1931 Retrieved 13 April 2024 a b California County Marriages 1850 1953 database with images FamilySearch https familysearch org ark 61903 1 1 K86R PWN 9 March 2021 Ben Allen Markson and Miriam H Edwards 06 Aug 1944 citing Los Angeles California United States county courthouses California FHL microfilm 2 135 749 Iowa Delayed Birth Records 1850 1939 FamilySearch https www familysearch org ark 61903 1 1 Q24D 1TZL Thu Mar 07 20 09 00 UTC 2024 Entry for Benjamin Markson and Abraham Markson 6 August 1897 At the Theaters Strand Is My Face Red The Ruston Daily Leader December 19 1932 p 4 Retrieved June 12 2015 via Newspapers com nbsp Hollywood s Publicity Men Cutting Swath in Filmdom The Pantagraph October 23 1927 p 12 Retrieved June 12 2015 via Newspapers com nbsp The River Pirate Detail View American Film Institute Archived from the original on March 29 2014 Retrieved March 29 2015 a b Erickson Hal Ben Markson AllMovie Archived from the original on June 11 2015 Retrieved June 11 2015 The Half Naked Truth Detail View American Film Institute Archived from the original on March 29 2014 Retrieved March 29 2015 Is My Face Red Detail View American Film Institute Archived from the original on March 29 2014 Retrieved March 29 2015 What Price Hollywood Detail View American Film Institute Archived from the original on April 2 2014 Retrieved March 29 2015 Lady Killer Detail View American Film Institute Archived from the original on March 28 2014 Retrieved March 29 2015 Here Comes the Navy Detail View American Film Institute Archived from the original on March 28 2014 Retrieved March 29 2015 Danger Love at Work Detail View American Film Institute Archived from the original on April 22 2014 Retrieved March 29 2015 Danger Love at Work Detail View American Film Institute Archived from the original on March 28 2014 Retrieved March 29 2015 Mr District Attorney Detail View American Film Institute Archived from the original on March 29 2014 Retrieved March 29 2015 A Close Call for Boston Blackie Detail View American Film Institute Archived from the original on April 2 2014 Retrieved March 29 2015 The Falcon in San Francisco Detail View American Film Institute Archived from the original on March 29 2014 Retrieved March 29 2015 Ben Markson Internet Movie Database Archived from the original on June 11 2015 Retrieved June 11 2015 Edge of Eternity Detail View American Film Institute Archived from the original on April 2 2014 Retrieved March 29 2015 George Montgomery Planning to Form Own Company The Independent Record May 18 1950 p 12 Retrieved June 12 2015 via Newspapers com nbsp California Death Index 1940 1997 database FamilySearch https familysearch org ark 61903 1 1 VPH6 LZ2 26 November 2014 Benjamin A Markson 20 Oct 1971 Department of Public Health Services Sacramento Ben Markson American Film Institute Retrieved April 13 2024 External links editBen Markson at IMDb Ben Markson at the TCM Movie Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ben Markson amp oldid 1220442046, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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