Humphrey Cobb (September 5, 1899 – April 25, 1944) was an Italian-born, Canadian-American screenwriter and novelist. He is known for writing the novel Paths of Glory (1935),[1] which was made into an acclaimed 1957 anti-war film Paths of Glory by Stanley Kubrick. Cobb was also the lead screenwriter on the 1937 film San Quentin, starring Humphrey Bogart.
Humphrey (right) with his recently widowed mother, Alice Littell Cobb, M.D.; his younger sister Alice; and little brother Arthur at the Casa Guida in Florence, Italy, December 24, 1908
Humphrey Cobb was born in Siena, Italy. He was the son of American parents, Arthur Cobb, an artist, and his wife Alice Littell Cobb, a physician. Cobb's parents sent him to school in England for his primary education and at age 13 he returned to the United States to continue his schooling.[2]
In 1916, after being expelled from high school at age 17, Cobb relocated to Montreal, Canada to enlist in the Canadian Army a year before the United States entered World War I. He served for three years during the conflict, including duty on the front lines at the Battle of Amiens in France in 1918.
Writer
Following the war, Cobb worked a variety of jobs. He worked in the stock trade, merchant marine, publishing, advertising, and the US Office of War Information writing overseas propaganda.[3] He wrote Paths of Glory while working at the Young & Rubicam advertising agency in New York.[4] The story is about three French soldiers who are court martialed and executed to save senior commanders from shame.[5] The book was based on the Souain corporals affair, an actual event in WWI when the French Army shot four men for cowardice as an example to others.[6]
Cobb wrote a second less well received novel, None But the Brave, which was serialized in Collier's Weekly in 1938. From 1935 to 1940 he was employed as a screenwriter where he was credited as a co-writer of San Quentin (1937).
Personal life
Cobb married Annie Louise Hubbard. They had two children, William and Alice. His sister was Dr. Virginia Cobb.[7]
^The phrase 'paths of glory' is a quotation from Thomas Gray's Elegy (1751): 'The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r, // And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, // Awaits alike the inevitable hour. // The paths of glory lead but to the grave.'
^"A Talk With the Author of "Paths of Glory"; Humphrey Gobb". The New York Times. September 22, 1940.
^Cobb, Humphrey (2010). Paths of Glory. New York, NY: Penguin Books. ISBN978-0-1431-0611-1.
^Bosley Crowther (December 26, 1957). "Screen: Shameful Incident of War; 'Paths of Glory' Has Premiere at Victoria". The New York Times.
^Offenstadt, Nicolas (1999). Les Fusillés de la Grande Guerre et la mémoire collective. Odile Jacob. p. 61.
^ ab"Humphrey Cobb, 44. War Story Author". The New York Times. April 26, 1944. p. 19.
External links
Cobb's enlistment forms
March 03, 2023
humphrey, cobb, september, 1899, april, 1944, italian, born, canadian, american, screenwriter, novelist, known, writing, novel, paths, glory, 1935, which, made, into, acclaimed, 1957, anti, film, paths, glory, stanley, kubrick, cobb, also, lead, screenwriter, . Humphrey Cobb September 5 1899 April 25 1944 was an Italian born Canadian American screenwriter and novelist He is known for writing the novel Paths of Glory 1935 1 which was made into an acclaimed 1957 anti war film Paths of Glory by Stanley Kubrick Cobb was also the lead screenwriter on the 1937 film San Quentin starring Humphrey Bogart Humphrey CobbBorn 1899 09 05 September 5 1899Siena ItalyDiedApril 25 1944 1944 04 25 aged 44 New York USAOccupation s writer screenwriterNotable workPaths of Glory 1935 Contents 1 Early life and military service 2 Writer 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Notes 6 External linksEarly life and military service Edit Humphrey right with his recently widowed mother Alice Littell Cobb M D his younger sister Alice and little brother Arthur at the Casa Guida in Florence Italy December 24 1908 Humphrey Cobb was born in Siena Italy He was the son of American parents Arthur Cobb an artist and his wife Alice Littell Cobb a physician Cobb s parents sent him to school in England for his primary education and at age 13 he returned to the United States to continue his schooling 2 In 1916 after being expelled from high school at age 17 Cobb relocated to Montreal Canada to enlist in the Canadian Army a year before the United States entered World War I He served for three years during the conflict including duty on the front lines at the Battle of Amiens in France in 1918 Writer EditFollowing the war Cobb worked a variety of jobs He worked in the stock trade merchant marine publishing advertising and the US Office of War Information writing overseas propaganda 3 He wrote Paths of Glory while working at the Young amp Rubicam advertising agency in New York 4 The story is about three French soldiers who are court martialed and executed to save senior commanders from shame 5 The book was based on the Souain corporals affair an actual event in WWI when the French Army shot four men for cowardice as an example to others 6 Cobb wrote a second less well received novel None But the Brave which was serialized in Collier s Weekly in 1938 From 1935 to 1940 he was employed as a screenwriter where he was credited as a co writer of San Quentin 1937 Personal life EditCobb married Annie Louise Hubbard They had two children William and Alice His sister was Dr Virginia Cobb 7 Death EditCobb died of coronary thrombosis at his home in Port Washington New York on April 25 1944 At the time of his death he was an advertising copywriter for the New York firm of Kenyon amp Eckhardt 7 Notes Edit The phrase paths of glory is a quotation from Thomas Gray s Elegy 1751 The boast of heraldry the pomp of pow r And all that beauty all that wealth e er gave Awaits alike the inevitable hour The paths of glory lead but to the grave A Talk With the Author of Paths of Glory Humphrey Gobb The New York Times September 22 1940 Cobb Humphrey 2010 Paths of Glory New York NY Penguin Books ISBN 978 0 1431 0611 1 Wanted The Real Jim Thompson The Los Angeles Times May 5 1991 Bosley Crowther December 26 1957 Screen Shameful Incident of War Paths of Glory Has Premiere at Victoria The New York Times Offenstadt Nicolas 1999 Les Fusilles de la Grande Guerre et la memoire collective Odile Jacob p 61 a b Humphrey Cobb 44 War Story Author The New York Times April 26 1944 p 19 External links EditCobb s enlistment forms Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Humphrey Cobb amp oldid 1101584425, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
