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John Monk Saunders

January 07, 2023

For other people named John Saunders, see John Saunders (disambiguation).

John Monk Saunders (November 22, 1897 – March 11, 1940) was an American novelist, screenwriter, and film director.

John Monk Saunders
Born(1897-11-22)November 22, 1897
Hinckley, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedMarch 11, 1940(1940-03-11) (aged 42)
Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Washington in Seattle
University of Oxford
Occupations
  • Novelist
  • screenwriter
  • film director
Spouse(s)
Avis Hughes
​
​
(m. 1922; div. 1927)​

​
​
(m. 1928; div. 1939)​
Children1
AwardsAcademy Award for Best Story (1930)

Early life and career

Born in Hinckley, Minnesota, to Robert C. Saunders and Nannie Monk Saunders, his family (6 children) moved to Seattle, Washington in 1907 where his father served as US Attorney. John attended Broadway High School,[1] where he excelled as both student and athlete. Saunders, a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, received his education at University of Washington in Seattle where he was president of his freshman class and quarterback on the freshman football team. He served in the Air Service during World War I as a flight instructor in Florida, but was never able to secure a posting to France, a disappointment that frustrated him for the remainder of his life. After the University of Washington, he was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, entering in the fall of 1919 where he was the first American to attend Magdalen College. Saunders was a member of their championship swimming team and played on the Rugby squad. He completed his 3-year degree there in just 11⁄2 years. While at Oxford, he formed friendships with John Masefield and Rudyard Kipling. After graduation, he served as attaché at the American Relief Association in Vienna, Austria.

After the war he spent time in Paris then returned to Oxford, completing his master's degree in 1923. He worked as a journalist in the US, including stints with the Los Angeles Times and New York Tribune. Saunders began selling short stories to magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Liberty magazines and became editor of American magazine.[2]

He first sold the movie rights to one of his stories in 1924, and in 1926, Famous Players-Lasky/Paramount purchased the rights to Saunders's unfinished novel about WWI pilots. Wings garnered $39,000 for the writer - the highest sum paid for film rights at that time - as well as the first Academy Award for Best Picture.

Screenwriter

Saunders' first screen credit was Too Many Kisses (1925), based on his story "A Maker of Gestures". This was followed by The Shock Punch (1925) based on his play.

In 1926 Famous Players-Lasky/Paramount purchased the screen rights to Saunders' unfinished novel about pilots in World War One for a then-record $39,000. The film, Wings (1927), became the first film to ever win an Academy Award for Best Picture.

He followed it with The Legion of the Condemned (1928), starring Gary Cooper.[3]

Saunders' story "The Dock Walloper" was filmed as The Docks of New York (1928), Directed by Josef von Sternberg. He worked on the script for She Goes to War (1929)

The Dawn Patrol (1930), was based on his story "The Flight Commander". It starred Richard Barthelmess and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Saunders won an Oscar for Best Story.[4] On receipt of his award, he said, "This indeed is a crazy business where I am being sued for plagiarism on one hand and given the statuette for originality on the other".

Saunders published a series of short stories collectively referred to as "Nikki and Her War Birds" in Liberty magazine. In 1931, Saunders arranged these stories into his first complete novel called Single Lady.[5]

Saunders wrote The Finger Points (1931), then The Last Flight (1931) which he adapted from Single Lady.

Saunders also wrote a play Nikki which was produced on Broadway with Fay Wray.[6]

The Eagle and the Hawk (1933) was based on his story, "Death in the Morning". It starred Fredric March, Cary Grant and Carole Lombard.

Saunders wrote Ace of Aces (1933), adapting his story "Birds of Prey".

Devil Dogs of the Air (1935) was based on his story. His stories provided the basis for West Point of the Air (1935) and I Found Stella Parish (1935).

Saunders was one of several writers on the documentary film Conquest of the Air (UK, 1936), which he also co-directed.

He was credited for providing the idea for A Yank at Oxford (1938) and did uncredited work on Star of the Circus (1938). The Dawn Patrol was remade in 1938 starring Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone and David Niven.

Saunders went to Virginia in 1938 to research a historical novel.[2] He and his second wife separated that year, and Saunders was treated at a Virginia hospital for what was described as a nervous disorder.[7][8]

Personal life

Saunders was married to Avis Hughes, daughter of novelist Rupert Hughes (uncle of Howard Hughes), from 1922 to 1927. Later he married actress Fay Wray (1928–39). Friend Gary Cooper served as his best man. John and Fay had a daughter, Susan Cary Saunders (Riskin).[9]

In 1934, Saunders was involved in a highly publicized fist fight with actor Herbert Marshall, a veteran of WWI.[10] This led to Saunders losing work opportunities and condemnation from the Hollywood social scene.

Death

Saunders suffered from alcoholism most of his adult life. Despite care by a nurse from Johns Hopkins hospital, Saunders hanged himself at a Fort Myers, Florida, beach cottage on March 11, 1940.[11][12][13]

Selected writings

Stories

  • "A Maker of Gestures"
  • "The Shock Punch"
  • "The Dock Walloper"
  • "Flight Commander"
  • "Death in the Morning"
  • "The Bird of Prey"

Novels

  • Wings (1927)
  • Single Lady (1931)

Plays

  • Nikki (1931)

Films

References

  1. ^ "John Monk Saunders", The Seattle Daily Times, March 11, 1940, retrieved 2020-06-06
  2. ^ a b "John M. Saunders Suicide in Florida" (1940, Mar 12). New York Times
  3. ^ Kingsley, G. (1927, Sep 07). "'Wings'" Combine to Repeat" Los Angeles Times
  4. ^ "Academy Awards Database". Retrieved 2008-08-14.
  5. ^ Goff, J. J. (2008). "Singling Out John Monk Saunders: Hemingway's Thoughts on an Imitator" The Hemingway Review, 28(1), 135–141,6-7. Retrieved from
  6. ^ "Saunders, film writer, hangs self" (1940, Mar 12). Los Angeles Times
  7. ^ "John Saunders, Screen Writer, Hangs Himself" (1940, Mar 12). Chicago Daily Tribune
  8. ^ "Saunders, Wife Fay Wray and Daughter in Hospital" (1938, Nov 15). Los Angeles Times
  9. ^ "Divorce won by Fay Wray" (1939, Dec 13). Los Angeles Times
  10. ^ "Marshall Fight Version Displeasing to Saunders" (1934, Sep 26). Los Angeles Times
  11. ^ "Google newspapers".
  12. ^ "Fay Wray sobs as tribute is paid John Monk Saunders" (1940, Mar 17). Los Angeles Times
  13. ^ Special Dispatch to, T. P. (1940, Mar 12). "John Monk Saunders, writer, hangs self in Florida cottage" The Washington Post

External links

  • Works by John Monk Saunders at Faded Page (Canada)
  • John Monk Saunders at IMDb
  • Filmreference.com John Monk Saunders

January 07, 2023
john, monk, saunders, other, people, named, john, saunders, john, saunders, disambiguation, november, 1897, march, 1940, american, novelist, screenwriter, film, director, born, 1897, november, 1897hinckley, minnesota, diedmarch, 1940, 1940, aged, fort, myers, . For other people named John Saunders see John Saunders disambiguation John Monk Saunders November 22 1897 March 11 1940 was an American novelist screenwriter and film director John Monk SaundersBorn 1897 11 22 November 22 1897Hinckley Minnesota U S DiedMarch 11 1940 1940 03 11 aged 42 Fort Myers Florida U S EducationUniversity of Washington in SeattleUniversity of OxfordOccupationsNovelist screenwriter film directorSpouse s Avis Hughes m 1922 div 1927 wbr Fay Wray m 1928 div 1939 wbr Children1AwardsAcademy Award for Best Story 1930 Contents 1 Early life and career 1 1 Screenwriter 2 Personal life 3 Death 4 Selected writings 4 1 Stories 4 2 Novels 4 3 Plays 4 4 Films 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and career EditBorn in Hinckley Minnesota to Robert C Saunders and Nannie Monk Saunders his family 6 children moved to Seattle Washington in 1907 where his father served as US Attorney John attended Broadway High School 1 where he excelled as both student and athlete Saunders a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity received his education at University of Washington in Seattle where he was president of his freshman class and quarterback on the freshman football team He served in the Air Service during World War I as a flight instructor in Florida but was never able to secure a posting to France a disappointment that frustrated him for the remainder of his life After the University of Washington he was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford entering in the fall of 1919 where he was the first American to attend Magdalen College Saunders was a member of their championship swimming team and played on the Rugby squad He completed his 3 year degree there in just 11 2 years While at Oxford he formed friendships with John Masefield and Rudyard Kipling After graduation he served as attache at the American Relief Association in Vienna Austria After the war he spent time in Paris then returned to Oxford completing his master s degree in 1923 He worked as a journalist in the US including stints with the Los Angeles Times and New York Tribune Saunders began selling short stories to magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Liberty magazines and became editor of American magazine 2 He first sold the movie rights to one of his stories in 1924 and in 1926 Famous Players Lasky Paramount purchased the rights to Saunders s unfinished novel about WWI pilots Wings garnered 39 000 for the writer the highest sum paid for film rights at that time as well as the first Academy Award for Best Picture Screenwriter Edit Saunders first screen credit was Too Many Kisses 1925 based on his story A Maker of Gestures This was followed by The Shock Punch 1925 based on his play In 1926 Famous Players Lasky Paramount purchased the screen rights to Saunders unfinished novel about pilots in World War One for a then record 39 000 The film Wings 1927 became the first film to ever win an Academy Award for Best Picture He followed it with The Legion of the Condemned 1928 starring Gary Cooper 3 Saunders story The Dock Walloper was filmed as The Docks of New York 1928 Directed by Josef von Sternberg He worked on the script for She Goes to War 1929 The Dawn Patrol 1930 was based on his story The Flight Commander It starred Richard Barthelmess and Douglas Fairbanks Jr Saunders won an Oscar for Best Story 4 On receipt of his award he said This indeed is a crazy business where I am being sued for plagiarism on one hand and given the statuette for originality on the other Saunders published a series of short stories collectively referred to as Nikki and Her War Birds in Liberty magazine In 1931 Saunders arranged these stories into his first complete novel called Single Lady 5 Saunders wrote The Finger Points 1931 then The Last Flight 1931 which he adapted from Single Lady Saunders also wrote a play Nikki which was produced on Broadway with Fay Wray 6 The Eagle and the Hawk 1933 was based on his story Death in the Morning It starred Fredric March Cary Grant and Carole Lombard Saunders wrote Ace of Aces 1933 adapting his story Birds of Prey Devil Dogs of the Air 1935 was based on his story His stories provided the basis for West Point of the Air 1935 and I Found Stella Parish 1935 Saunders was one of several writers on the documentary film Conquest of the Air UK 1936 which he also co directed He was credited for providing the idea for A Yank at Oxford 1938 and did uncredited work on Star of the Circus 1938 The Dawn Patrol was remade in 1938 starring Errol Flynn Basil Rathbone and David Niven Saunders went to Virginia in 1938 to research a historical novel 2 He and his second wife separated that year and Saunders was treated at a Virginia hospital for what was described as a nervous disorder 7 8 Personal life EditSaunders was married to Avis Hughes daughter of novelist Rupert Hughes uncle of Howard Hughes from 1922 to 1927 Later he married actress Fay Wray 1928 39 Friend Gary Cooper served as his best man John and Fay had a daughter Susan Cary Saunders Riskin 9 In 1934 Saunders was involved in a highly publicized fist fight with actor Herbert Marshall a veteran of WWI 10 This led to Saunders losing work opportunities and condemnation from the Hollywood social scene Death EditSaunders suffered from alcoholism most of his adult life Despite care by a nurse from Johns Hopkins hospital Saunders hanged himself at a Fort Myers Florida beach cottage on March 11 1940 11 12 13 Selected writings EditStories Edit A Maker of Gestures The Shock Punch The Dock Walloper Flight Commander Death in the Morning The Bird of Prey Novels Edit Wings 1927 Single Lady 1931 Plays Edit Nikki 1931 Films Edit Too Many Kisses 1925 The Shock Punch 1925 Wings 1927 The Legion of the Condemned 1928 The Docks of New York 1928 She Goes to War 1929 The Dawn Patrol 1930 The Finger Points 1931 The Last Flight 1931 The Eagle and the Hawk 1933 Ace of Aces 1933 Devil Dogs of the Air 1935 West Point of the Air 1935 I Found Stella Parish 1936 Conquest of the Air 1936 The Dawn Patrol 1938 A Yank at Oxford 1938 Star of the Circus 1938 References Edit John Monk Saunders The Seattle Daily Times March 11 1940 retrieved 2020 06 06 a b John M Saunders Suicide in Florida 1940 Mar 12 New York Times Kingsley G 1927 Sep 07 Wings Combine to Repeat Los Angeles Times Academy Awards Database Retrieved 2008 08 14 Goff J J 2008 Singling Out John Monk Saunders Hemingway s Thoughts on an Imitator The Hemingway Review 28 1 135 141 6 7 Retrieved from Saunders film writer hangs self 1940 Mar 12 Los Angeles Times John Saunders Screen Writer Hangs Himself 1940 Mar 12 Chicago Daily Tribune Saunders Wife Fay Wray and Daughter in Hospital 1938 Nov 15 Los Angeles Times Divorce won by Fay Wray 1939 Dec 13 Los Angeles Times Marshall Fight Version Displeasing to Saunders 1934 Sep 26 Los Angeles Times Google newspapers Fay Wray sobs as tribute is paid John Monk Saunders 1940 Mar 17 Los Angeles Times Special Dispatch to T P 1940 Mar 12 John Monk Saunders writer hangs self in Florida cottage The Washington PostExternal links EditWorks by John Monk Saunders at Faded Page Canada John Monk Saunders at IMDb Filmreference com John Monk Saunders Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Monk Saunders amp oldid 1114533545, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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