Lesser Samuels

Lesser Samuels ( born July 26, 1894 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, † December 23, 1980 in New York City ) was an American screenwriter.

Life

After studying metallurgy at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Lesser Samuels worked in the steel industry. Later he turned to writing and worked as a screenwriter for the Gaumont British Picture Corporation in London from 1936. In 1939, he finally went to Hollywood, where he became worked as an author for several film studios. His works include MGM's film drama The miraculous rescue ( Strange Cargo, 1940) with Joan Crawford and Clark Gable, as well as Columbia Pictures ' movie musical Tonight and Every Night (1945 ) with Rita Hayworth. In 1951, he was for the film The hatred is blind ( No Way Out) nominated along with Joseph L. Mankiewicz for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. A year later, his second Oscar nomination in the same category for Billy Wilder's reporter of Satan ( Ace in the Hole ). He could, however, both times the trophy not win.

For the Bible film The Silver Chalice ( The Silver Chalice, 1954), with Paul Newman made ​​his feature film debut, Samuels wrote one of his last screenplays. It also came as " Associate Producer " of the film used. Shortly before Samuels also had Victor Saville produced The long wait ( The Long Wait, 1954) and this also contributed the script. In 1956, Samuels withdrew from the film business. Two years later he went to New York to devote himself to the theater. Along with Frank Loesser wrote the libretto for the musical Greenwillow, which was listed in 1960 with Anthony Perkins in the lead role on Broadway. Beginning in 1975, Samuel lived with his daughter Helene Beck in Belmont, Massachusetts. He died in 1980 at the age of 86 years in a New York nursing home.

Filmography (selection)

Awards

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