Arthur T. Horman (September 2, 1905 – November 2, 1964) was an American screenwriter whose career spanned from the 1930s to the end of the 1950s. During that time he wrote the stories or screenplays for over 60 films, as well as writing several pieces for television during the 1950s.

Life and career

Horman was born on September 2, 1905, in Chicago Illinois. His first foray into the film industry was providing the story for 1934's ''

The Meanest Gal in Town ''The Meanest Gal in Town'' is a 1934 American Pre-Code romantic comedy, directed by Russell Mack from a screenplay written by Richard Schayer, Russell Mack, and H. W. Hanemann, and starring Zasu Pitts, El Brendel, Pert Kelton, and James Gleaso ...

'', starring ZaSu Pitts and directed by Russell Mack. After the success of that film, RKO signed him to a contract, and assigned him to work with Wanda Tuchock on '' Grand Old Girl'' (1935); By 1936 he had left RKO and was signed by the Poverty Row studio, Chesterfield-Invincible. While at C-I he did such films as the 1936 crime drama '' The Crime Patrol'', for which he wrote the story, and '' It Couldn't Have Happened – But It Did'', a 1936 comedy-drama directed by Phil Rosen and starring Reginald Denny, for which Horman wrote both the story and the screenplay. When Maury M. Cohen closed down Invincible and signed an agreement with RKO, Horman followed him back to his old studio. Other "B"-films on which Horman worked during this period include the story and screenplay for the crime-drama '' Double Danger'' (1938), directed by

Lew Landers Lew Landers (born Louis Friedlander, January 2, 1901 – December 16, 1962) was an American independent film and television director. Biography Born as Louis Friedlander in New York City, Lew Landers began his movie career as an actor. In 1914, ...

, the screenplay for another crime-drama, ''

My Son Is a Criminal ''My Son Is a Criminal'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Charles C. Coleman (as C.C. Coleman Jr.) and starring Alan Baxter, Julie Bishop, Gordon Oliver and Willard Robertson. Plot Former police chief Tim Halloran Sr. (Willard Robertso ...

'', directed by Charles C. Coleman, which Horman received positive notices for the plot, and the story and screenplay for another Coleman film, '' When G-Men Step In'' (1938). While working at

Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...

, Horman would write the screenplay for one of their ''Lone Wolf'' series, '' The Lone Wolf in Paris'', which was the only film in the series which stars Francis Lederer in the title role. ''

'' (1938) would be Horman's last screenplay for Columbia in 1938, after which he moved to Universal Pictures. His first work for Universal would be '' Society Smugglers'' in 1939, co-written with

Earl Felton Earl Felton (1909–1972) was an American screenwriter. He was a regular collaborator with Richard Fleischer, who later wrote that "Earl was crippled from childhood with polio. He had no use of his legs, but he navigated beautifully with a crutch ...

, which '' The Film Daily'' noted as "smartly" written in their review. It was while at Universal that he began to write more for "A"-list features. In that first year at Universal he would pen seven screenplays. After ''Society Smugglers'', he wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay (with

Gordon Kahn Gordon Kahn (1902–1962) was an American writer and screenwriter who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era; he is the father of broadcaster and author Tony Kahn.and physician Jim Kahn. Background Gordon Jacques Kahn was born on May 1 ...

) for '' Code of the Streets'', a crime drama which stars Harry Carey, along with a group of young actors billed as the

Little Tough Guys The Little Tough Guys (later billed as 'The Dead End Kids and Little Tough Guys') were a group of actors who made a series of films and serials released by Universal Studios from 1938 through 1943. Many of them were originally part of The Dead E ...

. It was Universal's second film featuring the young actors, who would become better known as The Bowery Boys. That same year he would co-write (this time with Robert Lee Johnson) another screenplay featuring the Bowery Boys, '' Give Us Wings'', directed by Charles Lamont. Other notable films on which he worked during the early 1940s include: the original screenplay for very successful '' Buck Privates'', a 1940 slapstick comedy starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, and which turned them into legitimate movie stars; the original screenplay for another Abbott and Costello vehicle, also in 1941, '' In the Navy'', which also stars

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; one of a team of screenwriters for the 1941 musical comedy, '' Navy Blues'', which stars

Ann Sheridan Clara Lou "Ann" Sheridan (February 21, 1915 – January 21, 1967) was an American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in the films ''San Quentin'' (1937) with Humphrey Bogart, ''Angels with Dirty Faces'' (1938) with James Cagne ...

, Jack Oakie, Jack Haley, and Martha Raye; one of three screenwriters for the 1942 war film, '' Captains of the Clouds'', starring

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and

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, and directed by Michael Curtiz; and the original screenplay for

Raoul Walsh Raoul Walsh (born Albert Edward Walsh; March 11, 1887December 31, 1980) was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), and the brother of silent screen actor George Walsh. He w ...

's 1942 Academy Award nominated '' Desperate Journey'', starring Errol Flynn and

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

. In 1943, according to the American Film Institute database, Horman made contributions to the screenplay for the

Howard Hawks Howard Winchester Hawks (May 30, 1896December 26, 1977) was an American film director, producer and screenwriter of the classic Hollywood era. Critic Leonard Maltin called him "the greatest American director who is not a household name." A v ...

' film '' Air Force''. The screenplay credit went to Dudley Nichols, who was nominated for an Academy Award. In 1944 he co-authored the screenplay for '' Dark Waters'', a film noir starring Merle Oberon, Franchot Tone and Thomas Mitchell, based on the novel of the same name by Frank and Marian Cockrell. In August 1944, Horman signed a contract with Universal Studios, after having co-written, along with Bart Lytton and Edmund Joseph, the screenplay for the popular Universal musical, '' Bowery to Broadway'', directed by Charles Lamont. His first film written specifically for Universal, was an adaptation of the James Roland novel, ''This Way Out'', late in 1944, titled '' The Suspect'', for which he received good reviews. The film was directed by Robert Siodmak, and starred

Charles Laughton Charles Laughton (1 July 1899 – 15 December 1962) was a British actor. He was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and first appeared professionally on the stage in 1926. In 1927, he was cast in a play with his future w ...

and Ella Raines. His next film at Universal saw him once again writing for Abbott & Costello. Released in early 1945, '' Here Come the Co-Eds'' was co-written by John Grant, from a story by

Edmund Hartmann Edmund L. Hartmann (September 24, 1911 – November 28, 2003) was a film and television writer and producer from the 1930s to the 1970s. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Washington University in St. Louis. He later married and ...

, and directed by Jean Yarbrough. In 1945 Horman co-wrote, with Dwight Taylor, the screenplay for the

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...

suspense thriller '' Conflict''. The following year, along with Sam Hellman, he would write the screenplay for the romantic screwball comedy, ''The Runaround'', directed by Charles Lamont, and starring Ella Raines and Rod Cameron. In 1948 he co-wrote with Charles Grayson the original screenplay for the Abbott and Costello film, '' The Noose Hangs High'', the original title of which was ''For Love or Money''. With the advent of television, Horman would pen the first miniseries, '' The Living Christ'', which consists of twelve half-hour episodes, and aired on NBC in 1951. Horman's career slowed down in the 1950s, he only wrote half a dozen films during the decade, one of which, ''Day of Triumph'', was another film based on the life of Jesus. It was the last film directed by Irving Pichel, who died one week after completing the film in 1954. Horman's last two films were both for Republic Pictures in 1958, '' Young and Wild'' and ''

Juvenile Jungle , also known as ''Juvenile Jungle'', is a 1956 Japanese Sun Tribe film directed by Kō Nakahira. It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Shintaro Ishihara, the older brother of cast member Yujiro Ishihara,Marc Moha"Crazed Fruit: T ...

'', both B-pictures directed by William Witney. Horman was married to Eloise Horman. In June 1936 the couple had a daughter. Horman died on November 2, 1964, in Orange County, California.

Filmography

(Per AFI database) *''

'' (1934) *'' Grand Old Girl'' (1935) *'' Thunder in the Night'' (1935) *''

Welcome Home A welcome is a kind of greeting designed to introduce a person to a new place or situation, and to make them feel at ease. The term can similarly be used to describe the feeling of being accepted on the part of the new person. In some context ...

'' (1935) *'' This Is the Life'' (1935) *'' Ellis Island'' (1936) *''

Easy Money A get-rich-quick scheme is a plan to obtain high rates of return for a small investment. The term "get rich quick" has been used to describe shady investments since at least the early 20th century. Most schemes create an impression that partic ...

'' (1936) *''

The Bridge of Sighs The Bridge of Sighs (Italian: ''Ponte dei Sospiri'', vec, Ponte de i Sospiri) is a bridge in Venice, Italy. The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone, has windows with stone bars, passes over the Rio di Palazzo, and connects the New Priso ...

'' (1936) *'' The Crime Patrol'' (1936) *'' It Couldn't Have Happened – But It Did'' (1936) *'' Tango'' (1936) *'' Three of a Kind'' (1936) *''

My Marriage ''My Marriage'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by George Archainbaud and written by Frances Hyland. The film stars Claire Trevor, Kent Taylor, Pauline Frederick, Paul Kelly, Helen Wood and Thomas Beck. The film was released on January 3 ...

'' (1936) *'' The Shadow'' (1937) *'' Quick Money'' (1937) *'' You Can't Buy Luck'' (1937) *'' The Big Shot'' (1937) *'' Double Danger'' (1938) *'' Life Returns'' (1938) *'' The Lone Wolf in Paris'' (1938) * '' Smashing the Spy Ring'' (1938) *'' When G-Men Step In'' (1938) *''

'' (1939) *''

Behind Prison Gates ''Behind Prison Gates'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Charles Barton and written by Arthur T. Horman and Leslie T. White. The film stars Brian Donlevy, Julie Bishop, Joseph Crehan, Paul Fix, George Lloyd and Dick Curtis. The film wa ...

'' (1939) *'' For Love or Money'' (1939) *'' They Asked for It'' (1939) *'' Code of the Streets'' (1939) *'' Society Smugglers'' (1939) *''

Call a Messenger ''Call a Messenger'' is a 1939 Universal Studios film that starred Billy Halop and Huntz Hall of the ''Dead End Kids'' and several of the ''Little Tough Guys''. It was directed by Arthur Lubin. In terms of chronological order, this was released a ...

'' (1939) * '' Missing Evidence'' (1939) *'' Give Us Wings'' (1940) *'' I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby'' (1940) *'' You're Not So Tough'' (1940) *'' Slightly Tempted'' (1940) *'' Oh Johnny, How You Can Love'' (1940) *'' Argentine Nights'' (1940) *'' The Bandit Trail'' (1941) *'' Buck Privates'' (1941) *'' Hello, Sucker'' (1941) *'' In the Navy'' (1941) *'' Navy Blues'' (1941) *'' Captains of the Clouds'' (1942) *'' Desperate Journey'' (1942) *'' Obliging Young Lady'' (1942) *'' Air Force'' (1943) *'' Dark Waters'' (1944) *'' Bowery to Broadway'' (1944) *'' The Suspect'' (1944) *'' Conflict'' (1945) *'' Here Come the Co-Eds'' (1945) *'' The Runaround'' (1946) *'' The Noose Hangs High'' (1948) *'' Undertow'' (1949) *'' Gobs and Gals'' (1952) *'' Tropical Heat Wave'' (1952) *''

The WAC from Walla Walla ''The WAC from Walla Walla'' is a 1952 American comedy film directed by William Witney and written by Arthur T. Horman. The film stars Judy Canova, Stephen Dunne, George Cleveland, June Vincent, Irene Ryan and Roy Barcroft. The film was released ...

' (1952) *'' Day of Triumph'' (1954) *''

'' (1958) *'' Young and Wild'' (1958)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Horman, Arthur T. 1905 births 1964 deaths American male screenwriters Screenwriters from Chicago 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters