David "Dave" Swift (July 27, 1919 – December 31, 2001) was an American screenwriter,
animator, director, and producer. He is best known for writing and directing the 1967 film, ''
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'' may refer to:
* ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'' (book), a 1952 book written by Shepherd Mead and the inspiration for the musical of the same name.
* ''How to Succeed in Bu ...
''. Swift also worked as an animator and filmmaker at
The Walt Disney Studios where he adapted the story of ''
Pollyanna
''Pollyanna'' is a 1913 novel by American author Eleanor H. Porter, considered a classic of children's literature. The book's success led to Porter's soon writing a sequel, ''Pollyanna Grows Up'' (1915). Eleven more ''Pollyanna'' sequels, know ...
'' for the screen and wrote and directed ''
The Parent Trap'' (1961).
Life and career
Born in
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
, Swift's father owned a factory that made
sausage casings. After
the depression
The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagion ...
, he dropped out of school at the age of 17 and boarded a freight train to California to pursue his goal of working for
Walt Disney
Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...
. After arriving in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, Swift worked several odd jobs to earn money including working as an usher at the
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...
theater. In between work, he attended art school and also attended
Hollywood High School at night.
He began his career at
The Walt Disney Studio as an office boy and rose to be an assistant animator under
Ward Kimball
Ward Walrath Kimball (March 4, 1914 – July 8, 2002) was an American animator employed by Walt Disney Animation Studios. He was part of Walt Disney's main team of animators, known collectively as Disney's Nine Old Men. His films have been honor ...
in 1938.
After
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
service with the
8th Air Force
The Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) is a numbered air force (NAF) of the United States Air Force's Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The command serves as Air Forces ...
, Swift became a radio and television writer.
[ He attracted acclaim as the creator of '']Mister Peepers
''Mister Peepers'' is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from July 3, 1952, to June 12, 1955.
Overview
Wally Cox starred as Robinson J. Peepers, Jefferson City's junior high school science teacher. Others in the cast included Tony Randall a ...
''. Swift rejoined Disney as the writer, director and producer of ''Pollyanna
''Pollyanna'' is a 1913 novel by American author Eleanor H. Porter, considered a classic of children's literature. The book's success led to Porter's soon writing a sequel, ''Pollyanna Grows Up'' (1915). Eleven more ''Pollyanna'' sequels, know ...
'', followed by '' The Parent Trap'' (1961). After making ''Love Is a Ball
''Love Is a Ball'' (released in the UK as ''All This And Money Too'') is a 1963 romantic comedy film starring Glenn Ford, Hope Lange, and Charles Boyer. It is based on the novel ''The Grand Duke and Mr. Pimm'' by Lindsay Hardy.
Plot
Etienne Pi ...
'', Swift was then contracted to Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...
for '' The Interns'', ''Under the Yum Yum Tree
''Under the Yum Yum Tree'' is a 1963 American sex comedy film directed by David Swift and starring Jack Lemmon, Carol Lynley, Dean Jones, and Edie Adams, with Imogene Coca, Paul Lynde, and Robert Lansing in supporting roles. The film received ...
'' and ''Good Neighbor Sam
''Good Neighbor Sam'' is a 1964 American Eastman Color screwball comedy film co-written and directed by David Swift, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Jack Finney. The film stars Jack Lemmon, Romy Schneider, Dorothy Provine, Michael C ...
'', the latter two with Jack Lemmon. He also created the TV shows ''Grindl
''Grindl'' is an American situation comedy that began in fall 1963 on NBC, originally sponsored by Procter & Gamble. The show, starring Imogene Coca in the title role, lasted for one season.
Synopsis
Grindl (Coca) worked for Foster's Temporary E ...
'', ''Camp Runamuck
''Camp Runamuck'' is an American sitcom that aired on NBC during the 1965–66 television season. The series was created and executive produced by David Swift, and aired for 26 episodes.
Synopsis
The series related the wacky goings-on at the t ...
'', and ''Arnie
Arnie is a masculine given name, frequently a shortened version of Arnold. It may refer to:
People
* Arnie Arenz (1911–1985), American National Football League quarterback in 1934
* Arnie Beyeler (born 1964), American minor league baseball pl ...
''. Swift returned to Disney to write ''Candleshoe
''Candleshoe'' is a 1977 American-British family adventure–comedy film, directed by Norman Tokar in a screenplay by David Swift and Rosemary Anne Sisson, produced by Walt Disney Productions, and distributed by Buena Vista. Based on the Mich ...
'' in 1977.
During the 1980s, he worked as a writer and director for television. His final project was the screenplay for the 1998 remake of ''The Parent Trap'', starring Lindsay Lohan, Natasha Richardson
Natasha Jane Richardson (11 May 1963 – 18 March 2009) was an English actress of stage and screen. A member of the Redgrave family, Richardson was the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and director/producer Tony Richardson and the granddaug ...
and Dennis Quaid
Dennis William Quaid (born April 9, 1954) is an American actor known for a wide variety of dramatic and comedic roles. First gaining widespread attention in the late 1970s, some of his notable credits include '' Breaking Away'' (1979), '' The ...
.
In 1951, Swift married actress Maggie McNamara
Marguerite "Maggie" McNamara (June 18, 1928 – February 18, 1978) was a stage, film, and television actress and model from the United States.Obituary ''Variety'', March 22, 1978, page 46. McNamara began her career as a teenage fashion model. Sh ...
. They later divorced. He married model Micheline Swift in 1957 to whom he remained married until his death. The couple had two daughters, Michele and Wendon.[
]
Death
On December 31, 2001, Swift died of heart failure at St. John's Health Center
Providence Saint John's Health Center, formerly St. Johns Hospital and Health Center, is a private not-for-profit, Roman Catholic hospital in Santa Monica, California, United States. The hospital was founded in 1942 by the Sisters of Charity of ...
in Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica (; Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 U.S. Census population was 93,076. Santa Monica is a popular resort town, owing t ...
at the age of 82.[
]
References
External links
*
Papers of David Swift
at the Special Collections & University Archives at the University of Iowa
The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized into 12 col ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swift, David
1919 births
2001 deaths
20th-century American male actors
American animators
American animated film directors
American animated film producers
American male film actors
Film producers from California
American male television actors
American male screenwriters
American television directors
Television producers from California
Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Hollywood High School alumni
Male actors from Minneapolis
United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II
Writers from Minneapolis
Film directors from Los Angeles
Screenwriters from Minnesota
Screenwriters from California
Film producers from Minnesota
20th-century American male writers
20th-century American screenwriters
Film directors from Minnesota