Edwin Justus Mayer (November 8, 1896 – September 11, 1960) was an American

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

. He wrote or co-wrote the screenplays for 47 films between 1927 and 1958. Edwin Justus Mayer worked on many screenplays but he is remembered now for his work with

Ernst Lubitsch Ernst Lubitsch (; January 29, 1892November 30, 1947) was a German-born American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as ...

. He worked with Lubitsch on the scripts for ''

To Be or Not to Be To Be or Not to Be may refer to: * ''To be, or not to be'', the soliloquy from ''Hamlet''. Films and TV, theatre and books * ''To Be or Not to Be'' (1942 film), directed by Ernst Lubitsch * ''To Be or Not to Be'' (1983 film), a remake produced ...

'' (1942) and '' A Royal Scandal'' (1945). ''A Royal Scandal'' (1945) did poorly at the box office, but is considered by many as one of Lubitsch's finest films.

Personal life and family

Mayer was born at 71 W. 125th Street in New York City on November 8, 1896, the son of Paul, who was born in

Karlovy Vary Karlovy Vary (; german: Karlsbad, formerly also spelled ''Carlsbad'' in English) is a spa town, spa city in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 46,000 inhabitants. It lies on the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá. ...

while the town was part of the

Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire (german: link=no, Kaiserthum Oesterreich, modern spelling , ) was a Central-Eastern European multinational great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence, ...

, and Isabella Mayer. He had two siblings, sisters Olga and Estelle. Mayer's

draft card Conscription (also called the draft in the United States) is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day un ...

for World War I, filled out in either 1917 or 1918, shows that he and his mother lived together at 108 W. 95th Street and that he worked on Broadway in Manhattan. Additionally, the card described him as being of tall and slender build with brown hair and eyes while noting he was blind in his left eye. Mayer was married to Frances O'Neill (b. ~1900 in Spain) and, by her, had at least two children, one of them being late TV writer and producer

Paul Avila Mayer Paul Avila Mayer (May 28, 1928 – July 10, 2009) was an American television writer and producer. Personal life Mayer was born May 28, 1928 in Los Angeles, the son of Edwin Justus Mayer and Frances O'Neill. He was married to actress and comedia ...

."California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994," database with images, ''FamilySearch'' (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLW-F2PH : 18 January 2018), Paul Avila Mayer, 28 May 1928; citing Birth, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, California State Archives, Sacramento.

Selected filmography

* ''

The Devil Dancer ''The Devil Dancer'' is a 1927 American silent romantic drama film directed by Fred Niblo and produced by Samuel Goldwyn. For his work on this film, '' The Magic Flame'' and '' Sadie Thompson'', cinematographer George Barnes was nominated for ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Love Mart ''The Love Mart'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice starring Billie Dove, Gilbert Roland and Noah Beery, and featuring Boris Karloff. The film is lost. Cast * Billie Dove as Antoinette Frobelle * Gilbert Roland ...

'' (1927) * ''

Ned McCobb's Daughter ''Ned McCobb's Daughter'' is a 1928 American drama film directed by William J. Cowen and starring Irene Rich, Theodore Roberts, and Robert Armstrong.Gehring p. 62 It was also released in a silent version. Cast * Irene Rich as Carol * The ...

'' (1928) * ''

The Divine Lady ''The Divine Lady'' is a 1929 American pre-Code Vitaphone sound film with a synchronized musical score, sound effects, and some synchronized singing, but no spoken dialogue. It stars Corinne Griffith and tells the story of the love affair betwe ...

'' (1929) * '' The Unholy Night'' (1929) * ''

Our Blushing Brides ''Our Blushing Brides'' is a 1930 American pre-Code society comedy/ romantic melodrama directed and produced by Harry Beaumont and starring Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, Anita Page and Dorothy Sebastian. The film follows '' Our Dancing Da ...

'' (1930) * ''

Romance Romance (from Vulgar Latin , "in the Roman language", i.e., "Latin") may refer to: Common meanings * Romance (love), emotional attraction towards another person and the courtship behaviors undertaken to express the feelings * Romance languages, ...

'' (1930) * '' Tonight Is Ours'' (1933) * '' Thirty Day Princess'' (1934) * ''

The Affairs of Cellini ''The Affairs of Cellini'' is a 1934 comedy film directed by Gregory La Cava and starring Frank Morgan, Constance Bennett, Fredric March, Fay Wray, and Louis Calhern. It is set in Florence. The film was adapted by Bess Meredyth from the play ''Th ...

'' (1934) * ''

They Met in Bombay ''They Met in Bombay '' is a 1941 American adventure drama film directed by Clarence Brown, and starring Clark Gable and Rosalind Russell, with Peter Lorre.''Variety'' film review; June 25, 1941, page 16.''Harrison's Reports'' film review; July 5 ...

'' (1941) * ''

'' (1942) * '' A Royal Scandal'' (1945) * ''

'' (1983 - from the 1942 screenplay)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mayer, Edwin Justus 1858 births 1923 deaths American male screenwriters 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters