Fred Niblo Jr. (January 23, 1903 – February 18, 1973) was a successful American screenwriter. He received an

Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay The Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best screenplay adapted from previously established material. The most frequently adapted media are novels, but other adapted narrative formats include stage plays, musica ...

nomination for the film ''

The Criminal Code ''The Criminal Code'' is a 1931 American pre-Code romantic crime drama film directed by Howard Hawks and starring Walter Huston and Phillips Holmes. The screenplay, based on a 1929 play of the same name by Martin Flavin, was written by Fred Ni ...

'' (1931) with

Seton I. Miller Seton Ingersoll Miller (May 3, 1902 – March 29, 1974) was an American screenwriter and producer. During his career, he worked with film directors such as Howard Hawks and Michael Curtiz. Miller received two Oscar nominations and won once f ...

. Niblo retired from films in 1950 to become a businessman.

Life and career

Fred Niblo Jr. was born in New York City on January 23, 1903. He was a son of Hollywood director

Fred Niblo Fred Niblo (born Frederick Liedtke; January 6, 1874 – November 11, 1948) was an American pioneer film actor, director and producer. Biography He was born Frederick Liedtke (several sources give "Frederico Nobile", apparently erroneously) in Yo ...

and vaudeville entertainer Josephine Cohan, who was an older sister of Broadway legend

George M. Cohan George Michael Cohan (July 3, 1878November 5, 1942) was an American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer and theatrical producer. Cohan began his career as a child, performing with his parents and sister in a vaudev ...

. He had studied at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, before going to Hollywood in 1928. Niblo began his career in 1930 and received an

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People * Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms. * Oscar (Irish mythology) ...

nomination for ''

'', one of his first screenplays, at the 4th Academy Awards in 1932. In a career spanning 20 years, Niblo had about 57 credits, including ''

Penitentiary A prison, also known as a jail, gaol (dated, standard English, Australian, and historically in Canada), penitentiary (American English and Canadian English), detention center (or detention centre outside the US), correction center, correcti ...

'' (1938), '' No Place to Go'' (1939), ''

The Fighting 69th ''The Fighting 69th'' is a 1940 American war film starring James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, and George Brent. The plot is based upon the actual exploits of New York City's 69th Infantry Regiment during World War I. The regiment was given that nickna ...

'' (1940), ''

Strange Alibi ''Strange Alibi'' is a 1941 American crime film directed by D. Ross Lederman, written by Kenneth Gamet, Leslie T. White and Fred Niblo Jr., and starring Arthur Kennedy, Joan Perry, Jonathan Hale, John Ridgely, Florence Bates and Charles Trowbri ...

'' (1941), ''

Four Jills in a Jeep ''Four Jills in a Jeep'' is a 1944 American comedy-drama musical film starring Kay Francis, Carole Landis, Martha Raye, and Mitzi Mayfair as themselves, re-enacting their USO tour of Europe and North Africa during World War II. Production The ...

'' (1944), and '' Incident'' (1949). After several years on the

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 ...

writing staff, he moved to

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 ...

and spent the last decade of his career at

RKO Pictures RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orphe ...

and

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

. Niblo was married to Patricia Henry (1910–1998) until his death in 1973. They had two daughters, Moira and Ann, and a son, Dennis. Niblo died at Encino Emergency Hospital in Encino on February 18, 1973. He was interred in the

San Fernando Mission Cemetery The San Fernando Mission Cemetery is a Catholic cemetery located in the Mission Hills community of the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. The property adjoins the San Fernando Mission and Bishop Alemany Catholic High School. ThSan Fernando Mi ...

Filmography

* ''

'' (1930) * ''

The Woman Racket ''The Woman Racket'' is an extant 1930 Pre-Code talking film produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Tom Moore and Blanche Sweet. It is based on a 1928 Broadway play, ''Night Hostess'' by Philip Dunning. In January 2012 the fil ...

'' (1930) * ''

The Virtuous Husband ''The Virtuous Husband'' is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Vin Moore and written by Jerry Horwin, Edward Ludwig, Fred Niblo, Jr. and Dale Van Every. The film stars Betty Compson, Elliott Nugent, Jean Arthur, J. C. Nugent, Ali ...

'' (1931) * '' King of the Jungle'' (1933) * ''

Ladies Must Love ''Ladies Must Love'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by E. A. Dupont and written by John Francis Larkin. The film stars June Knight, Neil Hamilton, Sally O'Neil, Dorothy Burgess, Mary Carlisle and George E. Stone. The fil ...

'' (1933) * ''

Flying Down to Rio ''Flying Down to Rio'' is a 1933 American pre-Code RKO musical film famous for being the first screen pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, although Dolores del Río and Gene Raymond received top billing and the leading roles. Among the ...

'' (1933) * ''

As Husbands Go ''As Husbands Go'' is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Hamilton MacFadden and written by S. N. Behrman and Sonya Levien. It is based on the 1931 play ''As Husbands Go'' by Rachel Crothers. The film stars Warner Baxter, Helen Vin ...

'' (1934) * '' Fugitive Lady'' (1934) * '' Among the Missing'' (1934) * '' Name the Woman'' (1934) * '' The Hell Cat'' (1934) * ''

Operator 13 ''Operator 13'' is a 1934 American pre-Code romance film directed by Richard Boleslawski and starring Marion Davies, Gary Cooper, and Jean Parker. Based on stories written by Robert W. Chambers, the film is about a Union spy who impersonates a ...

'' (1934) * '' Whom the Gods Destroy'' (1934) * ''

Death Flies East ''Death Flies East'' is a 1935 American mystery film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Conrad Nagel, Florence Rice and Raymond Walburn. The action takes place on an airline flight with a murderer aboard. The film was an early example of the avi ...

'' (1935) * '' Unknown Woman'' (1935) * ''

Escape from Devil's Island ''Escape from Devil's Island'' is a 1935 American adventure film directed by Albert S. Rogell and written by Earle Snell and Fred Niblo Jr. The film stars Victor Jory, Florence Rice, Norman Foster, Stanley Andrews, Daniel L. Haynes and Herbert ...

'' (1935) * ''

You May Be Next ''You May Be Next'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Ann Sothern, Lloyd Nolan and Douglass Dumbrille.Schlossheimer p.300 The film's sets were designed by the art director Stephen Goosson. Cast * Ann Soth ...

'' (1936) * ''

Roaming Lady ''Roaming Lady'' is a 1936 American comedy action film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Fay Wray, Ralph Bellamy and Thurston Hall.Kinnard & Crnkovich p.147 Main cast * Fay Wray as Joyce Reid * Ralph Bellamy as Daniel S. 'Dan' Bailey * ...

'' (1936) * ''

The Man Who Lived Twice ''The Man Who Lived Twice'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by Harry Lachman and starring Ralph Bellamy, Marian Marsh and Thurston Hall Ernest Thurston Hall (May 10, 1882 – February 20, 1958) was an American film, stage and tel ...

'' (1936) * ''

Lady from Nowhere ''Lady from Nowhere'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by Gordon Wiles and starring Mary Astor, Charles Quigley and Thurston Hall.Lowe p.1850 Premise After witnessing a gangland killing a young woman has to go into hiding. Cast * Mary As ...

'' (1936) * ''

Find the Witness ''Find the Witness'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by David Selman and starring Charles Quigley, Henry Mollison and Rosalind Keith.Langman & Finn p.86 Cast * Charles Quigley as Larry McGill * Henry Mollison as Rudolph Mordini * Rosa ...

'' (1937) * ''

Motor Madness ''Motor Madness'' was a motorsports based television show on The Nashville Network debuted in 1997.

'' (1937) * ''

The Game That Kills ''The Game That Kills'' is a 1937 American mystery sport film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring Charles Quigley and Rita Hayworth. Plot After his brother is killed on the ice during a hockey game, Alex Ferguson, convinced it was no accid ...

'' (1937) * ''

Counsel for Crime ''Counsel for Crime'' is a 1937 American crime film directed by John Brahm starring Otto Kruger, Douglass Montgomery and Jacqueline Wells. Plot Following his graduation from law school, Senator Robert Maddox's (Hall) adopted son Paul (Montgomer ...

'' (1937) * ''

All American Sweetheart ''All American Sweetheart'' is a 1937 American crime film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by Grace Neville, Fred Niblo Jr. and Michael L. Simmons. The film stars Patricia Farr, Scott Kolk, Gene Morgan, James Eagles, Arthur Loft and Jo ...

'' (1937) * ''

Little Miss Roughneck ''Little Miss Roughneck'' is a 1938 American drama. Plot summary Budding child vaudeville performer Foxine LaRue (Edith Fellows) and her mother Gertrude LaRue (Margaret Irving) will do anything to get Foxine into show business. Together, they s ...

'' (1938) * ''

'' (1938) * '' City Streets'' (1938) * '' No Place to Go'' (1939) * ''

Hell's Kitchen Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton, is a neighborhood on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is considered to be bordered by 34th Street (or 41st Street) to the south, 59th Street to the north, Eighth Avenue to the eas ...

'' (1939) * '' Waterfront'' (1939) * ''

The Cowboy Quarterback ''The Cowboy Quarterback'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Noel M. Smith and written by Fred Niblo, Jr. The film stars Bert Wheeler, Marie Wilson, Gloria Dickson, William Demarest, Eddie Foy, Jr. and William Hopper. The film was re ...

'' (1939) * ''

East of the River ''East of the River'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Alfred E. Green and written by Fred Niblo, Jr. The film stars John Garfield, Brenda Marshall, Marjorie Rambeau, George Tobias, William Lundigan and Moroni Olsen. The film was released ...

'' (1940) * '' River's End'' (1940) * ''

A Fugitive from Justice ''A Fugitive from Justice'' is a 1940 film starring Roger Pryor, Lucile Fairbanks and Eddie Foy Jr. Plot Fugitive Lee Leslie ( Donald Douglas) is wanted by three groups; the police, the gangsters who fear his testimony in court and the insu ...

'' (1940) * ''

An Angel from Texas ''An Angel from Texas'' is a 1940 comedy film directed by Ray Enright and written by Fred Niblo Jr. and Bertram Millhauser. The film stars Eddie Albert, Rosemary Lane, Wayne Morris, Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. The film was released by Warne ...

'' (1940) * ''

'' (1941) * '' Father's Son'' (1941) * ''

The Wagons Roll at Night ''The Wagons Roll at Night'' is a 1941 circus film directed by Ray Enright and starring Humphrey Bogart as traveling carnival owner Nick Coster, Sylvia Sidney as his girlfriend, and Eddie Albert as a newcomer who falls in love with Nick's siste ...

'' (1941) * ''

Three Sons o' Guns ''Three Sons o' Guns'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Benjamin Stoloff, written by Fred Niblo, Jr., and starring Wayne Morris, Marjorie Rambeau, Irene Rich, Tom Brown, William T. Orr, Susan Peters and Moroni Olsen. It was released b ...

'' (1941) * ''

Nine Lives Are Not Enough ''Nine Lives Are Not Enough'' is a 1941 Comedy-drama film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and written by Fred Niblo Jr. The film stars Ronald Reagan, Joan Perry, and James Gleason, with Howard Da Silva, Faye Emerson and Edward Brophy. The fi ...

'' (1941) * ''

Passage from Hong Kong ''Passage from Hong Kong'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by D. Ross Lederman and written by Fred Niblo Jr. and Earl Derr Biggers. The film stars Lucile Fairbanks, Douglas Kennedy, Paul Cavanagh, Richard Ainley, Marjorie Gateson and ...

'' (1941) * ''

You're in the Army Now ''You're in the Army Now'' is a 1941 comedy film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring Jimmy Durante, Phil Silvers, Jane Wyman, and Regis Toomey. It featured the longest kiss in film (lasting three minutes and five seconds), between Toomey and ...

'' (1941) * ''

You Can't Escape Forever ''You Can't Escape Forever'' is a 1942 American drama film directed by Jo Graham and written by Fred Niblo, Jr. and Hector Chevigny. The film stars George Brent, Brenda Marshall, Gene Lockhart, Roscoe Karns, Eduardo Ciannelli and Paul Harvey. Th ...

'' (1942) * ''

The Falcon in Danger ''The Falcon in Danger'' is a 1943 American mystery film directed by William Clemens and starring Tom Conway, Jean Brooks, Amelita Ward and Elaine Shepard.Jewell and Harbin 1982, p. 185. The film was the sixth of thirteen The Falcon detective f ...

'' (1943) * ''

'' (1944) * ''

Tampico Tampico is a city and port in the southeastern part of the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is located on the north bank of the Pánuco River, about inland from the Gulf of Mexico, and directly north of the state of Veracruz. Tampico is the fifth ...

'' (1944) * ''

Bodyguard A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects a person or a group of people — usually witnesses, high-ranking public officials or officers, w ...

'' (1948) * '' In This Corner'' (1948) * '' Incident'' (1948) * ''

Convicted In law, a conviction is the verdict reached by a court of law finding a defendant guilty of a crime. The opposite of a conviction is an acquittal (that is, "not guilty"). In Scotland, there can also be a verdict of "not proven", which is consid ...

'' (1950)

References

External links

* 1903 births 1973 deaths American male screenwriters Screenwriters from New York (state) Burials at San Fernando Mission Cemetery 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters {{US-screen-writer-stub