Frances Hyland (born Frances C. Moore) was an American screenwriter active between the late 1920s and the late 1940s. She was the first woman hired as a "gagman" at a film studio, and she wrote dozens of comedic scripts over the course of her career.

Biography

Hyland was born in Arkansas, the daughter of William C. Moore and Aura Lee Dickey. Her father was the editor of the local newspaper; he would later move to California and edit ''The Hueneme Harbor Bulletin''. In 1926, she became the first woman to be hired by Universal as a "gagman" (comedy writer). She later worked for

Tiffany Pictures Tiffany Pictures, which also became Tiffany-Stahl Productions for a time, was a Hollywood motion picture studio in operation from 1921 until 1932. It is considered a Poverty Row studio, whose films had lower budgets, lesser-known stars, and overall ...

. She continued to work steadily throughout the 1930s and 1940s, producing scripts for well-received films like ''

The Sin of Nora Moran ''The Sin of Nora Moran'' is a 1933 American pre-code melodrama and proto-noir film directed by Phil Goldstone and based on the short story "Burnt Offering" by W. Maxwell Goodhue. The film is also known as ''Voice from the Grave'' (American reiss ...

'', ''

A Shriek in the Night ''A Shriek in the Night'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery crime film with elements of romance directed by Albert Ray and starring Ginger Rogers, Lyle Talbot, and Harvey Clark. It was produced by the independent studio Allied Pictures, and ...

'', and '' In Old California''. She was married to filmmaker

Albert Ray Albert Ray (August 28, 1897 – February 5, 1944) was an American film director, actor, and screenwriter. He directed more than 70 films between 1920 and 1939. He also appeared in 18 films between 1915 and 1922. He was born in New Roche ...

until his death. Her date of death and final resting place are unknown.

Selected filmography

* ''

In Old Sacramento ''In Old Sacramento'' is a 1946 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and written by Frances Hyland and Frank Gruber. The film stars Wild Bill Elliott, Constance Moore, Henry H. Daniels Jr., Ruth Donnelly, Eugene Pallette and Jack ...

'' (1946) * '' Murder in the Music Hall'' (1946) * '' The Cheaters'' (1945) * ''

Someone to Remember ''Someone to Remember'' is a 1943 American drama film directed by Robert Siodmak and written by Frances Hyland. The film stars Mabel Paige, Harry Shannon, John Craven, Dorothy Morris, Charles Dingle and David Bacon. The film was released on Aug ...

'' (1943) * '' In Old California'' (1942) * ''You're Telling Me'' (1942) * ''

Girl from Avenue A ''Girl from Avenue A'' is a 1940 American comedy film, directed by Otto Brower. It stars Jane Withers, Kent Taylor, and Kay Aldridge. Cast * Jane Withers as Jane * Kent Taylor as MacMillan Forrester * Kay Aldridge as Lucy * Elyse Knox as Angela ...

'' (1940) * '' Free, Blonde and 21'' (1940) * '' The Cisco Kid and the Lady'' (1939) * ''

Charlie Chan in Reno ''Charlie Chan in Reno'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Norman Foster, starring Sidney Toler as the fictional Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan, based on an original story "Death Makes a Decree" by Philip Wylie. Plot Mary W ...

'' (1939) * '' Winner Take All'' (1939) * ''

Everybody's Baby ''Everybody's Baby'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Malcolm St. Clair and starring Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane and Spring Byington. It was part of Twentieth Century Fox's Jones Family series of films.Drew p.180 The film's art direction ...

'' (1939) * '' Keep Smiling'' (1938) * '' Island in the Sky'' (1938) * '' City Girl'' (1938) * '' 45 Fathers'' (1937) * ''

Under Your Spell ''Under Your Spell'' is a 1936 American romantic comedy film with music directed by Otto Preminger. The screenplay by Frances Hyland and Saul Elkins is based on a story by Sy Bartlett and Bernice Mason. Plot New York City opera star Anthony All ...

'' (1936) * '' Star for a Night'' (1936) * ''

The Crime of Dr. Forbes ''The Crime of Dr. Forbes'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by George Marshall and starring Gloria Stuart, Robert Kent and Henry Armetta.Monaco p.357 The film's art direction was by Duncan Cramer. This film was shot at 20th Century Fox ...

'' (1936) * ''My Marriage'' (1936) * ''

Thunder in the Night ''Thunder in the Night'' is a 1935 American crime film directed by George Archainbaud and written by Frances Hyland and Eugene Solow. It is based on the 1934 play ''A Woman Lies'' by Ladislas Fodor. The film stars Edmund Lowe, Karen Morley, Pau ...

'' (1935) * '' Smart Girl'' (1935) * '' Helldorado'' (1935) * '' Money Means Nothing'' (1934) * '' A Woman's Man'' (1934) * '' The Sin of Nora Morgan'' (1933) * ''

'' (1933) * '' The Intruder'' (1933) * '' Officer Thirteen'' (1932) * '' Guilty or Not Guilty'' (1932) * '' The Thirteenth Guest'' (1932) * ''Deceit'' (1932) * ''

Morals for Women ''Morals for Women'' (known in the UK as ''Farewell Party'' and in re-release as ''Big City Interlude'') is a 1931 American pre-Code film produced and released by Tiffany Pictures, often considered a low budget studio. The film stars Bessie Love ...

'' (1931) * '' Two Men and a Maid'' (1929) * ''

The Voice Within "The Voice Within" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera from her fourth studio album, ''Stripped'' (2002). The song was written by Aguilera and Glen Ballard, with production handled by Ballard. It is a piano-driven ballad that talk ...

'' (1929) * ''

Painted Faces ''Painted Faces'' (Chinese: 七小福) is a 1988 Hong Kong biographical drama film co-written and directed by Alex Law and starring Sammo Hung as his mentor, Master Yu Jim-yuen of the China Drama Academy. For his portrayal as Master Yu, Hung ...

'' (1929) * ''

Marriage by Contract ''Marriage by Contract'' is a 1928 American drama film directed by James Flood and starring Patsy Ruth Miller, Lawrence Gray and Robert Edeson. It was one of the first sound films produced by Tiffany Pictures, one of the largest independent stu ...

'' (1928) * ''The Power of Silence'' (1928) * '' The Grain of Dust'' (1928) * ''

The House of Scandal ''The House of Scandal'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by King Baggot and starring Pat O'Malley, Dorothy Sebastian and Gino Corrado.Munden p.366 Cast * Pat O'Malley as Pat Regan * Dorothy Sebastian as Ann Rourke * Harry Murray ...

'' (1928) * '' Women's Wares'' (1927)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hyland, Frances Screenwriters from Arkansas 1900s births Year of death missing American women screenwriters 20th-century American women writers