Joan Harrison (20 June 1907 – 14 August 1994) was an English screenwriter and producer. She became the first female screenwriter to be nominated for the Best Original Screenplay Oscar when the category was introduced in 1940, and was the first screenwriter to received two

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

nominations in the same year in separate categories, for co-writing the screenplay for the films '' Foreign Correspondent'' (1940) (original) and '' Rebecca'' (1940) (adapted), both directed by Alfred Hitchcock, with whom she had a long professional relationship.

Biography

Born in Guildford, Surrey, Harrison was the daughter of a publisher of two local newspapers. She studied at St Hugh's College, Oxford and reviewed films for the student newspaper. She also studied at the

Sorbonne Sorbonne may refer to: * Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities. *the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970) *one of its components or linked institution, ...

. In 1933, she became Alfred Hitchcock's secretary after answering a newspaper advertisement. She began reading books and scripts for him and became one of Hitchcock's most trusted associates. Harrison appears in a scene in Hitchcock's original version of '' The Man Who Knew Too Much'' (1934), eating dinner with

Peter Lorre Peter Lorre (; born László Löwenstein, ; June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964) was a Hungarian and American actor, first in Europe and later in the United States. He began his stage career in Vienna, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, before movin ...

's character. Hitchcock developed the habit of taking Harrison to dinner and recounting the details of hundreds of murders; Harrison had developed an interest in criminology. She worked with Hitchcock on other areas of his film's production to his wife

Alma Reville Alma Lucy Reville, Lady Hitchcock (14 August 1899 – 6 July 1982), was an English director, editor, and screenwriter. She was the wife of the film director Alfred Hitchcock. She collaborated on scripts for her husband's films, including '' Sha ...

. The couple became close to Harrison. She was among the screenwriters for Hitchcock film ''

Jamaica Inn The Jamaica Inn is a traditional inn on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall in the UK, which was built as a coaching inn in 1750, and has a historical association with smuggling. Located just off the A30, near the middle of the moor close to the hamlet ...

'' (1939) based on the novel by

Daphne du Maurier Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning, (; 13 May 1907 – 19 April 1989) was an English novelist, biographer and playwright. Her parents were actor-manager Sir Gerald du Maurier and his wife, actress Muriel Beaumont. Her grandfather was Geo ...

, her first script. When Hitchcock moved to Hollywood in March 1939 to begin his contract with David O. Selznick to direct films, Harrison emigrated with him as an assistant and writer. She continued contributing to the screenplays for Hitchcock's films '' Rebecca'' (1940), another du Maurier adaptation, '' Foreign Correspondent'' (1940), ''

Suspicion Suspicion is a feeling of mistrust. Suspicion(s), The Suspicion, or Suspicious may also refer to: Film and television Film * ''Suspicion'' (1918 film), an American silent film directed by John M. Stahl * ''Suspicion'' (1941 film), an American ...

'' (1941), and ''

Saboteur Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening a polity, effort, or organization through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. One who engages in sabotage is a ''saboteur''. Saboteurs typically try to conceal their identiti ...

'' (1942). She became a film producer with ''

Phantom Lady Phantom Lady is a fictional superheroine, one of the first such characters to debut in the 1940s Golden Age of Comic Books. Originally published by Quality Comics, the character was subsequently published by a series of now-defunct comic book com ...

'' (1944), collaborating with the director

Robert Siodmak Robert Siodmak (; 8 August 1900 – 10 March 1973) was a German film director who also worked in the United States. He is best remembered as a thriller specialist and for a series of films noirs he made in the 1940s, such as ''The Killers'' (194 ...

. She was also credited as one of the screenwriters for '' Dark Waters'' (1944) after ''Phantom Lady'' star

Franchot Tone Stanislaus Pascal Franchot Tone (February 27, 1905 – September 18, 1968) was an American actor, producer, and director of stage, film and television. He was a leading man in the 1930s and early 1940s, and at the height of his career was known ...

persuaded her to work on the script as the writer of the original story, Marian Cockrell, was having difficulties with the adaptation. The other films she produced were ''

The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry ''The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry'' is a 1945 American film noir drama film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring George Sanders as an aging bachelor who looks after his two sisters, one of whom tries to sabotage his romance with his co-worker ...

'' (1945), ''

Nocturne A nocturne is a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night. History The term ''nocturne'' (from French '' nocturne'' 'of the night') was first applied to musical pieces in the 18th century, when it indicated an ensembl ...

'' (1946), ''

Ride the Pink Horse ''Ride the Pink Horse'' is a 1947 film noir crime film produced by Universal Studios. It was directed by Robert Montgomery, who also stars in it, from a screenplay by Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer, which was based on the 1946 novel of the s ...

'' (1947), and ''

They Won't Believe Me ''They Won't Believe Me'' is a 1947 black-and-white film noir directed by Irving Pichel and starring Robert Young, Susan Hayward and Jane Greer. It was produced by Alfred Hitchcock's longtime assistant and collaborator, Joan Harrison. Plot Af ...

'' (1947). At the time, she was one of only three female producers in Hollywood, the others being

Virginia Van Upp Virginia Van Upp (January 13, 1902 – March 25, 1970) was an American film producer and screenwriter. Early life Virginia Van Upp was born in Chicago, the daughter of Harry and Helen Van Upp. Mrs Van Upp had been an editor and title writer for ...

and

Harriet Parsons Harriet Oettinger Parsons (1906 – 1983) was an American film producer, actress, director, and magazine writer; one of the few female producers in the United States at the time. Her mother was famed gossip columnist Louella Parsons. Biography ...

. Harrison was an uncredited screenwriter for ''Ride the Pink Horse'' (1947) and '' Your Witness'' (1950). Harrison worked in television with Hitchcock together when she produced his TV series ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was ren ...

'' (with Norman Lloyd) and ''

''. She and Lloyd were later producers on the Hammer TV anthology ''

Journey to the Unknown ''Journey to the Unknown'' is a British anthology television series, produced by Hammer Film Productions and 20th Century Fox Television. It aired on ABC from September 26, 1968, to January 30, 1969.Eric Ambler Eric Clifford Ambler OBE (28 June 1909 – 22 October 1998) was an English author of thrillers, in particular spy novels, who introduced a new realism to the genre. Also working as a screenwriter, Ambler used the pseudonym Eliot Reed for book ...

in 1958; the couple remained married until her death in 1994. She and Ambler lived in London for the last 20 years of her life.

Filmography

*''

'' (1939) - writer *'' Rebecca'' (1940) - writer *'' Foreign Correspondent'' (1940) - writer *''

'' (1941) - writer *''

'' (1942) - writer *''

'' (1944) - producer *'' Dark Waters'' (1944) - writer *''

'' (1945) - producer *''

'' (1946) - producer, uncredited writer *''

'' (1947) - producer *''

'' (1947) - producer, uncredited writer *''

Once More, My Darling ''Once More, My Darling'' is a 1949 American comedy film directed by and starring Robert Montgomery and Ann Blyth. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Recording ( Leslie I. Carey). Plot Collier "Collie" Laing, a confirm ...

'' (1949) - producer *'' Your Witness'' (1950) - producer, uncredited writer *''

Circle of Danger ''Circle of Danger'' is a 1951 British thriller film directed by Jacques Tourneur which stars Ray Milland, Patricia Roc, Marius Goring, Hugh Sinclair and Naunton Wayne. An American travels to England to discover the truth behind his brother's d ...

'' (1951) - producer *''

Schlitz Playhouse ''Schlitz Playhouse of Stars'' is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS. Offering both Television comedy, comedies and Dramatic programming, drama, the series was sponsored by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company. The ti ...

'' (TV series) - episode "Double Exposure" (1952) - writer *''

Janet Dean, Registered Nurse ''Janet Dean, Registered Nurse'' is an American medical drama television series. It was released in February 1954, and it continued to be broadcast in reruns in the early 1960s. It was the first TV series in which the lead was a nurse. By October 1 ...

'' (1954–55) (TV series) - producer *''

'' (TV series) (1955–62) - producer *''

'' (TV series) - episode "The Travelling Corpse" (1957) - producer *''

'' (1957–58) (TV series) - producer *'' Startime'' (TV series) - episode "Incident at a Corner" (1960) - producer *''

Alcoa Premiere '' Alcoa Premiere'' (also known as ''Premiere, Presented by Fred Astaire'') is an American anthology drama series that aired from October 1961 to July 1963 on ABC. The series was hosted by Fred Astaire, who also starred in several of the episode ...

'' (TV series) - episode "The Jail" (1962) - producer *''

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was re ...

'' (TV series) (1962–63) - producer *'' Journey Into Fear'' (1966) (TV series) - producer *''

Journey to the Unknown ''Journey to the Unknown'' is a British anthology television series, produced by Hammer Film Productions and 20th Century Fox Television. It aired on ABC from September 26, 1968, to January 30, 1969.Love Hate Love ''Love Hate Love'' is a 1971 American made-for-television drama film starring Ryan O'Neal. Reception The ''Los Angeles Times'' called the film "for the most part, improbably developed...O'Neal... is the main strength of this movie." The movie wa ...

'' (1971) (TV movie) - producer *''

The Most Deadly Game ''The Most Deadly Game'' is an American television series that ran for 12 episodes from 1970 to 1971. The series was produced by Aaron Spelling Productions, with Aaron Spelling as the executive producer. It stars Yvette Mimieux, Ralph Bellamy, ...

'' (1970–71) (TV series) - producer

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, Joan 1907 births 1994 deaths People from Guildford Alumni of St Hugh's College, Oxford British film producers British television producers British women television producers British women screenwriters 20th-century British women writers 20th-century British screenwriters

Biography

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

Further reading

External links