John Bernard Henry Leslie Davies (25 November 1913 – 22 June 1994) was an English

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. ...

with 49 writing credits to his name as well as the 12 episodes of '' The Pickwick Papers'' 1985 TV series. He was an associate producer for two of those credits, ''

Crooks Anonymous ''Crooks Anonymous'' is a British comedy film from 1962. Directed by Ken Annakin, it stars Leslie Phillips and Stanley Baxter and is notably the feature film debut of Julie Christie. Plot Captain "Dandy Forsdyke" (Leslie Phillips) is a habitua ...

'' and ''

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines ''Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines; Or, How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours and 11 Minutes'' is a 1965 British period comedy film that satirizes the early years of aviation. Directed and co-written by Ken Annakin, the film ...

'', receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay on the latter. He was an assistant editor for the television film ''

Dracula ''Dracula'' is a novel by Bram Stoker, published in 1897. As an epistolary novel, the narrative is related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist, but opens with solicitor Jonathan Harker taking ...

'' in 1974, and also an editor for ''

Sheba, Baby ''Sheba, Baby'' is a 1975 American blaxploitation action film directed by William Girdler and starring Pam Grier and Austin Stoker. Plot Private investigator Sheba Shayne (Grier) returns from Chicago, Illinois to her hometown of Louisville, Ken ...

'' in 1975. Three of his films were also books he wrote or co-wrote: '' Monte Carlo or Bust!'', '' Paper Tiger'', and ''

North Sea Hijack ''North Sea Hijack'' (released as ''ffolkes'' outside the UK and as ''Assault Force'' on US TV) is a 1980 British adventure film starring Roger Moore, Lea Brodie, James Mason, Anthony Perkins and Michael Parks. It was directed by Andrew V. McLa ...

''.

Personal life

Davies was married to Dorothy Holding from 12 June 1937 until his death on 22 June 1994. They had two children,

John Howard Davies John Howard Davies (9 March 193922 August 2011)
' ...

and his younger brother Legh.

Filmography

(As writer, except where indicated.)

Films

* ''

Love at Second Sight Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of meanings is that the lov ...

'' (also known as ''The Girl Thief'') (1934) * '' Mister Cinders'' (uncredited) (1935) * ''

Dance Band ''Dance Band'' is a 1935 British musical film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Charles "Buddy" Rogers, June Clyde and Steven Geray. It was shot at Welwyn Studios with sets designed by the art director David Rawnsley. Plot When dance band l ...

'' (1935) * '' Heart's Desire'' (1935) * ''

Music Hath Charms ''Music Hath Charms'' is a 1935 British musical comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley, Walter Summers, Arthur B. Woods and Alexander Esway. It stars Henry Hall with the BBC Dance Orchestra, Carol Goodner and Arthur Margetson. It was given a tr ...

'' (1936) * ''

Once in a Million ''Once in a Million'' is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Mary Brian and Jimmy Godden. It was shot at the Welwyn Studios of British International Pictures near London. Wood p.87 The fil ...

'' (1936) * '' A Star Fell from Heaven'' (1936) * '' The Tenth Man'' (1936) * ''

Trouble in the Air ''Trouble in the Air'' is a 1948 British comedy film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Freddie Frinton, Jimmy Edwards and Bill Owen.Chibnall & MacFarlane p. It was made at Highbury Studios as a second feature. The film's sets were desig ...

'' (1948) * ''

Laughter in Paradise ''Laughter in Paradise'' is a 1951 British comedy film, starring Alastair Sim, Fay Compton, George Cole, and Guy Middleton. The film was remade as ''Some Will, Some Won't'' (1970). Plot In his will, notorious practical joker Henry Russell leave ...

'' (1951) * ''

Curtain Up ''Curtain Up'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Ralph Smart and starring Robert Morley, Margaret Rutherford and Kay Kendall. Written by Jack Davies and Michael Pertwee it is based on the play ''On Monday Next'' by Philip King. It w ...

'' (1952) * '' Top Secret'' (also known as ''Mr. Potts Goes to Moscow'') (1952) * '' Happy Ever After'' (also known as ''Tonight's the Night'') (1954) * '' Doctor at Sea'' (1955) * ''

An Alligator Named Daisy ''An Alligator Named Daisy'' is a 1955 British comedy film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Donald Sinden, Jeannie Carson, James Robertson Justice, Diana Dors, Roland Culver and Stanley Holloway. Plot Returning from a cricket match in Ir ...

'' (1955) * ''

Jumping for Joy ''Jumping for Joy'' is a 1956 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Frankie Howerd, Stanley Holloway, Joan Hickson and Lionel Jeffries. Plot Willie Joy (Frankie Howerd) works at a greyhound track as a cleaner, whic ...

'' (1956) * '' Around the World in 80 Days'' (as an uncredited actor only) (1956) * ''

Up in the World ''Up in the World'' is a 1956 black and white comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom, Maureen Swanson and Jerry Desmonde. It was produced by Rank. Plot Norman is given a job as a window cleaner at a stately hom ...

'' (1956) * ''

True as a Turtle ''True as a Turtle'' is a 1957 British comedy film directed by Wendy Toye and starring John Gregson, Cecil Parker, June Thorburn and Keith Michell. In the film, a young couple embark on a voyage on a ketch named ''Turtle''. John Coates wrote th ...

'' (1957) * ''

High Flight ''High Flight'' is a 1941 sonnet written by war poet John Gillespie Magee Jr. and inspired by his experiences as a fighter pilot of the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II. Magee began writing the poem on 18 August, while stationed at List ...

'' (1957) * ''

I Only Arsked! ''I Only Arsked!'' is a 1958 British comedy film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Bernard Bresslaw, Michael Medwin and Alfie Bass. It was based on the television series '' The Army Game'' and was made by Hammer Films. Plot Slapstick e ...

'' (1958) * ''

The Square Peg ''The Square Peg'' is a 1959 British war comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom. Norman Wisdom plays two different characters: a man who digs and repairs roads, and a Nazi general. Plot During the Second World Wa ...

'' (1958) * '' The Ugly Duckling'' (1959) * ''

Invitation to Monte Carlo Invitation or The Invitation may refer to: Films *Invitation (1952 film), ''Invitation'' (1952 film), an MGM film starring Dorothy McGuire and Van Johnson *The Invitation (1973 film), ''The Invitation'' (1973 film), a Swiss film *The Invitation ( ...

'' (documentary; also known as ''Love in Monaco'') (1959) * ''

Don't Panic Chaps! ''Don't Panic Chaps!'' is a 1959 British comedy film directed by George Pollock and starring Dennis Price, George Cole, Thorley Walters and Terence Alexander. The film was produced by Teddy Baird for ACT Films. Originally called ''Carry On Cha ...

'' (1959) * '' Follow a Star'' (1959) * '' It Started in Naples'' (1960) * '' The Bulldog Breed'' (1960) * '' Seven Keys'' (1961) * ''

Very Important Person A very important person or personage (VIP or V.I.P.) is a person who is accorded special privileges due to their high social status, influence or importance. The term was not common until sometime after World War 2 by RAF pilots. Examples incl ...

'' (also known as ''A Coming-Out Party'') (1961) * '' Nearly a Nasty Accident'' (1961) * ''

'' (also as an associate producer) (1962) * '' On the Beat'' (1962) * ''

The Fast Lady ''The Fast Lady'' is a 1962 British comedy film, directed by Ken Annakin. The screenplay was written by Henry Blyth and Jack Davies, based on the 1925 novel of the same name by Keble Howard. Don Sharp directed second unit. "The Fast Lady" is th ...

'' (1962) * '' A Stitch in Time'' (1963) * ''

Father Came Too! ''Father Came Too!'' is a 1964 British comedy film directed by Peter Graham Scott and starring James Robertson Justice, Leslie Phillips and Stanley Baxter. It is a loose sequel to ''The Fast Lady''. It was produced by the Independent Artists com ...

'' (1963) * ''

The Cavern The Cavern Club is a nightclub on Mathew Street, Liverpool, England. The Cavern Club opened in 1957 as a jazz club, later becoming a centre of the rock and roll scene in Liverpool in the late 50s and early 1960s. The club became closely asso ...

'' (1964) * ''

'' (also as an associate producer) (1965) * ''

The Early Bird ''The Early Bird'' is a 1965 British comedy film directed by Robert Asher (director), Robert Asher and starring Norman Wisdom. It also features Edward Chapman (actor), Edward Chapman, Bryan Pringle, Richard Vernon, John Le Mesurier and Jerry De ...

'' (1965) * '' Doctor in Clover'' (also known as ''Carnaby, M.D.'') (1966) * '' Gambit'' (1966) * '' Monte Carlo or Bust!'' (also known as ''Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies'') (1969) * ''

Some Will, Some Won't ''Some Will, Some Won't'' is a 1970 British comedy film directed by Duncan Wood, a remake of ''Laughter in Paradise'' (1951). It starred an ensemble British cast which included Michael Hordern, Ronnie Corbett, Dennis Price, Leslie Phillips and Ar ...

'' (1970) * ''

Doctor in Trouble ''Doctor in Trouble'' is a 1970 British comedy film, the seventh and last film in the ''Doctor'' series. It was directed by Ralph Thomas and stars Leslie Phillips as a doctor who gets accidentally trapped on an outgoing cruise ship while it begin ...

'' (1970) * ''

'' (as editor only) (1975) * '' Paper Tiger'' (1975) * ''

'' (1979)

Television

* '' Man of the World'' (2 episodes: "The Sentimental Agent" and "Double Exposure" (1962–63) * ''

The Sentimental Agent ''The Sentimental Agent'' is a television drama series spin-off from '' Man of the World.'' It was produced in the United Kingdom in 1963 by Associated Television and distributed by ITC Entertainment. The series ran for 13 one-hour monochrome ...

'' (1 episode: "The Scroll of Islam") (1963) * ''

The Poppy Is Also a Flower ''The Poppy Is Also a Flower'' is a 1966 American-French-Austrian made-for-television spy and anti-drug film. It was originally made under the auspices of the United Nations as part of a series of television specials designed to promote the org ...

'' (TV film) (1966) * ''

'' (TV film; as assistant editor only) (1974) * '' The Pickwick Papers'' (12 episodes) (1985)

Bibliography

* ''Monte Carlo or Bust!: Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies'' (1969), ; film adaptation: '' Monte Carlo or Bust!'' * ''Paper Tiger'' (1974), ; film adaptation: '' Paper Tiger'' * ''Le Hold Up'' (1977), . * ''Esther, Ruth, and Jennifer'' (1979), ; film adaptation: ''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Davies, Jack 1913 births 1994 deaths English male screenwriters 20th-century English screenwriters 20th-century English male writers