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John Monk Saunders (November 22, 1897 – March 11, 1940) was an American novelist, screenwriter, and film director.


Early life and career

Born in
Hinckley, Minnesota Hinckley is a city in Pine County, Minnesota, United States, located at the junction of Interstate 35 and Minnesota State Highway 48. The population was 1,800 at the 2010 census. Hinckley's name in the Ojibwe language is ''Gaa-zhiigwanaabikoka ...
, to Robert C. Saunders and Nannie Monk Saunders, his family (6 children) moved to Seattle, Washington in 1907 where his father served as US Attorney. John attended Broadway High School, where he excelled as both student and athlete. Saunders, a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, received his education at University of Washington in Seattle where he was president of his freshman class and quarterback on the freshman football team. He served in the Air Service during World War I as a flight instructor in Florida, but was never able to secure a posting to France, a disappointment that frustrated him for the remainder of his life. After the University of Washington, he was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, entering in the fall of 1919 where he was the first American to attend
Magdalen College Magdalen College (, ) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1458 by William of Waynflete. Today, it is the fourth wealthiest college, with a financial endowment of £332.1 million as of 2019 and one of the s ...
. Saunders was a member of their championship swimming team and played on the Rugby squad. He completed his 3-year degree there in just 1 years. While at Oxford, he formed friendships with
John Masefield John Edward Masefield (; 1 June 1878 – 12 May 1967) was an English poet and writer, and Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, Poet Laureate from 1930 until 1967. Among his best known works are the children's novels ''The Midnight Folk'' and ...
and
Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work. ...
. After graduation, he served as attaché at the American Relief Association in Vienna, Austria. After the war he spent time in Paris then returned to Oxford, completing his master's degree in 1923. He worked as a journalist in the US, including stints with the ''Los Angeles Times'' and ''New York Tribune''. Saunders began selling short stories to magazines such as ''Cosmopolitan'' and ''Liberty'' magazines and became editor of ''American'' magazine. He first sold the movie rights to one of his stories in 1924, and in 1926, Famous Players-Lasky/Paramount purchased the rights to Saunders's unfinished novel about WWI pilots. Wings garnered $39,000 for the writer - the highest sum paid for film rights at that time - as well as the first Academy Award for Best Picture.


Screenwriter

Saunders' first screen credit was ''
Too Many Kisses ''Too Many Kisses'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by Paul Sloane that is based on the John Monk Saunders story "A Maker of Gestures."
'' (1925), based on his story "A Maker of Gestures". This was followed by ''
The Shock Punch ''The Shock Punch'' is a 1925 American silent boxing drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It starred Richard Dix and Frances Howard. Plot Coming face-to-face with a couple of ruffians, champion bo ...
'' (1925) based on his play. In 1926 Famous Players-Lasky/Paramount purchased the screen rights to Saunders' unfinished novel about pilots in World War One for a then-record $39,000. The film, ''
Wings A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expre ...
'' (1927), became the first film to ever win an Academy Award for Best Picture. He followed it with '' The Legion of the Condemned'' (1928), starring
Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, quiet screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, ...
. Saunders' story "The Dock Walloper" was filmed as ''
The Docks of New York ''The Docks of New York'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring George Bancroft, Betty Compson, and Olga Baclanova. The movie was adapted by Jules Furthman from the John Monk Saunders story ''The Dock ...
'' (1928), Directed by Josef von Sternberg. He worked on the script for ''
She Goes to War ''She Goes to War'' is a 1929 silent film directed by Henry King and starring Eleanor Boardman. The film was released a year after Boardman had starred in '' The Crowd''. Cast * Eleanor Boardman * John Holland * Margaret Seddon * Eulalie J ...
'' (1929) '' The Dawn Patrol'' (1930), was based on his story "The Flight Commander". It starred
Richard Barthelmess Richard Semler Barthelmess (May 9, 1895 – August 17, 1963) was an American film actor, principally of the Hollywood silent era. He starred opposite Lillian Gish in D. W. Griffith's ''Broken Blossoms'' (1919) and ''Way Down East'' (1920) and w ...
and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Saunders won an Oscar for Best Story. On receipt of his award, he said, "This indeed is a crazy business where I am being sued for plagiarism on one hand and given the statuette for originality on the other". Saunders published a series of short stories collectively referred to as "Nikki and Her War Birds" in Liberty magazine. In 1931, Saunders arranged these stories into his first complete novel called ''Single Lady''. Saunders wrote ''
The Finger Points ''The Finger Points'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film directed by John Francis Dillon and written by John Monk Saunders, W.R. Burnett and Robert Lord. The film stars Richard Barthelmess, Fay Wray, Regis Toomey, Robert Elliott, Clark Ga ...
'' (1931), then '' The Last Flight'' (1931) which he adapted from ''Single Lady''. Saunders also wrote a play ''Nikki'' which was produced on Broadway with
Fay Wray Vina Fay Wray (September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004) was a Canadian/American actress best known for starring as Ann Darrow in the 1933 film ''King Kong''. Through an acting career that spanned nearly six decades, Wray attained international r ...
. '' The Eagle and the Hawk'' (1933) was based on his story, "Death in the Morning". It starred
Fredric March Fredric March (born Ernest Frederick McIntyre Bickel; August 31, 1897 – April 14, 1975) was an American actor, regarded as one of Hollywood's most celebrated, versatile stars of the 1930s and 1940s.Obituary '' Variety'', April 16, 1975, ...
,
Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English-American actor. He was known for his Mid-Atlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing. He was one o ...
and Carole Lombard. Saunders wrote '' Ace of Aces'' (1933), adapting his story "Birds of Prey". ''
Devil Dogs of the Air ''Devil Dogs of the Air'' (a.k.a. ''Flying Marines'') is a 1935 Warner Bros. film, directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring James Cagney and Pat O'Brien, playing similar roles as close friends after making their debut as a "buddy team" in '' Here C ...
'' (1935) was based on his story. His stories provided the basis for '' West Point of the Air'' (1935) and '' I Found Stella Parish'' (1935). Saunders was one of several writers on the documentary film ''
Conquest of the Air ''Conquest of the Air'' is a 1936 documentary film or docudrama on the history of aviation up to that time. The film features historical footage, and dramatic re-creations, of the developments of commercial and military aviation; including the e ...
'' (UK, 1936), which he also co-directed. He was credited for providing the idea for '' A Yank at Oxford'' (1938) and did uncredited work on '' Star of the Circus'' (1938). '' The Dawn Patrol'' was remade in 1938 starring
Errol Flynn Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959) was an Australian-American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles, frequent partnerships with Olivia ...
, Basil Rathbone and
David Niven James David Graham Niven (; 1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983) was a British actor, soldier, memoirist, and novelist. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Major Pollock in '' Separate Tables'' (1958). Niven's other roles ...
. Saunders went to Virginia in 1938 to research a historical novel."John M. Saunders Suicide in Florida"
(1940, Mar 12). ''New York Times''
He and his second wife separated that year, and Saunders was treated at a Virginia hospital for what was described as a nervous disorder.


Personal life

Saunders was married to Avis Hughes, daughter of novelist
Rupert Hughes Rupert Raleigh Hughes (January 31, 1872 – September 9, 1956) was an American novelist, film director, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, military officer, and music composer. He was the brother of Howard R. Hughes Sr. and uncle of billionaire Howa ...
(uncle of
Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American business magnate, record-setting pilot, engineer, film producer, and philanthropist, known during his lifetime as one of the most influential and richest people in th ...
), from 1922 to 1927. Later he married actress
Fay Wray Vina Fay Wray (September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004) was a Canadian/American actress best known for starring as Ann Darrow in the 1933 film ''King Kong''. Through an acting career that spanned nearly six decades, Wray attained international r ...
(1928–39). Friend
Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, quiet screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, ...
served as his best man. John and Fay had a daughter, Susan Cary Saunders (Riskin). In 1934, Saunders was involved in a highly publicized fist fight with actor
Herbert Marshall Herbert Brough Falcon Marshall (23 May 1890 – 22 January 1966) was an English stage, screen and radio actor who starred in many popular and well-regarded Hollywood films in the 1930s and 1940s. After a successful theatrical career in the Uni ...
, a veteran of WWI. This led to Saunders losing work opportunities and condemnation from the Hollywood social scene.


Death

Saunders suffered from alcoholism most of his adult life. Despite care by a nurse from Johns Hopkins hospital, Saunders hanged himself at a Fort Myers, Florida, beach cottage on March 11, 1940.Special Dispatch to, T. P. (1940, Mar 12)
"John Monk Saunders, writer, hangs self in Florida cottage"
''The Washington Post''


Selected writings


Stories

*"A Maker of Gestures" *"The Shock Punch" *"The Dock Walloper" *"Flight Commander" *"Death in the Morning" *"The Bird of Prey"


Novels

*''Wings'' (1927) *''Single Lady'' (1931)


Plays

*''Nikki'' (1931)


Films

*''
Too Many Kisses ''Too Many Kisses'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by Paul Sloane that is based on the John Monk Saunders story "A Maker of Gestures."
'' (1925) *''
The Shock Punch ''The Shock Punch'' is a 1925 American silent boxing drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It starred Richard Dix and Frances Howard. Plot Coming face-to-face with a couple of ruffians, champion bo ...
'' (1925) *''
Wings A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expre ...
'' (1927) *'' The Legion of the Condemned'' (1928) *''
The Docks of New York ''The Docks of New York'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring George Bancroft, Betty Compson, and Olga Baclanova. The movie was adapted by Jules Furthman from the John Monk Saunders story ''The Dock ...
'' (1928) *''
She Goes to War ''She Goes to War'' is a 1929 silent film directed by Henry King and starring Eleanor Boardman. The film was released a year after Boardman had starred in '' The Crowd''. Cast * Eleanor Boardman * John Holland * Margaret Seddon * Eulalie J ...
'' (1929) *'' The Dawn Patrol'' (1930) *''
The Finger Points ''The Finger Points'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film directed by John Francis Dillon and written by John Monk Saunders, W.R. Burnett and Robert Lord. The film stars Richard Barthelmess, Fay Wray, Regis Toomey, Robert Elliott, Clark Ga ...
'' (1931) *'' The Last Flight'' (1931) *'' The Eagle and the Hawk'' (1933) *'' Ace of Aces'' (1933) *''
Devil Dogs of the Air ''Devil Dogs of the Air'' (a.k.a. ''Flying Marines'') is a 1935 Warner Bros. film, directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring James Cagney and Pat O'Brien, playing similar roles as close friends after making their debut as a "buddy team" in '' Here C ...
'' (1935) *'' West Point of the Air'' (1935) *'' I Found Stella Parish'' (1936) *''
Conquest of the Air ''Conquest of the Air'' is a 1936 documentary film or docudrama on the history of aviation up to that time. The film features historical footage, and dramatic re-creations, of the developments of commercial and military aviation; including the e ...
'' (1936) *'' The Dawn Patrol'' (1938) *'' A Yank at Oxford'' (1938) * '' Star of the Circus'' (1938)


References


External links

* *
Filmreference.com John Monk Saunders
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saunders, John Monk 1897 births 1940 suicides 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American novelists 20th-century American screenwriters American male novelists American male screenwriters American Rhodes Scholars Best Story Academy Award winners Film directors from Minnesota Novelists from Minnesota People from Hinckley, Minnesota Suicides by hanging in Florida University of Washington alumni