John Gervase DightonCollections
"John Dighton"
''British Film Institute''. Retrieved 30 August 2020. (8 December 1909 – 16 April 1989) was a British

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

and

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. ...

. Dighton was born in London to Basil Lewis Dighton, of

West Kensington West Kensington, formerly North End, is an area in the ancient parish of Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, England, 3.4 miles (5.5 km) west of Charing Cross. It covers most of the London postal area of W14, includin ...

, an antiques dealer, author and poet, and his wife Beatrice Mary (née Franks).Who's Who in the Theatre, ed. Ian Herbert, Pitman, 1977, p. 552 He was educated at

Charterhouse School (God having given, I gave) , established = , closed = , type = Public school Independent day and boarding school , religion = Church of England , president ...

and

Caius College, Cambridge Gonville and Caius College, often referred to simply as Caius ( ), is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1348, it is the fourth-oldest of the University of Cambridge's 31 colleges and one of th ...

. His output during the 1940s included the last starring features of comedian

Will Hay William Thomson Hay (6 December 1888 – 18 April 1949) was an English comedian who wrote and acted in a schoolmaster sketch that later transferred to the screen, where he also played other authority figures with comic failings. His film '' O ...

, and several

George Formby George Formby, (born George Hoy Booth; 26 May 1904 – 6 March 1961) was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he s ...

films as well as the 1947 adaptation of

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

' ''

Nicholas Nickleby ''Nicholas Nickleby'' or ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby'' (or also ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Containing a Faithful Account of the Fortunes, Misfortunes, Uprisings, Downfallings, and Complete Career of the ...

'', and the 1943 war movie ''

Undercover To go "undercover" (that is, to go on an undercover operation) is to avoid detection by the object of one's observation, and especially to disguise one's own identity (or use an assumed identity) for the purposes of gaining the trust of an indi ...

'' starring John Clements and

Michael Wilding Michael Charles Gauntlet Wilding (23 July 1912 – 8 July 1979) was an English stage, television, and film actor. He is best known for a series of films he made with Anna Neagle; he also made two films with Alfred Hitchcock, '' Under Capric ...

. In 1947, Dighton wrote his first play for the theatre, '' The Happiest Days of Your Life'', which ran in the West End for more than 600 performances in 1948 and 1949. For

Ealing Studios Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in West London. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on the site ever s ...

, he collaborated on the screenplays of such comedies as ''

Kind Hearts and Coronets ''Kind Hearts and Coronets'' is a 1949 British crime black comedy film. It features Dennis Price, Joan Greenwood, Valerie Hobson and Alec Guinness; Guinness plays nine characters. The plot is loosely based on the novel ''Israel Rank: The Auto ...

'' (1949) and ''

The Man in the White Suit ''The Man in the White Suit'' is a 1951 British satirical science fiction comedy film made by Ealing Studios. It stars Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood and Cecil Parker and was directed by Alexander Mackendrick. The film was nominated for an A ...

'' (1952), sharing an

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 ...

nomination for the latter. He gained a second nomination for the American-financed ''

Roman Holiday ''Roman Holiday'' is a 1953 American romantic comedy film directed and produced by William Wyler. It stars Audrey Hepburn as a princess out to see Rome on her own and Gregory Peck as a reporter. Hepburn won an Academy Award for Best Actress f ...

'' (1953). Two of his stage plays, ''The Happiest Days of Your Life'' and ''

Who Goes There! ''Who Goes There!'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring Nigel Patrick, Valerie Hobson and George Cole. The film depicts the farcical activities of the various inhabitants of a grace and favour house near S ...

'' (known as ''The Passionate Sentry'' in the USA), were successfully adapted for the screen by Dighton himself, the former in collaboration with

Frank Launder Frank Launder (28 January 1906 – 23 February 1997) was a British writer, film director and producer, who made more than 40 films, many of them in collaboration with Sidney Gilliat. Early life and career He was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, ...

. He also wrote the 1955 comedy play '' Man Alive!'' that transferred to the West End the following year with

Robertson Hare John Robertson Hare, OBE (17 December 1891 – 25 January 1979) was an English actor, who came to fame in the Aldwych farces. He is remembered by more recent audiences for his performances as the Archdeacon in the popular BBC sitcom, ''All Gas ...

in the lead. He adapted the play ''

Summer of the Seventeenth Doll ''Summer of the Seventeenth Doll'' is an Australian play written by Ray Lawler and first performed at the Union Theatre in Melbourne on 28 November 1955. The play is considered to be the most significant in Australian theatre history, and a " ...

''. His final screen credit was his adaptation of Shaw's '' The Devil's Disciple'', written in collaboration with

Roland Kibbee Roland Kibbee (15 February 1914 in Monongahela, Pennsylvania – 5 August 1984 in Encino, California) was an award-winning American screenwriter and producer. He was a frequent collaborator and friend of actor-producer Burt Lancaster. Career ...

. Dighton married Kathleen Marie Philipps in 1934.

Partial filmography as screenwriter

* '' Hail and Farewell'' (1936) * '' The Vulture'' (1937) * ''

Ship's Concert ''Ship's Concert'' is a 1937 British musical film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Claude Hulbert, Joyce Kirby and Henry Kendall. It was made as a quota quickie at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Wood p ...

'' (1937) * ''

Thank Evans ''Thank Evans'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Max Miller. The film is sequel to '' Educated Evans'' (1936), with Miller, Hal Walters and Albert Whelan all returning to reprise their roles as the haples ...

'' (1938) * ''

It's in the Blood ''It's in the Blood'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Gene Gerrard and starring Claude Hulbert, Lesley Brook and Max Leeds. It was made at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Wood p.95 Cast * Claude Hulbert ...

'' (1938) * '' The Viper'' (1938) * ''

Many Tanks Mr. Atkins ''Many Tanks Mr. Atkins'' is a 1938 British comedy film, comedy war film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Claude Hulbert, Reginald Purdell and Barbara Greene. It was made as a quota quickie by Warner Brothers at the company's Teddingt ...

'' (1938) * '' Everything Happens to Me'' (1938) * '' The Good Old Days'' (lost, 1939) * ''

Sailors Three ''Sailors Three'' (released in the US as ''Three Cockeyed Sailors'') is a 1940 British war comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Tommy Trinder, Claude Hulbert and Carla Lehmann. This was cockney music hall comedian Trinder's debut ...

'' (1940) * ''

Let George Do It! ''Let George Do It!'' (US: ''To Hell With Hitler'') is a 1940 British black-and-white comedy musical war film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring George Formby. It was produced by Michael Balcon for Associated Talking Pictures and its success ...

'' (1940) * ''

Saloon Bar Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar * Chocolate bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud * Bar (un ...

'' (1940) * '' Hoots Mon!'' (1940) * ''

That's the Ticket ''That's the Ticket'' is a 1940 British comedy film directed by Redd Davis and starring Sid Field, Hal Walters and Betty Lynne.Murphy p.166 It was shot at Teddington Studios. The sets were designed by the art director Norman G. Arnold. Synopsi ...

'' (1940) * ''

The Ghost of St. Michael's ''The Ghost of St. Michael's'' is a 1941 British comedy- thriller film, produced by Ealing Studios. Will Hay, the film's star, replaced his sidekicks, Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott, from his previous film '' Where's That Fire?'' with comed ...

'' (1941) * ''

Turned Out Nice Again ''Turned Out Nice Again'' is a 1941 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring the Lancashire-born comedian George Formby. Made at Ealing Studios, ''Turned Out Nice Again'' premiered at the London Pavilion Cinema on 29 June 194 ...

'' (1941) * ''

The Black Sheep of Whitehall ''The Black Sheep of Whitehall'' (the opening credits read ''Black Sheep of Whitehall'') is a 1942 British black-and-white comedy war film, directed by Will Hay and Basil Dearden, starring Will Hay, John Mills, Basil Sydney and Thora Hird in h ...

'' (1942) * ''

Went the Day Well? ''Went the Day Well?'' is a 1942 British war film adapted from a story by Graham Greene and directed by Alberto Cavalcanti. It was produced by Michael Balcon of Ealing Studios and served as unofficial propaganda for the war effort. The film shows ...

'' (1942) * ''

The Goose Steps Out ''The Goose Steps Out'' is a British film released in 1942, starring Will Hay, who also co-directed with Basil Dearden. It is a comedy of mistaken identity, with Hay acting as a German spy and also an Englishman who is his double. It was the fil ...

'' (1942) * ''

The Foreman Went to France ''The Foreman Went to France'' (released in the USA as ''Somewhere in France'' ) is a 1942 British Second World War war film starring Clifford Evans, Tommy Trinder, Constance Cummings and Gordon Jackson. It was based on the real-life wartime ex ...

'' (1942) * ''

The Next of Kin ''The Next of Kin'', also known as ''Next of Kin'', is a 1942 Second World War propaganda film produced by Ealing Studios. The film was originally commissioned by the British War Office as a training film to promote the government message tha ...

'' (1942) * ''

'' (1943) * ''

My Learned Friend ''My Learned Friend'' is a 1943 British, black-and-white, comedy, farce, directed by Basil Dearden with his regular collaborator, Will Hay, as the film's star in the role of William Fitch. The principal supporting roles were taken by Claude Hul ...

'' (1943) * '' Champagne Charlie'' (1944) * ''

'' (1947) * ''

Saraband for Dead Lovers ''Saraband for Dead Lovers'' (released in the United States as ''Saraband'') is a 1948 British historical drama film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Stewart Granger and Joan Greenwood. It is based on the 1935 novel by Helen Simpson. Set i ...

'' (1948) * ''

'' (1949) * '' The Happiest Days of Your Life'' (based on his play, 1950) * ''

'' (1951) * ''

'' (based on his play ''The Passionate Sentry'', 1952) * ''

Brandy for the Parson ''Brandy for the Parson'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by John Eldridge and starring Kenneth More, Charles Hawtrey, James Donald and Jean Lodge. It was based on a short story by Geoffrey Household from ''Tales of Adventurers'' (1952). ...

'' (1952) * ''

Folly to Be Wise ''Folly to Be Wise'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Frank Launder and starring Alastair Sim, Elizabeth Allan, Roland Culver, Colin Gordon, Martita Hunt and Edward Chapman. It is based on the play ''It Depends What You Mean'' by Jame ...

'' (1953) * ''

The Story of William Tell ''The Story of William Tell'' is an unfinished film about William Tell. It starred and was produced by Errol Flynn. It commenced filming in Italy in 1953 and was meant to be the directorial debut of Jack Cardiff. It was filmed in CinemaScope. ...

'' (unfinished, 1953) * ''

The Swan A swan is a bird of the genus ''Cygnus'' (true swans) or ''Coscoroba'' (coscoroba swans). Swan, swans, or The Swan may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Film and television * ''The Swan'' (1925 film), a 1925 silent film * ''The Swa ...

'' (1956) * ''

The Barretts of Wimpole Street ''The Barretts of Wimpole Street'' is a 1930 play by the Dutch/English dramatist Rudolf Besier, based on the romance between Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett, and her father's unwillingness to allow them to marry. The play gave actress Ka ...

'' (1957) * ''

'' (1959) * '' The Devil's Disciple'' (1959)

Selected plays

* ''

'' (1950) * '' Man Alive!'' (1955)

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dighton, John 1909 births 1989 deaths English male screenwriters Writers from London People educated at Charterhouse School Alumni of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge 20th-century English dramatists and playwrights English male dramatists and playwrights 20th-century English male writers 20th-century English screenwriters