John Marshall Cunningham (July 28, 1915 – June 4, 2002) was an American author who wrote a number of Western novels and stories as "John W. Cunningham" or "John M. Cunningham." He was born July 28, 1915, at Deer Lodge, Montana, the son of John and Sue Cunningham. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, he served in the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

in the South Pacific. While living in Santa Barbara, California, he became a published novelist. He moved to Ashland, Oregon in 1985, where he lived until his death. His most famous work was "The Tin Star", a short story which appeared in ''

Collier's Magazine ''Collier's'' was an American general interest magazine founded in 1888 by Peter Fenelon Collier. It was launched as ''Collier's Once a Week'', then renamed in 1895 as ''Collier's Weekly: An Illustrated Journal'', shortened in 1905 to ''Colli ...

'' in 1947. It was adapted into the film '' High Noon'' in 1952, which starred

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, ...

(

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 ...

, Best Actor) and

Grace Kelly Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982) was an American actress who, after starring in several significant films in the early to mid-1950s, became Princess of Monaco by marrying Prince Rainier III in April 1956. Kelly ...

. The adapted screenplay by

Carl Foreman Carl Foreman, CBE (July 23, 1914 – June 26, 1984) was an American screenwriter and film producer who wrote the award-winning films ''The Bridge on the River Kwai'' and ''High Noon'', among others. He was one of the screenwriters who were black ...

was nominated for an

. His sister Julia Cunningham was an author of children's literature.

Works

Novels

*''

Warhorse The first evidence of horses in warfare dates from Eurasia between 4000 and 3000 BC. A Sumerian illustration of warfare from 2500 BC depicts some type of equine pulling wagons. By 1600 BC, improved harness and chariot designs ...

'' (1956) *"Starfall" (1960) *''

Rainbow Runner The rainbow runner (''Elagatis bipinnulata''), also known as the rainbow yellowtail, Spanish jack and Hawaiian salmon, is a common species of pelagic marine fish of the jack family, Carangidae. The species is widespread throughout the tropical an ...

'' (1992)

Short stories

*"The Tin Star" (1947) (available on the internet at http://erginguney.com/web/coursematerial/The_Tin_star.pdf) *" Yankee Gold" (1953) *" Day of the Bad Man" (1958)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, John W. 1915 births 2002 deaths 20th-century American novelists American male novelists Western (genre) writers American male short story writers 20th-century American short story writers 20th-century American male writers