Beirne Lay junior

Beirne Lay, Jr.

Beirne Lay junior (born September 1, 1909 in Berkeley Springs , West Virginia , † May 26, 1982 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American book and screenwriter.

Life

After graduating from Yale University , Lay joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1932 . In 1936, based on his experiences, he wrote the book I Wanted Wings， which was filmed in 1941 under the direction of Mitchell Leisen .

Lay also served during World War II . During this time he rose to the command of a bomber unit and was involved in the formation of the Eighth Air Force in England . Even during the war, he wrote newspaper articles about his experiences. After the war, he published the book I've Had It in 1945 .

Sy Bartlett , who also served in the Air Force, persuaded Lay to write Twelve O'Clock High about her life during the war . It was published in 1948 and on its basis the film Der Kommandeur was made the following year , on which both worked as screenwriters. As a result, Lay was involved as a screenwriter in other productions, all of which have a reference to the Air Force or the military. He also wrote other books.

For his work on The Final Decision , Lay was nominated for an Oscar in the category Best Original Story in 1954 . Two years later, In Secret Command Matter, his second Oscar nomination followed.

Lay was married and had two children.

Filmography (selection)

• 1941: I Wanted Wings
• 1949: The Commander (Twelve O'Clock High)
• 1953: The Final Decision (Above and Beyond)
• 1955: In a secret matter of command (Strategic Air Command)
• 1955: 24 Hour Alert (short film)
• 1956: Once upon a time the hour comes (Toward the Unknown)
• 1960: The Admiral (The Gallant Hours)
• 1963: Hail of Steel (The Young and the Brave)

Web links

• Beirne Lay Jr. in the Internet Movie Database (English)