Richard J. Collins

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Richard J. Collins (born July 20, 1914 in New York City , † February 14, 2013 in Ventura , California ) was an American screenwriter and television producer.

Life

Collins grew up as the son of fashion designer Harry Collins in Paris and New York. After graduating from school in 1932, he studied for a semester at Stanford University , but had to drop out of the course due to the Great Depression . He went back to New York, devoted himself to studying theater, and became a member of the Young Communist League. He eventually moved to Los Angeles in 1935 , where he became a screenwriter at the end of the decade.

Collins made his screenwriting debut in 1939 with the film Rulers of the Seas . Further cinema productions followed, but from 1947 he was blacklisted due to his membership in the Communist Party and could no longer be active in the film business. He himself was summoned twice before the Committee on Un-American Activities , the first time in 1947. At his second hearing in 1951, he revealed the names of several sympathizers, including that of Paul Jarrico , with whom he had previously worked on a few films. Because of this, he was allowed to officially work as a screenwriter again.

In 1980 Collins distanced himself in an interview with Victor Navasky about his book Naming Names about his own statement.

The script for the film Secret Service in the Jungle (1953) marked his return to the film business. The production was also his first cooperation with the director Don Siegel , who was followed by a few more films by the end of the 1950s. In 1956 he was also involved in the development of the screenplay for Die Demonische zu, but was not named in the credits. From the beginning of the 1960s, Collins was without exception active as a screenwriter for television.

From 1963 Collins was also active as a producer and worked on several television series. In the period from 1968 to 1973 he was involved in more than 100 episodes of Bonanza , his last production was Matlock in the years 1987 to 1992. He then wrote two scripts for Diagnosis: Murder and then retired.

From 1939 to 1945 he was married to the actress Dorothy Comingore . They had two children together. A second marriage followed in 1949, which lasted until the woman's death in 1991.

Filmography (selection)

as a screenwriter
  • 1939: Lord of the seas (Rulers of the Sea)
  • 1953: Secret Service in the Jungle (China Venture)
  • 1954: Terror in Block 11 (Riot in Cell Block 11)
  • 1954: The Adventures of Hajji Baba
  • 1954: Bob Mathias Story (The Bob Mathias Story)
  • 1955: El Tigre (Kiss of Fire)
  • 1957: My Gun is Quick
  • 1957: Flamenca - An American in Spain (Spanish Affair)
  • 1958: Stolen Gold (The Badlanders)
  • 1959: The Man from Arizona (Edge of Eternity)
  • 1959: Pay or Die
as a producer

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Collins, Richard J.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American screenwriter and television producer
DATE OF BIRTH July 20, 1914
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City , USA
DATE OF DEATH February 14, 2013
Place of death Ventura , California , USA