Sidney Buchman

Sidney Robert Buchman (born March 27, 1902 in Duluth , Minnesota , USA , † August 23, 1975 in Cannes , Alpes-Maritimes , France ) was an American screenwriter and film producer .

biography

Born and raised in Duluth, Buchman attended the University of Minnesota and Columbia University before moving to London to work as assistant stage manager at the Old Vic .

On his return to the United States, Buchman wrote a few, barely successful plays before moving to Hollywood in 1930, only to be hired as a scriptwriter for Paramount Pictures that same year . In 1934 Buchman moved to Columbia Pictures , where he became one of the studio boss's most popular writers, Harry Cohn . Buchman also produced a few films during this time until he was promoted to Vice President and later Vice President of Production of Columbia in 1942. Buchman also assumed the presidency of the Screen Writers Guild between 1941 and 1942 .

However, his career ended abruptly in the McCarthy era when he admitted to the HUAC committee in September 1951 that he had been a member of the United States Communist Party from 1938 to 1945 , but then refused to obey a subpoena in January 1952. Buchman was found guilty of disregard for Congress on March 13, 1953. He was blacklisted and lost his contract with Columbia. Buchman was only able to work again for 20th Century Fox in Europe in the early 1960s , including Cleopatra in 1963 .

In Europe, he last settled in Cannes , France , where he died in 1975 at the age of 73.

He is the grandfather of screenwriter Amanda Silver and actor Michael Buchman Silver .

Filmography (selection)

• 1932: Under the Sign of the Cross ( The Sign of the Cross )
• 1935: She marries the boss ( She Married her Boss )
• 1935: Love Me Forever
• 1936: Theodora Goes Wild
• 1938: The Bride's Sister ( Holiday )
• 1939: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington ( Mr. Smith Goes to Washington )
• 1940: Vacation From Heaven ( Here Comes Mr. Jordan )
• 1940: The Howards of Virginia
• 1942: Witness for the Prosecution ( Talk of the Town )
• 1945: Polonaise ( A Song to Remember )
• 1945: Over 21
• 1951: A Hero for Two Hours ( Saturday's Hero )
• 1961: Branded (The Mark)
• 1963: Cleopatra
• 1965: The Clique ( The Group )
• 1971: The house under the trees ( La Maison sous les arbres )

Awards

Buchman was nominated for an Oscar four times .

• 1940: Best Adapted Screenplay : Mr. Smith Goes to Washington ( Mr. Smith Goes To Washington )
• 1942: Best Adapted Screenplay: Vacation From Heaven ( Here Comes Mr. Jordan )
• 1943: Best Adapted Screenplay: The Talk of the Town
• 1950: Best Original Screenplay : Jolson Sings Again

Together with screenwriter Seton I. Miller , Buchman won the gold statue: For Vacation From Heaven ( Here Comes Mr. Jordan )

Sidney Buchman was also nominated for three WGA Awards .

Web links

• Sidney Buchman in the Internet Movie Database (English)