Biography

February 11, 1916 · New York City, New York, USA

October 14, 1993 · Sherman Oaks, California, USA (undisclosed)

Began as a writer for radio before entering films in the early 1950's.

Began his professional writing career in radio.

After successfully working with Walter Newman on an eleventh hour rewrite of "Underwater," Sturges recruited the screenwriter for "The Magnificent Seven." Newman objected to how Sturges filmed several of his scenes and became furious when Sturges gave some of Yul Bryner's carefully crafted, character-driven lines to Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson. Livid about it, Newman asked that his name be removed from the credits. However, just a few years later Newman and Sturges reteamed for "The Great Escape." Newman felt Sturges was "dilatory" with his preparation of the script and felt the studio unjustly blamed him, not Sturges, for its delay. Again, another argument with Sturges resulted in Newman's name being taken off the script. A final proposed attempt at a collaboration based on unfilmed portions of James A. Michener's "Tales of the South Pacific" was never done.

The screenplay he liked best of his own work was one which was never filmed, an original entitled "Harrow Alley", a very black comedy-drama with a period setting which alarmed studios by not fitting into usual generic requirements. It was optioned many times by studios, and both Dirk Bogarde and George C. Scott expressed strong interest in playing the leading role; but it remains unmade.

[In a 1972 interview] Until recently, screenwriters were under contract to the studios. Now we free lance. I've always preferred to free-lance even though the money does not come in regularly and you can't count on it. I like the sound of the word, and I feel like I belong to myself. it gives me the right to say, ' I don't like this, so I won't do it.'

So, when I was discharged after about four years in the army. a friend of mine who was living out here in Hollywood wrote to me and said, 'If you and your wife haven't decided as to the future course of your lives, why not come out here and live with us while you recover and make a decision?' We gladly accepted and moved to Hollywood. I began to write, and after a year or so, I was in.