Jump to content

Ben Markson

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ben Markson
Born
Benjamin Allen Markson

(1897-08-06)August 6, 1897
Creston, Iowa, United States
DiedOctober 20, 1971(1971-10-20) (aged 74)
Los Angeles County, California, United States
OccupationScreenwriter
Years active1928–1959
Spouses
Janet Pavelik(e) (aka Dawn)
​
​
(m. 1931)​
[1]
Miriam Edwards (née Harkins)
​
​
(m. 1944)​
[2]

Benjamin Allen Markson (August 6, 1897 – October 20, 1971) was an American screenwriter active from the very beginning of the sound film era through the end of the 1950s. During his 30-year career he was responsible for the story and/or screenplay of 45 films, as well as writing the scripts for several episodic television shows in the 1950s.

Life and career

[edit]

Benjamin Allen Markson was born on August 6, 1897, in Creston, Iowa.[3] His parents were Abraham Markson (born Lithuania) and Goldie Baior (born Poland).[2] Prior to writing screenplays, Markson worked as a journalist,[4] and then was part of the publicity department for Paramount Pictures.[5] He would break into the film industry as the co-screenwriter on the 1928 film The River Pirate, a silent film with sound sequences starring Victor McLaglen.[6]

In the pre-code era of the early 1930s, Markson was known for his racy scripts.[7] Some of his early successes include: The Half-Naked Truth, a 1932 comedy directed by Gregory La Cava and starring Lupe Vélez and Lee Tracy;[8] Is My Face Red? (1932), which Markson and co-screenwriter Casey Robinson based on Markson's play which he co-wrote with Allen Rivkin;[9] co-wrote the screenplay (with Jane Murfin) for What Price Hollywood?, also in 1932, directed by George Cukor, and starring Constance Bennett and Lowell Sherman;[10] Lady Killer (1933), starring James Cagney;[11] and 1934's Here Comes the Navy, a romantic comedy again starring Cagney.[12] Other notable films on which Markson contributed to the script included: 1937's screwball comedy, Danger – Love at Work, directed by Otto Preminger, for which he co-wrote the screenplay;[13] the 1938 classic Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, starring Shirley Temple;[14] and Mr. District Attorney (1947), starring Dennis O'Keefe and Adolphe Menjou.[15] Markson served on the board of directors of the Screen Writers Guild in the latter half of the 1930s.[7]

Later in his career, Markson worked on the scripts for several film series, including A Close Call for Boston Blackie (the Boston Blackie series),[16] and The Falcon in San Francisco in 1945 (The Falcon series).[17] In the 1950s, Markson wrote the teleplays for several episodic television shows, including The Cisco Kid and Racket Squad.[18] Markson's last contribution to film was the story for the 1959 crime drama, Edge of Eternity, starring Cornel Wilde and Victoria Shaw.[19]

Markson was the brother-in-law of actor George Montgomery.[20] Markson died on October 20, 1971, in Los Angeles County, California.[21]

Filmography

[edit]

(Per AFI database)[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Affidavit for marriage license by Ben Markson and Janet Pavelike". Ancestry.com. Yuma County, Arizona. December 19, 1931. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "California, County Marriages, 1850-1953", database with images, FamilySearch, Ben Allen Markson and Miriam H Edwards, 06 Aug 1944; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,135,749. Retrieved March 9, 2021. (subscription required)
  3. ^ "Iowa, Delayed Birth Records, 1850-1939", FamilySearch, Entry for Benjamin Markson and Abraham Markson, 6 August 1897. Retrieved March 7, 2024. (subscription required)
  4. ^ "At the Theaters: Strand, 'Is My Face Red?'". The Ruston Daily Leader. December 19, 1932. p. 4. Retrieved February 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Written at Hollywood. "Hollywood's Publicity Men Cutting Swath in Filmdom". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois (published October 23, 1927). AP. October 22, 1927. p. 12. Retrieved February 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ "The River Pirate: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Erickson, Hal. "Ben Markson". AllMovie. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  8. ^ "The Half Naked Truth: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  9. ^ "Is My Face Red?: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  10. ^ "What Price Hollywood?: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  11. ^ "Lady Killer: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  12. ^ "Here Comes the Navy: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  13. ^ "Danger--Love at Work: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  14. ^ "Danger--Love at Work: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  15. ^ "Mr. District Attorney: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  16. ^ "A Close Call for Boston Blackie: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  17. ^ "The Falcon in San Francisco: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  18. ^ "Ben Markson". Internet Movie Database. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  19. ^ "Edge of Eternity: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  20. ^ "George Montgomery Planning to Form Own Company". The Independent Record. Helena, Montana. May 18, 1950. p. 12. Retrieved February 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  21. ^ "California Death Index, 1940-1997", database, FamilySearch, Benjamin A Markson, 20 Oct 1971; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento. Retrieved November 26, 2014. (subscription required)
  22. ^ "Ben Markson". American Film Institute. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ben_Markson&oldid=1275592954"