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Thompson adapted the operettas ''Married in Hollywood'' (1928) and ''Ein Waltzertraum'' (1907) and wrote the dialog for the film ''[[Married in Hollywood]]'' (Fox, 21 September 1929) directed by Marcel Silver.{{sfn|Bradley|2004|p=172}}
Thompson adapted the operettas ''Married in Hollywood'' (1928) and ''Ein Waltzertraum'' (1907) and wrote the dialog for the film ''[[Married in Hollywood]]'' (Fox, 21 September 1929) directed by Marcel Silver.{{sfn|Bradley|2004|p=172}}
The stars were [[J. Harold Murray]] and [[Norma Terris]]. ''[[The New York Times]]'' said the film was "adroitly interspersed with joviality and extremely clever photographic embellishments". However, it was a box office failure. Only twelve minutes from the last reel have survived.{{sfn|Bradley|2004|p=173}}
The stars were [[J. Harold Murray]] and [[Norma Terris]]. ''[[The New York Times]]'' said the film was "adroitly interspersed with joviality and extremely clever photographic embellishments". However, it was a box office failure. Only twelve minutes from the last reel have survived.{{sfn|Bradley|2004|p=173}}
In 1929 the German director [[F. W. Murnau]] began filming ''Our Daily Bread'' for Fox, one of studio's the last silent movies. He aimed for great realism in depicting the transition from the fields where wheat was harvested to the dark rooms in Chicago where the bread was consumed.{{sfn|Eisner|1973|p=197}}
Filming started late, and on 2 August Murnau came down with appendicitis. With a deadline set by the harvest season, filming on location in Oregon began without him.
The rushes looked unpromising, and Thompson was sent to Oregon early in September to try to add some comedy to the scenario.{{sfn|Langer|1985|p=48}}
Eventually a mutilated version of the film was released as ''[[City Girl]]'' (Fox, 16 February 1930).{{sfn|Eisner|1973|p=200}}

Thompson wrote the scenario and dialog for the romantic drama ''[[Women Everywhere]]'' (Fox, 1 June 1930) starring [[J. Harold Murray]] and directed by [[Alexander Korda]]. According the ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' it was "one of those gems occasionally found in the herd of program pictures". The film was quickly forgotten.{{sfn|Bradley|2004|p=189}}
Thompson wrote the scenario and dialog for the romantic drama ''[[Women Everywhere]]'' (Fox, 1 June 1930) starring [[J. Harold Murray]] and directed by [[Alexander Korda]]. According the ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' it was "one of those gems occasionally found in the herd of program pictures". The film was quickly forgotten.{{sfn|Bradley|2004|p=189}}
Thompson wrote the dialog for the musical ''[[Are You There?]]'' (Fox, 30 November 1930) directed by [[Hamilton MacFadden]] and starring [[Beatrice Lillie]].{{sfn|Bradley|2004|p=147}}
Thompson wrote the dialog for the musical ''[[Are You There?]]'' (Fox, 30 November 1930) directed by [[Hamilton MacFadden]] and starring [[Beatrice Lillie]].{{sfn|Bradley|2004|p=147}}
The film received mixed reviews. ''Variety'' panned it, but ''Exhibitors Herald-World'' described Lillie as "smart-looking, clever and mirth-provoking... Her personality and grace are registered superbly upon the screen."{{sfn|Bradley|2004|p=149}}
The film received mixed reviews. ''Variety'' panned it, but ''Exhibitors Herald-World'' described Lillie as "smart-looking, clever and mirth-provoking... Her personality and grace are registered superbly upon the screen."{{sfn|Bradley|2004|p=149}}

Thompson collaborated with Walter de Leon on the screenplay for the musical ''The Phantom President'' (Paramount, 25 September 1932) directed by [[Norman Taurog]].{{sfn|Bradley|2004|p=312}}
Thompson collaborated with Walter de Leon on the screenplay for the musical ''The Phantom President'' (Paramount, 25 September 1932) directed by [[Norman Taurog]].{{sfn|Bradley|2004|p=312}}
In 1933 [[David O. Selznick]], a producer at [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]], was negotiating with [[Walt Disney]] for co-production of a cartoon version of [[Baron Münchhausen]] starring [[Mickey Mouse]].{{sfn|Kaufman|1993|p=163}}
Thompson and [[Victor Heerman]] prepared a script for the film, to be called ''Vas You Dere, Sharlie'', but the project was abandoned.{{sfn|Kaufman|1993|p=164}}

During [[World War II]] (1939-1945), after the United States entered the combat, in 1942 Thompson was made a major and given the direction of the Training Film Division of the [[Signal Corps (United States Army)|US Army Signal Corps]]. The unit turned out instructional films for the huge numbers of newly-recruited officers and enlisted men in the expanded army. They covered subjects like ''Conservstion of Clothing and Equipment'', ''The Internal Combustion Engine'' and ''Trench Feet''.{{sfn|Koszarski|2002|p=303-304}}


Harlan Thompson died at New York University Hospital in New York on 29 October 1966. He was aged 76.{{sfn|Harlan Thompson of Broadway, 76, NYT|p=88}}
Harlan Thompson died at New York University Hospital in New York on 29 October 1966. He was aged 76.{{sfn|Harlan Thompson of Broadway, 76, NYT|p=88}}
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|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Rg-UBJaPD-sC&pg=PA172|accessdate=2014-05-29
|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Rg-UBJaPD-sC&pg=PA172|accessdate=2014-05-29
|date=2004-01-01|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-2029-2}}
|date=2004-01-01|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-2029-2}}
*{{cite book|ref=harv
|last=Eisner|first=Lotte H.|title=F. W. Murnau|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=lOgRKn07oMIC&pg=PA197|accessdate=2014-05-29
|date=1973-01-01|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-02425-0}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Harlan Thompson, IBDB}}|url=http://ibdb.com/person.php?id=13674
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Harlan Thompson, IBDB}}|url=http://ibdb.com/person.php?id=13674
|title=Harlan Thompson|work=IBDB|accessdate=2014-05-29}}
|title=Harlan Thompson|work=IBDB|accessdate=2014-05-29}}
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|title=International Motion Picture Almanac|url=http://www.mocavo.ca/International-Motion-Picture-Almanac-1937-38-Volume-1937-38/705462/808#808|accessdate=2014-05-29
|title=International Motion Picture Almanac|url=http://www.mocavo.ca/International-Motion-Picture-Almanac-1937-38-Volume-1937-38/705462/808#808|accessdate=2014-05-29
|year=1937-38|publisher=Quigley Publishing Company}}
|year=1937-38|publisher=Quigley Publishing Company}}
*{{cite journal|ref=harv|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/10.2307/27670718.pdf
|last=Kaufman|first=J.B.|title=Before Snow White |journal=Film History|volume=5|issue=2 Animation |date=June 1993|year=1993|accessdate=2014-05-29}}
*{{cite journal|ref=harv|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/3815434 .
|last=Koszarski|first=Richard|title=Subway Commandos: Hollywood Filmmakers at the Signal Corps Photographic Center|journal=Film History
|volume=14 |issue=3/4, War and Militarism |year=2002|publisher=Indiana University Press|accessdate=2014-05-29}} .
*{{cite journal|ref=harv|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/1225430 .
|last=Langer|first=Mark J.|title=Tabu: The Making of a Film|journal=Cinema Journal|volume=24|issue=3|date=Spring 1985|year=1985
|publisher=University of Texas Press on behalf of the Society for Cinema & Media Studies|accessdate=2014-05-29}}
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Little Jessie James, IBDB}}|url=http://ibdb.com/production.php?id=8357
*{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Little Jessie James, IBDB}}|url=http://ibdb.com/production.php?id=8357
|title=Little Jessie James |work=IBDB|accessdate=2014-05-28}}
|title=Little Jessie James |work=IBDB|accessdate=2014-05-28}}

Revision as of 18:32, 29 May 2014

Harlan Thompson
Born
Harlan Thompson

(1890-09-24)24 September 1890
Hannibal, Missouri
Died29 October 1966(1966-10-29) (aged 76)
New York City, New York
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
Known for

Harlan Thompson (24 September 1890 – 29 October 1966) was an American theatre director, screenwriter, lyricist, film director, and film and television producer. He wrote the Broadway hit Little Jessie James (1923-24), and several other Broadway musicals. He moved to Hollywood, where he was in turn a writer, director and producer.

Career

Harlan Thompson was born in Hannibal, Missouri, on 24 September 1890. He went to high school in Kansas City, Missouri, and then attended the University of Kansas.[1] He studied chemical engineering.[2] Thompson became a reporter and editor for The Kansas City Star and Kansas City Post. During World War I (1914-18) he was in the 167th Aero Squadron of the American Expeditionary Forces. After the war he worked for the New York World.[1]

Broadway

In 1923 Harlan Thompson wrote the book and lyrics for the musical comedy Little Jessie James, with music by Harry Archer. It was staged by Walter Brooks and produced by L. Lawrence Weber.[3] The musical played at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway from 15 August 1923 to 27 January 1924, then moved to the Little Theatre where it played until 19 July 1924. The show played for a total of 385 performances on Broadway.[4] Nan Halperin played Jessie Jamieson, in pursuit of Jay Velie as Paul Revere. Supporting roles were played by Miriam Hopkins and Allen Kearns.[5] The show was low-cost, with a single set and only eight chorus girls.[5] Halperin and Jay Velie introduced the song I Love You by Thompson andArcher.[6] Little Jessie James was the biggest hit of the season and I Love You was the biggest hit of all the songs from that season's musicals.[5]

After their success with Little Jessie James, Thompson and Archer put on the musical farce My Girl at the Vanderbilt Theatre, opening on 24 November 1924 and starring Jane Taylor and Russell Mack. The show included catchy numbers like You And I, and ran for six months.[7] Thompson and Archer collaborated again on Merry, Merry, which opened on 24 September 1925 at the Vanderbilt.[8] The musical starred Marie Saxon and Harry Puck. Although not exceptional, it ran for five months.[9] In 1926 Thompson and Harry Archer launched the musical comedy Twinkle Twinkle, which opened at the Liberty Theatre on 16 November 1926. Thompson wrote the libretto while Archer wrote the score, with help from Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. The stars were Ona Munson and Alan Edwards, while Joe E. Brown played a comic detective. Twinkle Twinkle ran for twenty one weeks.[10]

Hollywood

Thompson adapted the operettas Married in Hollywood (1928) and Ein Waltzertraum (1907) and wrote the dialog for the film Married in Hollywood (Fox, 21 September 1929) directed by Marcel Silver.[11] The stars were J. Harold Murray and Norma Terris. The New York Times said the film was "adroitly interspersed with joviality and extremely clever photographic embellishments". However, it was a box office failure. Only twelve minutes from the last reel have survived.[12] In 1929 the German director F. W. Murnau began filming Our Daily Bread for Fox, one of studio's the last silent movies. He aimed for great realism in depicting the transition from the fields where wheat was harvested to the dark rooms in Chicago where the bread was consumed.[13] Filming started late, and on 2 August Murnau came down with appendicitis. With a deadline set by the harvest season, filming on location in Oregon began without him. The rushes looked unpromising, and Thompson was sent to Oregon early in September to try to add some comedy to the scenario.[14] Eventually a mutilated version of the film was released as City Girl (Fox, 16 February 1930).[15]

Thompson wrote the scenario and dialog for the romantic drama Women Everywhere (Fox, 1 June 1930) starring J. Harold Murray and directed by Alexander Korda. According the Variety it was "one of those gems occasionally found in the herd of program pictures". The film was quickly forgotten.[16] Thompson wrote the dialog for the musical Are You There? (Fox, 30 November 1930) directed by Hamilton MacFadden and starring Beatrice Lillie.[17] The film received mixed reviews. Variety panned it, but Exhibitors Herald-World described Lillie as "smart-looking, clever and mirth-provoking... Her personality and grace are registered superbly upon the screen."[18]

Thompson collaborated with Walter de Leon on the screenplay for the musical The Phantom President (Paramount, 25 September 1932) directed by Norman Taurog.[19] In 1933 David O. Selznick, a producer at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer], was negotiating with Walt Disney for co-production of a cartoon version of Baron Münchhausen starring Mickey Mouse.[20] Thompson and Victor Heerman prepared a script for the film, to be called Vas You Dere, Sharlie, but the project was abandoned.[21]

During World War II (1939-1945), after the United States entered the combat, in 1942 Thompson was made a major and given the direction of the Training Film Division of the US Army Signal Corps. The unit turned out instructional films for the huge numbers of newly-recruited officers and enlisted men in the expanded army. They covered subjects like Conservstion of Clothing and Equipment, The Internal Combustion Engine and Trench Feet.[22]

Harlan Thompson died at New York University Hospital in New York on 29 October 1966. He was aged 76.[23]

Work

Broadway

From 1923 through 1932 Thompson was active on Broadway in the following productions:[24]

music by Harry Archer, directed by Walter Brooks, (291 performances November 1924 – August 1925)
  • Merry, Merry (1925)
  • Twinkle, Twinkle (1926)
music by Harry Archer, directed by Frank Craven, (167 performances, November 1925 – April 1927)
Cast: Elise Bonwit, Joe E. Brown, Frank Bryan, Perqueta Courtney, Diana Day, Alan Edwards, Anita Firman, John Gray, Patty Hastings, Phyllis Hooper, Wanda Jarzy, Buddy Jenkins, Dorothy Jordan, Douglas Keaton, Ann Kelly, Therese Kelly, Myrtle Le Roy, Joseph Lertora, Flo Lewis, Allyn Loring, Alice MacDonald, Dorothy Martin, William J. McCarthy, Ned McGarn, Helen Mirtel, Ona Munson, Henry Nelthropp, Frances Nevins, Marion Nevins, Ana Nito, John O'Neil, John Sheehan, Betty Sheldon, Nerene Swinton, Frances Upton, Hazel Vee, Betty Veronica, Diana White, and Wanda Wood. Produced by Louis F. Werba
written by Manuel Seff and Forrest Wilson, directed by Harlan Thompson, (115 performances February 1932 – May 1932)
Cast: Jean Adair, Robert Allen, Matt Briiggs, Charles D. Brown, Ollie Burgoyne, Kenneth Dana, Herbert Duffy, George Greenberg, Allen Jenkins, Isabel Jewell, Herman Jones, Walter Kinsella, David Leonard, Ralph Locke, Eddie Lynch, Herman J. Mankiewicz, John Morrissey, Lee Patrick, Dorothea Petgen, Roger Pryor, John Robb, Lynn Root, Frank Rowan, Henry Shelvey, Thelma Tipson, Mildred Wall, Milton Wallace, Produced by Sidney Phillips and Harlan Thompson.

Film writer

Thompson was credited as writer on the following films:[25]

Lyricist

Thompson was credited as lyricist on the following films:[25]

  • Words and Music (1929) "The Hunting Song", "Take a Little Tip", "Too Wonderful for Words"
  • Married in Hollywood (1929) "Dance Away the Night", "Peasant Love Song", "A Man, A Maid", "Deep In Love", "Bridal Chorus", "National Anthem"
  • Melody in Spring (1934) "Ending With A Kiss", "Melody in Spring", "It's Psychological", "The Open Road"
  • Ship Cafe (1935) "Fatal Fascination", "I Won't Take No for an Answer", "It's a Great Life"
  • Stalag 17 (1953) "I Love You" (Je t'aime)

Film director

Thompson directed the following films:[25]

Film producer

Thompson was credited as producer on the following films:[25]

TV producer

Thompson is credited with two TV shows:[25]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b International Motion Picture Almanac 1937-38, p. 804.
  2. ^ The Film Daily Product Guide... 1937, p. 168.
  3. ^ Little Jessie James, IBDB.
  4. ^ Little Jessie James, Playbill Vault.
  5. ^ a b c Bordman 2010, p. 432.
  6. ^ Paymer & Post 1999, p. 43.
  7. ^ Bordman 2010, p. 448.
  8. ^ Bordman 2010, p. 460.
  9. ^ Bordman 2010, p. 461.
  10. ^ Bordman 2010, p. 473.
  11. ^ Bradley 2004, p. 172.
  12. ^ Bradley 2004, p. 173.
  13. ^ Eisner 1973, p. 197.
  14. ^ Langer 1985, p. 48.
  15. ^ Eisner 1973, p. 200.
  16. ^ Bradley 2004, p. 189.
  17. ^ Bradley 2004, p. 147.
  18. ^ Bradley 2004, p. 149.
  19. ^ Bradley 2004, p. 312.
  20. ^ Kaufman 1993, p. 163.
  21. ^ Kaufman 1993, p. 164.
  22. ^ Koszarski 2002, p. 303-304.
  23. ^ Harlan Thompson of Broadway, 76, NYT, p. 88.
  24. ^ Harlan Thompson, IBDB.
  25. ^ a b c d e Harlan Thompson, IMDb.

Sources

  • Bordman, Gerald Martin (2010). American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-972970-8. Retrieved 2014-05-29. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Bradley, Edwin M. (2004-01-01). The First Hollywood Musicals: A Critical Filmography of 171 Features, 1927 through 1932. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-2029-2. Retrieved 2014-05-29. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Eisner, Lotte H. (1973-01-01). F. W. Murnau. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-02425-0. Retrieved 2014-05-29. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • "Harlan Thompson". IBDB. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  • "Harlan Thompson". IMDb. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  • "Harlan Thompson of Broadway, 76; Producer Is Dead". New York Times. 30 October 1966.
  • International Motion Picture Almanac. Quigley Publishing Company. 1937–38. Retrieved 2014-05-29.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  • Kaufman, J.B. (June 1993). "Before Snow White" (PDF). Film History. 5 (2 Animation). Retrieved 2014-05-29. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  • Koszarski, Richard (2002). . "Subway Commandos: Hollywood Filmmakers at the Signal Corps Photographic Center". Film History. 14 (3/4, War and Militarism). Indiana University Press. Retrieved 2014-05-29. {{cite journal}}: Check |url= value (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help) .
  • Langer, Mark J. (Spring 1985). . "Tabu: The Making of a Film". Cinema Journal. 24 (3). University of Texas Press on behalf of the Society for Cinema & Media Studies. Retrieved 2014-05-29. {{cite journal}}: Check |url= value (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  • "Little Jessie James". IBDB. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  • "Little Jessie James". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  • Paymer, Marvin E.; Post, Don E. (1999). Sentimental Journey: Intimate Portraits of America's Great Popular Songs, 1920-1945. Noble House Publishers. ISBN 978-1-881907-09-1. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • The Film Daily Product Guide and Director's Annual. 1937. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
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