- S. N. Behrman
Samuel N. Behrman (born
June 9 1893 ,Worcester, Massachusetts — diedSeptember 9 1973 ,New York City ) was an Americanplaywright and screenwriter, who also worked for the "New York Times ".In the 1930s and 1940s, he was considered one of Broadway's leading authors of "high comedy", and wrote for such stars as
Ina Claire ,Katharine Cornell ,Jane Cowl , and the acting team ofAlfred Lunt andLynn Fontanne . Among his greatest Broadway successes were "The Second Man" (1928), "Biography" (1932), "End of Summer" (1936), and "No Time for Comedy" (1939). His stage adaptation ofEnid Bagnold 's novel, "Serena Blandish ", became a success for actressRuth Gordon . He also adapted plays byJean Giraudoux andMarcel Achard , and a short story byW. Somerset Maugham . With composerHarold Rome he adaptedMarcel Pagnol 's "Fanny" trilogy into a musical comedy for the stage.In Hollywood, he was most noted for his work on screenplays for
Greta Garbo , including "Queen Christina", "Conquest", and her final film, "Two-Faced Woman ". With Sonya Levien, Behrman co-wrote thescreen play for the 1930 film version ofFerenc Molnar 's "Liliom ", starringCharles Farrell andRose Hobart . His experiences in Hollywood found dramatic form in "Let me Hear the Melody " (1951).Berhman's comedies repeatedly celebrate tolerance, yet show how tolerant people in their generosity are often vulnerable when confronted by fanatics or ruthless opportunists. In "
End of Summer ", a liberal household is threatened by a devious psychoanalyist who is able to play upon their weaknesses in his desire for wealth and power. Behrman's protagonists often feel inadequate to deal with the evils and injustices in the world. The hero of "No Time for Comedy ", a successful author of stylish comedies for his actress-wife, feels the need to write a serious play in response to theSpanish Civil War . When he fails at this attempt, he resolves to go to Spain himself and fight. The play asks the question: Is there a place for comedy in a violent and unjust world?Behrman's writing for "
The New Yorker " not only included profiles of such notable figures as composerGeorge Gershwin Hungarian playwrightFerenc Molnar , Zionist leaderChaim Weizmann and entertainerEddie Cantor , but much longer pieces that were collected into books onMax Beerbohm and Joseph Duveen. His autobiographical essays, which also appeared in "The New Yorker",later appeared in two volumes, "The Worcester Account"(1955) and "People in a Diary" (1972).References
*Robert F. Gross. "S. N. Behrman: A Research and Production Sourcebook." Greenwood Press, 1992.
*Kenneth T. Reed. "S. N. Behrman." Twayne Publishers, 1975.External links
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0067103/ Samuel N.Behrman at IMDB]
* [http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=8562 S. N. Behrman at IBDB]
* [http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Library/Archives/WAuthors/behrman/bio.html Samuel N.Behrman Biography]
* [http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Library/Archives/WAuthors/behrman/photos.html Samuel N.Behrman Photos]
* [http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Library/Archives/WAuthors/behrman/works.html Samuel N.Behrman Works]
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