- James Curtis
James Curtis (
July 4 ,1907 - 1977) was a British author who was best known for his novels, "They Drive By Night" and "There Ain't No Justice", both of which were made in to feature films.James Curtis was born Geoffrey Basil Maiden, in
Sturry , Kent. Curtis' parents werehoteliers inIndia , and later inEngland where Curtis attendedThe King's School, Canterbury . In 1934, Curtis appeared in two films, "Manhattan Melodrama " and "Fugitive Lady", in uncredited roles. Geoffrey Basil Maiden soon adopted the pseudonym of James Curtis and began a career as an author. He wrote the novels "The Gilt Kid", "What Immortal Hand", "Look Long Upon a Monkey", "They Drive By Night" and "There Ain't No Justice". Curtis used his plots to highlight the unfairness of society and dearth of opportunity that often led people to break the law in straitened times. In 1938, "They Drive By Night" was released as a feature film starringEmlyn Williams andErnest Thesiger . The following year, another novel, "There Ain't No Justice", was also made into a film. Curtis was forced to stop writing whenWorld War II broke out. He would go on to tourFrance andBurma and rose to the rank of Major. After the war, his marriage had failed and his literary momentum never recovered.In 1977, James Curtis died in
North London after suffering a heart attack in a chemist shop.In 2007, London Books republished his 1936 novel, "The Gilt Kid" and in 2008 followed this with "They Drive By Night" as part of their London Classics series.
External links
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0193368/ James Curtis at IMdb]
* [http://www.london-books.co.uk/ London Books]
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