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IMDbPro

Charles Brackett(1892-1969)

  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeter
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Charles Brackett
Charles Brackett, born in Saratoga Springs, New York, of Scottish ancestry, followed in his attorney-father's footsteps and graduated with a law degree from Harvard University in 1920. He practised law for several years, before commencing work as drama critic for The New Yorker (1925-29), in addition to submitting short stories to The Saturday Evening Post. In 1932, Brackett left for Hollywood as a screenwriter. He was signed by Paramount primarily on the strength of his novel "Week-End". Brackett remained at the studio until 1950, doubling up as producer from 1945.

During his tenure at Paramount, Brackett became part of one of the most celebrated screenwriting partnerships in the motion picture business, alongside Billy Wilder. They were eventually dubbed by Life Magazine as "the happiest couple in Hollywood". Despite having very different personalities and arguing incessantly -- Wilder being the more extroverted and cynical, while Bracket was, to quote Gloria Swanson, 'quieter, more refined' -- their collaboration endured until 1951, spanning fourteen motion pictures. Many of their most popular hits, such as Ninotchka (1939), Ball of Fire (1941) and The Lost Weekend (1945), were noted for their intricate scripting and witty, sardonic dialogue. The culmination of their efforts was Sunset Blvd. (1950), which won an Academy Award for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay. Following this, the team split up at the peak of their success, each going their separate ways.

Brackett moved on to work under contract at 20th Century Fox for the next eight years. With Walter Reisch, he co-wrote the screenplays for Niagara (1953) and Titanic (1953), winning his third Oscar for the latter. He also produced the superior western Garden of Evil (1954), the historical drama The Virgin Queen (1955) and the lavish musical The King and I (1956). Brackett retired due to illness after producing State Fair (1962).
BornNovember 26, 1892
DiedMarch 9, 1969(76)
BornNovember 26, 1892
DiedMarch 9, 1969(76)
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
  • Won 3 Oscars

Photos

Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett, and Gloria Swanson
Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett
Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett
"Sunset Boulevard" Gloria Swanson and Dir. Billy Wilder 1950 Paramount / MPTV

Known for

William Holden, Nancy Olson, and Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd. (1950)
Sunset Blvd.
8.4
  • Writer
  • 1950
Ray Milland, Doris Dowling, Phillip Terry, and Jane Wyman in The Lost Weekend (1945)
The Lost Weekend
7.9
  • Writer
  • 1945
Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner in The King and I (1956)
The King and I
7.4
  • Producer
  • 1956
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)
Journey to the Center of the Earth
7.0
  • Writer
  • 1959

Credits

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IMDbPro

Writer

  • Mischa Auer, Leon Belasco, and Gig Young in Ninotchka (1960)
    Ninotchka
    • (1939 screenplay)
  • Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)
    Journey to the Center of the Earth
  • The 20th Century-Fox Hour (1955)
    The 20th Century-Fox Hour
  • Robert Montgomery Presents (1950)
    Robert Montgomery Presents
  • Ginger Rogers, Warren Berlinger, Lili Gentle, Diane Jergens, Betty Lou Keim, Michael Rennie, and Rusty Swope in Teenage Rebel (1956)
    Teenage Rebel
  • Joan Collins, Ray Milland, and Farley Granger in The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955)
    The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing
  • Lux Video Theatre (1950)
    Lux Video Theatre
  • Titanic (1953)
    Titanic
  • Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotten in Niagara (1953)
    Niagara
  • The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951)
    The Model and the Marriage Broker
  • Gene Tierney, John Lund, and Thelma Ritter in The Mating Season (1951)
    The Mating Season
  • William Holden, Nancy Olson, and Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd. (1950)
    Sunset Blvd.
  • Dana Andrews, Joan Evans, Farley Granger, Adele Jergens, and Mala Powers in Edge of Doom (1950)
    Edge of Doom
    • (uncredited)
  • Barry Fitzgerald, Wanda Hendrix, John Lund, Robert Stack, and Monty Woolley in Miss Tatlock's Millions (1948)
    Miss Tatlock's Millions
  • A Foreign Affair (1948)
    A Foreign Affair

Producer

  • Ann-Margret, Pat Boone, Bobby Darin, and Pamela Tiffin in State Fair (1962)
    State Fair
  • High Time (1960)
    High Time
  • Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)
    Journey to the Center of the Earth
  • Brandon De Wilde and Carol Lynley in Blue Denim (1959)
    Blue Denim
  • Jill St. John, Pamela Baird, Ahna Capri, Ray Ferrell, Joan Freeman, Mimi Gibson, Donald Losby, Diane Mountford, David Nelson, Terry Rangno, Mary Jane Saunders, Ray Stricklyn, Clifton Webb, Nancy DeCarl, David Harrison, Chris Van Scoyk, Jon Van Scoyk, and Donald Harrison in The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959)
    The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker
  • Ten North Frederick (1958)
    Ten North Frederick
  • The Gift of Love (1958)
    The Gift of Love
  • Joan Collins and Jayne Mansfield in The Wayward Bus (1957)
    The Wayward Bus
  • Ginger Rogers, Warren Berlinger, Lili Gentle, Diane Jergens, Betty Lou Keim, Michael Rennie, and Rusty Swope in Teenage Rebel (1956)
    Teenage Rebel
  • Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner in The King and I (1956)
    The King and I
  • Robert Taylor, Edmond O'Brien, Richard Todd, and Dana Wynter in D-Day the Sixth of June (1956)
    D-Day the Sixth of June
  • Joan Collins, Ray Milland, and Farley Granger in The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955)
    The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing
  • The Virgin Queen (1955)
    The Virgin Queen
  • Lauren Bacall, June Allyson, Van Heflin, Arlene Dahl, Fred MacMurray, Cornel Wilde, and Clifton Webb in Woman's World (1954)
    Woman's World
  • Gary Cooper, Susan Hayward, and Richard Widmark in Garden of Evil (1954)
    Garden of Evil

Personal details

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    • November 26, 1892
    • Saratoga Springs, New York, USA
    • March 9, 1969
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(undisclosed)
    • December 26, 1953 - March 9, 1969 (his death)
  • Publicity listings
    • 3 Articles

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    Replaced Herman J. Mankiewicz as the theater critic at "The New Yorker" in 1925, only to leave for Hollywood, as his predecessor had done, in 1929. Worked with director/writer Billy Wilder as his collaborator on 13 movies, including Sunset Boulevard (1950).

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