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IMDbPro

Jack Finney(1911-1995)

  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Walter Braden "Jack" Finney was an American writer, mainly known for his contributions to the science-fiction genre. His most popular novels are "The Body Snatchers" (1955) and "Time and Again" (1970), although throughout his career he published nearly 50 novels that encompass the noir, thriller and comedy genres.

Finney's novel "The Body Snatchers" has since been adapted into film four times. In the 1950s Don Siegel directed the first adaptation, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) starring Kevin McCarthy. Abel Ferrara offered his version with Body Snatchers (1993), and more recently audiences have been invited to sample the Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig adaptation The Invasion (2007).

None of the above films, however, have managed to surpass the terrifying Philip Kaufman adaptation Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) starring Donald Sutherland. Kaufman conveys the fear and paranoia that is at the center of Finney's novel flawlessly. It is still regarded by many as one of the best re-makes in film history, and a lot of the credit goes to Finney's novel. Donald Sutherland, incidentally, would go on to star in the similarly themed The Puppet Masters (1994) based on the 1951 novel by Finney's friend and fellow author, Robert A. Heinlein.

Despite his prolific outpouring of fiction, Jack Finney will nevertheless be predominantly remembered for the pod people who invaded Planet Earth.
BornOctober 2, 1911
DiedNovember 14, 1995(84)
BornOctober 2, 1911
DiedNovember 14, 1995(84)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels
  • Awards
    • 1 nomination

Known for:

Donald Sutherland and Veronica Cartwright in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
7.4
  • Writer
  • 1978
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
7.7
  • Writer
  • 1956
Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig in The Invasion (2007)
The Invasion
5.9
  • Writer
  • 2007
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
  • Writer

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Writer

    • Invasion of the Body Snatchers
      • novel
      • In Development
    • Desde la raíz
      Short
      • based on his novel
      • 2014
    • Escape to Verna
      8.3
      Short
      • short story
      • 2008
    • Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig in The Invasion (2007)
      The Invasion
      5.9
      • based on the novel "The Body Snatchers" by
      • 2007
    • Jennifer Jason Leigh and Campbell Scott in The Love Letter (1998)
      The Love Letter
      7.2
      TV Movie
      • short story
      • 1998
    • Gabrielle Anwar in Body Snatchers (1993)
      Body Snatchers
      6.0
      • based on the novel "The Body Snatchers" by
      • 1993
    • Kevin Costner, Harvey Keitel, Charlie Sheen, Christopher Lloyd, and John Lithgow in Amazing Stories (1985)
      Amazing Stories
      7.4
      TV Series
      • short story
      • 1987
    • Maxie (1985)
      Maxie
      5.4
      • novel "Marions Wall"
      • 1985
    • Donald Sutherland and Veronica Cartwright in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
      Invasion of the Body Snatchers
      7.4
      • based on the novel "The Body Snatchers" by
      • 1978
    • Dead of Night (1977)
      Dead of Night
      6.2
      TV Movie
      • story "Second Chance" (segment Second Chance)
      • 1977
    • Assault on a Queen (1966)
      Assault on a Queen
      5.6
      • novel
      • 1966
    • Jack Lemmon, Romy Schneider, and Dorothy Provine in Good Neighbor Sam (1964)
      Good Neighbor Sam
      6.8
      • novel
      • 1964
    • Fred Astaire in Alcoa Premiere (1961)
      Alcoa Premiere
      7.4
      TV Series
      • writer
      • 1962
    • Goodyear Theatre (1957)
      Goodyear Theatre
      7.1
      TV Series
      • story
      • 1958
    • Jack Palance and Barbara Lang in House of Numbers (1957)
      House of Numbers
      6.4
      • Cosmopolitan magazine novel
      • 1957
    • Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
      Invasion of the Body Snatchers
      7.7
      • based on the Collier's magazine serial by
      • 1956
    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Born
      • October 2, 1911
      • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
    • Died
      • November 14, 1995
      • Greenbrae, California, USA(pneumonia)
    • Spouse
      • Marguerite Guest? - November 14, 1995 (his death)
    • Other works
      Novel: "Time and Again"

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Was given the name John Finney at birth, but was legally renamed Walter Braden Finney at the age of three. (The renaming was to commemorate Finney's father, also named Walter, who died in 1914.) Despite the multiple names, Finney was known as Jack from birth, and continued to be called Jack by all who knew him throughout his life.
    • Trademark
      Themes of nostalgia

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