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IMDbPro

Norman Panama(1914-2003)

  • Writer
  • Director
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Norman Panama was born on 21 April 1914 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a writer and director, known for Knock on Wood (1954), Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) and White Christmas (1954). He died on 13 January 2003 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
BornApril 21, 1914
DiedJanuary 13, 2003(88)
BornApril 21, 1914
DiedJanuary 13, 2003(88)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels
  • Nominated for 3 Oscars
    • 1 win & 10 nominations total

Known for

Danny Kaye in Knock on Wood (1954)
Knock on Wood
6.6
  • Writer
  • 1954
Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, and Melvyn Douglas in Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
7.2
  • Writer
  • 1948
Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen in White Christmas (1954)
White Christmas
7.5
  • Writer
  • 1954
Above and Beyond (1952)
Above and Beyond
6.9
  • Writer
  • 1952

Credits

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IMDbPro

Writer



  • Nia Long, Ice Cube, Aleisha Allen, and Philip Bolden in Are We Done Yet? (2007)
    Are We Done Yet?
    4.3
    • based on the motion picture "Mr. Blanding Builds His Dream House" screenplay by
    • 2007
  • A Talent for Murder (1983)
    A Talent for Murder
    6.2
    TV Movie
    • play
    • 1983
  • Li'l Abner in the Dogpatch Today
    6.0
    TV Movie
    • Writer
    • 1978
  • Diane Keaton and Elliott Gould in I Will... I Will... For Now (1976)
    I Will... I Will... For Now
    4.8
    • Writer
    • 1976
  • Michael Anderson Jr. and Karen Valentine in Coffee, Tea or Me? (1973)
    Coffee, Tea or Me?
    5.6
    TV Movie
    • teleplay
    • 1973
  • Tony Curtis, George C. Scott, and Virna Lisi in Not with My Wife, You Don't! (1966)
    Not with My Wife, You Don't!
    5.7
    • screenplay
    • story
    • 1966
  • Strange Bedfellows (1965)
    Strange Bedfellows
    6.2
    • story
    • 1965
  • The Road to Hong Kong (1962)
    The Road to Hong Kong
    6.1
    • written by
    • 1962
  • Lucille Ball and Bob Hope in The Facts of Life (1960)
    The Facts of Life
    6.3
    • written by
    • 1960
  • Li'l Abner (1959)
    Li'l Abner
    6.7
    • writer
    • 1959
  • Tina Louise, Richard Widmark, Lee J. Cobb, and Earl Holliman in The Trap (1959)
    The Trap
    6.6
    • writer
    • 1959
  • That Certain Feeling (1956)
    That Certain Feeling
    6.3
    • screenplay
    • 1956
  • Danny Kaye, Angela Lansbury, and Glynis Johns in The Court Jester (1955)
    The Court Jester
    7.8
    • written by
    • 1955
  • Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen in White Christmas (1954)
    White Christmas
    7.5
    • written for the screen by
    • 1954
  • Danny Kaye in Knock on Wood (1954)
    Knock on Wood
    6.6
    • written by
    • 1954

Director



  • Barnaby and Me (1979)
    Barnaby and Me
    5.5
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 1979
  • Diane Keaton and Elliott Gould in I Will... I Will... For Now (1976)
    I Will... I Will... For Now
    4.8
    • Director
    • 1976
  • Michael Anderson Jr. and Karen Valentine in Coffee, Tea or Me? (1973)
    Coffee, Tea or Me?
    5.6
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 1973
  • How to Commit Marriage (1969)
    How to Commit Marriage
    5.3
    • Director
    • 1969
  • The Maltese Bippy (1969)
    The Maltese Bippy
    4.4
    • Director
    • 1969
  • Tony Curtis, George C. Scott, and Virna Lisi in Not with My Wife, You Don't! (1966)
    Not with My Wife, You Don't!
    5.7
    • Director
    • 1966
  • The Road to Hong Kong (1962)
    The Road to Hong Kong
    6.1
    • Director
    • 1962
  • Tina Louise, Richard Widmark, Lee J. Cobb, and Earl Holliman in The Trap (1959)
    The Trap
    6.6
    • Director
    • 1959
  • That Certain Feeling (1956)
    That Certain Feeling
    6.3
    • Director
    • 1956
  • Danny Kaye, Angela Lansbury, and Glynis Johns in The Court Jester (1955)
    The Court Jester
    7.8
    • Director
    • 1955
  • Danny Kaye in Knock on Wood (1954)
    Knock on Wood
    6.6
    • Director
    • 1954
  • Above and Beyond (1952)
    Above and Beyond
    6.9
    • Director
    • 1952
  • Howard Keel, Fred MacMurray, and Dorothy McGuire in Callaway Went Thataway (1951)
    Callaway Went Thataway
    6.6
    • Director
    • 1951
  • Janet Leigh and Ezio Pinza in Strictly Dishonorable (1951)
    Strictly Dishonorable
    5.7
    • Director
    • 1951
  • June Allyson and Dick Powell in The Reformer and the Redhead (1950)
    The Reformer and the Redhead
    6.2
    • Director
    • 1950

Producer



  • Tony Curtis, George C. Scott, and Virna Lisi in Not with My Wife, You Don't! (1966)
    Not with My Wife, You Don't!
    5.7
    • producer
    • 1966
  • Strange Bedfellows (1965)
    Strange Bedfellows
    6.2
    • producer
    • 1965
  • Lucille Ball and Bob Hope in The Facts of Life (1960)
    The Facts of Life
    6.3
    • producer
    • 1960
  • Li'l Abner (1959)
    Li'l Abner
    6.7
    • producer
    • 1959
  • The Jayhawkers! (1959)
    The Jayhawkers!
    6.3
    • producer
    • 1959
  • Tina Louise, Richard Widmark, Lee J. Cobb, and Earl Holliman in The Trap (1959)
    The Trap
    6.6
    • producer
    • 1959
  • That Certain Feeling (1956)
    That Certain Feeling
    6.3
    • producer
    • 1956
  • Danny Kaye, Angela Lansbury, and Glynis Johns in The Court Jester (1955)
    The Court Jester
    7.8
    • producer (produced by)
    • 1955
  • Danny Kaye in Knock on Wood (1954)
    Knock on Wood
    6.6
    • producer
    • 1954
  • Above and Beyond (1952)
    Above and Beyond
    6.9
    • producer
    • 1952
  • Howard Keel, Fred MacMurray, and Dorothy McGuire in Callaway Went Thataway (1951)
    Callaway Went Thataway
    6.6
    • producer
    • 1951
  • Janet Leigh and Ezio Pinza in Strictly Dishonorable (1951)
    Strictly Dishonorable
    5.7
    • producer (produced by)
    • 1951
  • June Allyson and Dick Powell in The Reformer and the Redhead (1950)
    The Reformer and the Redhead
    6.2
    • producer
    • 1950
  • Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, and Melvyn Douglas in Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)
    Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
    7.2
    • producer
    • 1948

Personal details

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  • Born
    • April 21, 1914
    • Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Died
    • January 13, 2003
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(complications from Parkinson's disease)
  • Other works
    Stage: Wrote (w/Melvin Frank) book for "Li'l Abner" on Broadway. Musical comedy. Based on cartoon characters by Al Capp. Music by Gene de Paul. Lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Musical Direction / Continuity / Vocals: Lehman Engel. Music orchestrated by Philip J. Lang. Ballet Music Arranged by Genevieve Pitot. Assistant to Mr. Engel: John Passaretti. Choreographed / Directed by Michael Kidd. St. James Theatre: 15 Nov 1956-12 Jul 1958 (693 performances). Cast: Edie Adams (as "Daisy Mae"; credited as Edith Adams), Stubby Kaye (as "Marryin' Sam"), Peter Palmer (as "L'il Abner"), Charlotte Rae (as "Mammy Yokum"), Howard St. John, William Lanteau (as "Available Jones"), Joe E. Marks (as "Pappy Yokum"), Julie Newmar (as "Stupefyin' Jones"), Stanley Simmonds (as "Dr. Rasmussen T. Finsdale"), Carmen Alvarez (as "Moonbeam McSwine" / "Wife" / "Dancer"), Margaret Baxter, Chad Block, Don Braswell, Marc Breaux, Joan Cherof, Pat Creighton, Grover Dale, Lanier Davis (as "President" / "State Department Man" / "Colonel" / "Secretary" / "Singer"), Lillian D'Honau, Bonnie Evans, Joyce Gladmond, Jan Gunnar, Bern Hoffman (as "Earthquake McGoon"), Hope Holiday (as "Wife" / "Singer"), Maureen Hopkins, Jane House, James Hurst (as "Clem Scragg" / "Radio Commentator" / "Singer"), James J. Jeffries, Lucky Kargo, Robert Karl, Barbara Klopfer, Mario Lamm, Ralph Linn, Tina Louise (as "Appassionata Von Climax"), Richard Maitland (as "Government Man" / "Dancer"), Jack Matthew, Robert McClure, Tony Mordente (billed as Anthony Mordente), Reed Morgan, Al Nesor (as "Evil Eye Fleagle"), Oran Osburn, Tom Panko, Louise Pearl, Christy Peterson, George Reeder, George Ritner, Anthony Saverino, Jeanette Scovotti, Sharon Shore, Ted Thurston, Aldo Ventura, Rebecca Vorno, Robert Weinsko, Deedee Wood. Produced by Norman Panama, Melvin Frank and Michael Kidd.

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    Profiled in "The Laugh Crafters: Comedy Writing in Radio and TV's Golden Age" by Jordan Young (BearManor Media).
  • Trademarks
      Almost always co-wrote, produced, and directed with Melvin Frank

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