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IMDbPro

Melville Shavelson(1917-2007)

  • Writer
  • Director
  • Additional Crew
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
War stories and life lessons from the film industry's top writers.
Play trailer2:23
Tales from the Script (2009)
Melville Shavelson was born on 1 April 1917 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer and director, known for The Five Pennies (1959), Houseboat (1958) and The War Between Men and Women (1972). He was married to Ruth Lafaye Florea and Lucille (Lucy) T. Myers. He died on 8 August 2007 in Studio City, California, USA.
BornApril 1, 1917
DiedAugust 8, 2007(90)
BornApril 1, 1917
DiedAugust 8, 2007(90)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
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  • Nominated for 2 Oscars
    • 4 wins & 8 nominations total

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Known for

The Five Pennies (1959)
The Five Pennies
7.1
  • Writer
  • 1959
Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Mimi Gibson, Charles Herbert, and Paul Petersen in Houseboat (1958)
Houseboat
6.6
  • Writer
  • 1958
Jack Lemmon, Jason Robards, Lisa Eilbacher, Moosie Drier, Lisa Gerritsen, and Barbara Harris in The War Between Men and Women (1972)
The War Between Men and Women
6.1
  • Writer
  • 1972
The Seven Little Foys (1955)
The Seven Little Foys
6.7
  • Writer
  • 1955

Credits

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IMDbPro

Writer



  • Yours, Mine & Ours (2005)
    Yours, Mine & Ours
    5.5
    • Writer (1968 screenplay)
    • 2005
  • The 62nd Annual Academy Awards (1990)
    The 62nd Annual Academy Awards
    6.4
    TV Special
    • written by
    • 1990
  • The 60th Annual Academy Awards (1988)
    The 60th Annual Academy Awards
    5.7
    TV Special
    • written by (as Mel Shavelson)
    • 1988
  • Barry Bostwick and Stefanie Powers in Deceptions (1985)
    Deceptions
    7.1
    TV Mini Series
    • teleplay
    • 1985
  • The 54th Annual Academy Awards (1982)
    The 54th Annual Academy Awards
    6.3
    TV Special
    • written by (as Mel Shavelson)
    • 1982
  • True Life Stories
    TV Movie
    • writer
    • 1981
  • Ike: The War Years (1979)
    Ike: The War Years
    7.0
    TV Mini Series
    • writer
    • 1979
  • Ike: The War Years (1979)
    Ike: The War Years
    7.0
    • written by
    • 1979
  • Paul Michael Glaser in The Great Houdini (1976)
    The Great Houdini
    6.4
    TV Movie
    • written by
    • 1976
  • Franco Nero in The Legend of Valentino (1975)
    The Legend of Valentino
    5.3
    TV Movie
    • Writer
    • 1975
  • Mixed Company (1974)
    Mixed Company
    5.7
    • Writer
    • 1974
  • Here Comes the Judge
    8.2
    TV Movie
    • Writer (as Mel Shavelson)
    • 1972
  • Jack Lemmon, Jason Robards, Lisa Eilbacher, Moosie Drier, Lisa Gerritsen, and Barbara Harris in The War Between Men and Women (1972)
    The War Between Men and Women
    6.1
    • written by
    • 1972
  • Shirley MacLaine in Shirley's World (1971)
    Shirley's World
    5.8
    TV Series
    • series created by
    • 1971
  • Allan
    TV Movie
    • Writer (as Mel Shavelson)
    • 1971

Director



  • Barry Bostwick and Stefanie Powers in Deceptions (1985)
    Deceptions
    7.1
    TV Mini Series
    • Director
    • 1985
  • Madolyn Smith Osborne in The Other Woman (1983)
    The Other Woman
    6.6
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 1983
  • True Life Stories
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 1981
  • Ike: The War Years (1979)
    Ike: The War Years
    7.0
    TV Mini Series
    • Director
    • 1979
  • Ike: The War Years (1979)
    Ike: The War Years
    7.0
    • Director (United States and North African sequences directed by)
    • 1979
  • Paul Michael Glaser in The Great Houdini (1976)
    The Great Houdini
    6.4
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 1976
  • Franco Nero in The Legend of Valentino (1975)
    The Legend of Valentino
    5.3
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 1975
  • Mixed Company (1974)
    Mixed Company
    5.7
    • Director
    • 1974
  • Here Comes the Judge
    8.2
    TV Movie
    • Director (as Mel Shavelson)
    • 1972
  • Jack Lemmon, Jason Robards, Lisa Eilbacher, Moosie Drier, Lisa Gerritsen, and Barbara Harris in The War Between Men and Women (1972)
    The War Between Men and Women
    6.1
    • Director
    • 1972
  • My World and Welcome to It (1969)
    My World and Welcome to It
    8.5
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1969
  • Yours, Mine and Ours (1968)
    Yours, Mine and Ours
    7.1
    • Director
    • 1968
  • Kirk Douglas, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne, Senta Berger, and Yul Brynner in Cast a Giant Shadow (1966)
    Cast a Giant Shadow
    6.3
    • Director
    • 1966
  • A New Kind of Love (1963)
    A New Kind of Love
    5.7
    • Director
    • 1963
  • The Pigeon That Took Rome (1962)
    The Pigeon That Took Rome
    5.9
    • Director
    • 1962

Additional Crew



  • Backstory (2000)
    Backstory
    8.0
    TV Series
    • additional footage courtesy of
    • 2001
  • Angela Cartwright, Rusty Hamer, Sherry Jackson, Marjorie Lord, and Danny Thomas in The Danny Thomas Show (1953)
    The Danny Thomas Show
    7.1
    TV Series
    • story consultant
    • 1953–1961

Videos2

Yours, Mine and Ours
Trailer 2:32
Yours, Mine and Ours
Tales from the Script
Trailer 2:23
Tales from the Script
Tales from the Script
Trailer 2:23
Tales from the Script

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Shavelson and Josefsberg
  • Born
    • April 1, 1917
    • Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • August 8, 2007
    • Studio City, California, USA(natural causes)
  • Spouses
      Ruth Lafaye FloreaDecember 20, 2001 - August 8, 2007 (his death)
  • Other works
    Jimmy (1969). Musical. Music by Bill Jacob and Patti Jacob. Book by Melville Shavelson. Lyrics by Bill Jacob and Patti Jacob. Based on "Beau James" by Gene Fowler. Musical Director: Milton Rosenstock. Vocal arrangements by Milton Rosenstock. Music arranged by Jack Andrews. Dance arrangements by John Berkman. Choreographed by Peter Gennaro. Assistant Choreographer: Bill Guske. Directed by Joseph Anthony. Winter Garden Theatre: 23 Oct 1969- 3 Jan 1970 (84 performances + 8 previews that began on ? Oct 1969). Cast: Barbara Andres (as "Secretary/Singer") [Broadway debut], John D. Anthony (as "Process Server/Singer"), Edward Becker (as "Francis Xavier Aloysius O'Toole/Singer"), Andy Bew (as "Photographer/Dancer"), Steve Boockvor (as "Doorman/Dancer"), Sibyl Bowan (as "Mrs. Compton"), Cindi Bulak (as "Bonnie/Miss Queens/Dancer"), Christopher Chadman (as "Dancer"), Dorothy Claire (as "Texas Guinan"), Jack Collins (as "Jim Hines"), Austin Colyer (as "Singer"), Carol Conte (as "Miss Brooklyn/Girl in Fur Coat/Dancer"), Nancy Dalton (as "Miss Richmond/Dancer"), Larry Douglas (as "Edward Duryea Dowling"), Andrea Duda (as "Miss Bronx/Dancer"), Gini Eastwood (as "Singer"), David Evans (as "Dancer"), Clifford Fearl (as "Warrington Brock"), Herb Fields (as "Policeman/Singer"), Paul Forrest (as "Antonio Viscelli/Singer"), Gary Gendell (as "Stage Manager/Dancer"), Anita Gillette (as "Betty Compton"), Frank Gorshin (as "Jimmy Walker"), Barbara Gregory (as "Singer"), William Griffis (as "Al Smith"), Peggy Hewett (as "Mrs. Al Smith/Singer"), Del Horstmann (as "Moe/Politician/Singer"), Scott Hunter (as "Dancer"), Ben Laney (as "Politician/Policeman/Singer"), Henry Lawrence (as "Stanislaus Kazimir Wojeciezkowski/Singer"), Mary Louise (as "Singer"), Sandi McCreadie (as "Passerby/Singer"), Joseph McGrath (as "Politician/Band Vocalist/Singer"), Saundra McPherson (as "Dancer"), Sally Neal (as "Miss Manhattan/Dancer"), Frank Newell (as "Reporter/Dancer"), Carl Nicholas (as "Izzy/Tailor/Singer"), Harold Pierson (as "Dancer"), Eileen Shannon (as "Dancer"), Stanley Simmonds (as "Lawrence Horatio Fink"), Tony Stevens (as "Photographer/Dancer"), Claire Theiss (as "Singer"), Evan Thompson (as "Charley Hand"), Monica Tiller (as "Dancer"), Pat Trott (as "Dancer"), Roberta Vatske (as "Singer"), Dwight Weist (as "Recorded Impersonations"), Julie Wilson (as "Allie Walker"). Standby: Danny Meehan (as "Jimmy Walker"). Understudies: Barbara Andres (as "Allie Walker/Mrs. Compton"), Joseph McGrath (as "Charley Hand"), Stanley Simmonds (as "Al Smith"), Claire Theiss (as "Texas Guinan"), Evan Thompson (as "Jim Hines"), Roberta Vatske (as "Betty Compton"). Produced by Jack L. Warner. Produced in association with Don Saxon. Associate in assoc. with: Harry Mayer.
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Print Biographies
    • 6 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    He was a gag writer for Bob Hope's radio show in the 1930s.
  • Quotes
    When people want to talk to me or invite me to something these days, it's usually because I'm 90 years old. I don't want to be loved just for being 90, although I guess you can't prevent it.
  • Nickname
    • Mel

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