Frank Nugent
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Frank Stanley Nugent (born New York City 27 May 1908- died 29 December 1965 was an American journalist, film reviewer, script doctor, and screenwriter who wrote 21 film scripts, 11 for John Ford.[1]
[edit] Biography
Frank S. Nugent began as a news reporter with the New York Times and later moved into reviewing films. Nugent's not so positive review of The Story of Alexander Graham Bell led to a reduction of 20th Century Fox's advertising in the Times for nearly a year.[1] A review of Fox's The Grapes of Wrath led to an offer from studio head Darryl F. Zanuck to work as a script editor at the studio with Zanuck saying "if you can't fire 'em, hire 'em".[1] Nugent freelanced as a journalist during this period.
Nugent met Ford when an assignment for the New York Times Magazine to Mexico to meet with John Ford the filming The Fugitive led to a long and fruitful association with the John Ford Stock Company. Nugent also worked in England (The Red Beret), Scotland (Trouble in the Glen), Ireland (The Quiet Man and The Rising of the Moon (film)), India (Northwest Frontier), and Hawaii (Donovan's Reef).
Nugent wrote a variety of Western (genre) films such as Fort Apache, 3 Godfathers, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Wagonmaster and The Searchers for John Ford with other westerns for Stuart Heisler (Tulsa), Robert Wise (Two Flags West), Raoul Walsh (The Tall Men), and They Rode West and Gunman's Walk for Phil Karlson. Nugent also worked on the troubled Mister Roberts.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Cecile Starr. Frank S. Nugent. filmreference.com.
