 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Robert Pirosh" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(June 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Robert Pirosh | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1910-04-01)April 1, 1910 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | December 25, 1989(1989-12-25) (aged 79) |
| Alma mater | Baltimore City College high school in 1928 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1935–1981 |
| Spouse | Nancy Wilson (1948–1966)[1] |
Robert Pirosh (April 1, 1910 – December 25, 1989) was an American screenwriter and film director.[2] He is most known for hiswar andmilitary-themed works, inspired by his experiences as aU.S. Army infantryman duringWorld War II. He won anAcademy Award for Best Original Screenplay forBattleground (1949), a semi-autobiographical account theBattle of the Bulge. He was nominated for a second Oscar forGo for Broke! (1951), a film about the442nd Regimental Combat Team.
Pirosh was born inBaltimore, Maryland, and graduated from theBaltimore City College high school in 1928. His preparation for a career in Hollywood included study at theSorbonne in France and theUniversity of Berlin in Germany.[3] When he began looking for work in Hollywood, he used acover letter that began "Dear Sir, I like words" and concluded,
I like the wordscreenwriter better thancopywriter, so I decided to quit my job in a New York advertising agency and try my luck in Hollywood, but before taking the plunge I went to Europe for a year of study, contemplation and horsing around. I have just returned and I still like words. May I have a few with you?[4]
The letter later featured in the bookLetters of Note and in 2014 was described by its editor, Shaun Usher, as his "current favorite"[4] and was read byBenedict Cumberbatch at 'Letters Live'.
Pirosh began his film career in 1934 as a junior writer forMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer, working with fellow newcomerGeorge Seaton. The two collaborated on theMarx Brothers' 1935 comedyA Night at the Opera and their next film,A Day at the Races, in 1937. He andDelmer Daves adaptedAyn Rand'sNight of January 16th for a1941 film of the same name directed byWilliam Clemens. In 1942 he collaborated on thescrewball comedyRings on Her Fingers forHenry Fonda andGene Tierney.
Pirosh was inducted into the U.S. Army from Los Angeles, California, on June 26, 1943. He joined the 320th Infantry Regiment,35th Infantry Division, as a replacement during theBattle of the Bulge on December 28, 1944. During the battle, he kept a war journal, which later formed the basis for the 1949 filmBattleground.
He earned anAcademy Award for Best Writing, Story and Screenplayin 1949 for his script for theWorld War II dramaBattleground, a film he also produced, that was the first based on theArdennes battle. His work was also honored in other venues that year. Pirosh won theGolden Globe and theWriters Guild of America awards.[5]
In 1951, he was nominated for anotherAcademy Award for the screenplayGo for Broke!. This was his directorial debut. He would go on to write the story for the highly regardedSteve McQueenWorld War II filmHell Is for Heroes, directed byDon Siegel, believed[citation needed] to be the basis for TV'sCombat! (which he created). He also directed 1954'sValley of the Kings and 1955'sThe Girl Rush.
Pirosh wrote the episode "The Man From Leadville" for the 1976CBSwestern television seriesSara.
