Valentine Davies | |
|---|---|
| Born | Valentine Loewi Davies (1905-08-25)August 25, 1905[1] New York City, US[1] |
| Died | July 23, 1961(1961-07-23) (aged 55)[1] Malibu, California, US[1] |
| Occupation | Screenwriter, playwright, director, producer |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Notable works | Miracle on 34th Street The Benny Goodman Story The Bridges at Toko-Ri It Happens Every Spring |
| Notable awards | Best Story 1947Miracle on 34th Street |
Valentine Loewi Davies (August 25, 1905 – July 23, 1961) was an American film and television writer, producer, and director. His film credits includedMiracle on 34th Street (1947),Chicken Every Sunday (1949),It Happens Every Spring (1949),The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954), andThe Benny Goodman Story (1955). He won the 1947Academy Award for Best Story forMiracle on 34th Street and was nominated for the 1954Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay forThe Glenn Miller Story.
Davies was born inNew York City in 1905; his father worked in real estate. Davies attended theUniversity of Michigan starting in 1923, and wrote reviews forThe Michigan Daily, the school newspaper. While at UM, he met Elizabeth Straus, and married her soon after he graduated in 1926.[2] They became the parents of son John and daughter Judith.[3] He later obtained a graduate degree atYale Drama School.[2]
In 1925, while a college student, Davies wrote the book and lyrics for a musical entitledTambourine.[4] He later wrote three Broadway plays:Three Times the Hour (opened August 25, 1931),Keeper of the Keys (opened October 18, 1933), andBlow Ye Winds (opened September 23, 1937).[5]
Davis moved to California and began writing film screenplays. He served in the United StatesCoast Guard duringWorld War II, and around Christmas 1943 he wrote the story for what would become the 1947 filmMiracle on 34th Street, which earned him anAcademy Award for Best Story.[2]
From 1949 to 1950, he served as President of theScreen Writers Guild[2] and was on the Board of Governors from 1955 to 1961. TheValentine Davies Award was established by theWriters Guild of America, West, which is given to Guild members whose work brought honor and dignity to all writers.[1]
Davis died at his home in Malibu, California on July 23, 1961 when he was fifty-five years old. The cause of death was a heart attack brought on by a deep belly-laugh.[2]
Davis wrote the screenplays for:[4]
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| Preceded by B. B. Kahane | President of Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences 1960-1961 | Succeeded by |
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