Samuel Ornitz

Screenwriter

Biography

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Samuel Ornitz brought many screenplays to Hollywood throughout the course of his Hollywood career. Ornitz began his entertainment career in film writing following credits on "Hell's Highway" (1932), the Ricardo Cortez mystery "Thirteen Women" (1932) and "The Man Who Reclaimed His Head" (1934) with Claude Rains. In the latter part of his career, Ornitz wrote "Portia on Trial" (1937),...

Filmography

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China's Little Devils (1945)

Original story and Screenplay

They Live in Fear (1944)

Three Faces West (1940)

Miracle on Main Street (1939)

El milagro de la Calle Mayor (1939)

King of the Newsboys (1938)

Photos & Videos

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Thirteen Women (1932) -- (Movie Clip) She Seemed Very Charming

Thirteen Women (1932) -- (Movie Clip) One Chain Of Destiny

Biography

Samuel Ornitz brought many screenplays to Hollywood throughout the course of his Hollywood career. Ornitz began his entertainment career in film writing following credits on "Hell's Highway" (1932), the Ricardo Cortez mystery "Thirteen Women" (1932) and "The Man Who Reclaimed His Head" (1934) with Claude Rains. In the latter part of his career, Ornitz wrote "Portia on Trial" (1937), "Army Girl" (1938) and the Lew Ayres drama "King of the Newsboys" (1938). He also appeared in the Ann Gillis comedic adventure "Little Orphan Annie" (1938). Ornitz more recently wrote the drama "Three Faces West" (1940) with John Wayne. Ornitz passed away in March 1957 at the age of 67.

Filmography

Writer (Feature Film)

China's Little Devils (1945)

Original story and Screenplay

They Live in Fear (1944)

Three Faces West (1940)

Miracle on Main Street (1939)

El milagro de la Calle Mayor (1939)

King of the Newsboys (1938)

Little Orphan Annie (1938)

Little Orphan Annie (1938)

Army Girl (1938)

Portia on Trial (1937)

It Could Happen to You (1937)

The Hit Parade (1937)

A Doctor's Diary (1937)

Two Wise Maids (1937)

Follow Your Heart (1936)

Fatal Lady (1936)

Three Kids and a Queen (1935)

Mark of the Vampire (1935)

The Man Who Reclaimed His Head (1934)

One Exciting Adventure (1934)

Imitation of Life (1934)

Contract Writer

The Past of Mary Holmes (1933)

Contract Writer

One Man's Journey (1933)

Secrets of the French Police (1932)

Men of America (1932)

Hell's Highway (1932)

Thirteen Women (1932)

Sins of the Children (1930)

The Case of Lena Smith (1929)

Life Events

Videos

Thirteen Women (1932) -- (Movie Clip) She Seemed Very Charming We’ve just met Ricardo Cortez as L-A detective Clive, investigating a suicide on a just-arrived train, questioning spooky Ursula (Myrna Loy), who somehow psychically caused it, and who gives a false name, whereupon we join her worried former boarding school classmates Laura, Jo and Grace (Irene Dunne, Jill Esmond, Florence Eldridge) in Thirteen Women, 1932.

Thirteen Women (1932) -- (Movie Clip) One Chain Of Destiny With extensive exposition in the opening scene we learned that boarding-school grad trapeze artist June (the brunette, Mary Duncan) is nervous because a swami predicted the death of her sister (Harriet Hagman), after which we meet him (C. Henry Gordon) and Myrna Loy as Ursula, whose role is not explained as yet, in RKO’s Thirteen Women, 1932.

Thirteen Women (1932) -- (Movie Clip) Those Fool Horoscopes We learn here that somehow super-psychic powered Ursula (Myrna Loy) has been forging letters from her evidently credible lover the Swami, instigating the deaths of boarding school roommates, adding Hazel (Peg Entwistle) to her tally, whereupon we meet Laura (Irene Dunne) who reaches out to Helen (Kay Johnson), in RKO’s Thirteen Women, 1932.

One Man's Journey (1933) -- (Movie Clip) It Must Be The Water Passage of time as humble New England single-father Dr. Watt (Lionel Barrymore) carries on his selfless work and his son grows up to be Joel McCrea, and smallpox breaks out, in One Man’s Journey, 1933, the RKO melodrama restored by TCM, from a story by Katharine Haviland-Taylor.

Secrets Of The French Police (1932) -- (Movie Clip) He'll Have You On The Streets First scene for Danish Gwili Andre, as flower girl "Eugenie," with pickpocket boyfriend Leon (John Warburton), joined by her angered father (Christian Rub), trouble looming, in Secrets Of The French Police, 1932.

Secrets Of The French Police (1932) -- (Movie Clip) Princess Anastasia Leon (John Warburton) at a Paris cafe, French detective St. Cyr (Frank Morgan) playing the drunk, observing evil Baron Lonzoi (Lucien Prival) calling master crook General Moloff (Gregory Ratoff), in Secrets Of The French Police, 1932.

Mark Of The Vampire (1935) -- (Movie Clip) A Certain Thorny Weed Lionel Barrymore (Professor Zelin) taking over treatment of vampire-bitten Irena (Elizabeth Allen), while her guardian the Baron (Jean Hersholt) tells the inspector (Lionel Atwill) that her dad may not be dead, then ensuing chatter, in director Tod Browning's Mark Of The Vampire, 1935.

Mark Of The Vampire (1935) -- (Movie Clip) This Is No Time For Levity Servants (Leila Bennett, Ivan Simpson) bat-proofing, the count (Bela Lugosi) undeterred, inspector (Lionel Atwill) doubtful, professor (Lionel Barrymore) advises the baron (Jean Hersholt), Elizabeth Allen under guard, her dad (Holmes Herbert) confirmed un-dead, in Mark Of The Vampire, 1935.

Mark Of The Vampire (1935) -- (Movie Clip) The Darkness Won't Hurt Us Director Tod Browning introduces Count Mora and daughter Luna (Bela Lugosi, Carol Borland) with lots of schlock, then her encounter with the chauffeur and new maid (Franklyn Ardell, Leila Bennett), Jean Hersholt their boss, Elizabeth Allan his ward Irena, in MGM's Mark Of The Vampire, 1935.

Secrets Of The French Police (1932) -- (Movie Clip) Catacombs Of Crime Neat opening referring to the American magazine origins of the story, Frank Morgan playing a French detective, from the David O. Selznick-produced Secrets Of The French Police, 1932.

Hell's Highway (1932) -- (Movie Clip) The Kid's Soft Work sequence from director Roland Brown, old hand Duke (Richard Dix) appeals to chain gang boss Skinner (C. Henry Gordon) on behalf of new man Carter (John Arledge), in RKO's Hell's Highway, 1932.

Hell's Highway (1932) -- (Movie Clip) Throwback To The Middle Ages Crisp and newsy opening credit sequence, introducing inmates Duke (Richard Dix) and Romeo (Jed Kiley), in director Roland Brown's chain gang drama Hell's Highway, 1932.

Bibliography

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