Arthur DeWitt Ripley (January 12, 1897 – February 13, 1961) was an American film screenwriter, editor, producer, and director.

Biography

In 1923, he joined the

Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American producer, director, actor, and studio head who was known as the "King of Comedy" during his career. Born in Danville, Quebec, he started acting i ...

studio as a comedy writer. In the 1920s, he worked closely with

Frank Capra Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-American film director, producer, and screenwriter who was the creative force behind Frank Capra filmography#Films that won Academy Award ...

churning out screenplays for many movies. After breaking with Capra and the Sennett studio, Ripley again returned to being a gag-writer, screenwriter, and occasional director, making short films with such comedians as W. C. Fields and

Edgar Kennedy Edgar Livingston Kennedy (April 26, 1890 – November 9, 1948) was an American comedic character actor who appeared in at least 500 films during the silent and sound eras. Professionally, he was known as "Slow Burn", owing to his ability to por ...

. His directorial work in the 1940s, '' Voice in the Wind'' (1944) and '' The Chase'' (1946), were both critical successes, but neither film was a box office hit. Ripley entered the world of academia, helping to establish the Film Center at U.C.L.A. while also working occasionally on TV. Ripley returned to directing one more time, at the request of

Robert Mitchum Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American actor. He is known for his antihero roles and film noir appearances. He received nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. He received a star on the Holl ...

, for '' Thunder Road'' (1958) before returning to U.C.L.A. and working until his death in 1961.

Selected filmography

* '' Alias Jimmy Valentine'' (1920) starring Bert Lytell * '' Life's Darn Funny'' (1921) * '' A Lady of Quality'' (1924) * ''Hooked at the Altar'' (1926) short * '' Heart Trouble'' (1928) * '' Barnum Was Right'' (1929) * '' Captain of the Guard'' (1930) * ''Crimes Square'' (1931) short * ''A Wrestler's Bride'' (1933) short * '' The Pharmacist'' (1933) short with W. C. Fields * '' The Barber Shop'' (1933) short with W. C. Fields * ' (1934) short * ''In the Dog House'' (1934) short * ''Shivers'' (1934) short * ''South Seasickness'' (1935) short * ' (1935) short * ''Edgar Hamlet'' (1935) short * ''In Love at 40'' (1935) short * ''Happy Tho' Married'' (1935) short * ''Gasoloons'' (1936) short * ''Will Power'' (1936) short * '' How to Behave'' (1936) short * '' How to Train a Dog'' (1936) short * '' I Met My Love Again'' (1938) * ''Scrappily Married'' (1940) short * ''Twincuplets'' (1940) short * '' Voice in the Wind'' (1944) * '' The Chase'' (1946) * '' Thunder Road'' (1958)

References

*Starman, Ray "Arthur Ripley" ''Films In Review'' magazine, March 1987, p. 164-167

External links

* 1897 births 1961 deaths Film directors from New York City American male screenwriters 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters {{US-screen-writer-1890s-stub