John Bernard Henry Leslie Davies (25 November 1913 – 22 June 1994) was an English

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

and

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while other ...

with 49 writing credits to his name as well as the 12 episodes of ''

The Pickwick Papers ''The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club'' (also known as ''The Pickwick Papers'') was the Debut novel, first novel serialised from March 1836 to November 1837 by English author Charles Dickens. Because of his success with ''Sketches by Bo ...

'' 1985 TV series. He was an associate producer for two of those credits, '' Crooks Anonymous'' and '' Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines'', receiving an Oscar nomination for

Best Original Screenplay The Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay is the Academy Award (also known as an Oscar) for the best screenplay not based upon previously published material. It was created in 1940 as a separate writing award from the Academy Award for Best ...

on the latter. He was an assistant editor for the

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

Dracula ''Dracula'' is an 1897 Gothic fiction, Gothic horror fiction, horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. The narrative is Epistolary novel, related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist and opens ...

'' in 1974, and also an editor for ''

Sheba, Baby ''Sheba, Baby'' is a 1975 American blaxploitation action film directed by William Girdler and starring Pam Grier and Austin Stoker. Plot Private investigator Sheba Shayne (Grier) returns from Chicago, Illinois to her hometown of Louisville, ...

'' in 1975. Three of his films were also books he wrote or co-wrote: ''

Monte Carlo or Bust! ''Monte Carlo or Bust!'' is a 1969 epic comedy film, also known by its American title, ''Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies''. A co-production of the United Kingdom, France and Italy, the story is based on the Monte Carlo Rally – ...

'', ''

Paper Tiger "Paper tiger" is a calque of the Chinese phrase ''zhǐlǎohǔ'' ( zh, s=纸老虎, t=紙老虎). The term refers to something or someone that claims or appears to be powerful or threatening but is actually ineffectual and unable to withstand ch ...

'', and '' North Sea Hijack''.

Personal life

Davies was married to Dorothy Holding from 12 June 1937 until his death on 22 June 1994. They had two children, John Howard Davies and his younger brother Legh.

Filmography

(As writer, except where indicated.)

Films

* '' Love at Second Sight'' (also known as ''The Girl Thief'') (1934) * '' Mister Cinders'' (uncredited) (1935) * '' Dance Band'' (1935) * '' Heart's Desire'' (1935) * '' Music Hath Charms'' (1936) * '' Once in a Million'' (1936) * '' A Star Fell from Heaven'' (1936) * '' The Tenth Man'' (1936) * '' Trouble in the Air'' (1948) * ''

Laughter in Paradise ''Laughter in Paradise'' is a 1951 British comedy film directed by Mario Zampi, starring Alastair Sim, Fay Compton, George Cole, and Guy Middleton. It was written by Jack Davies and Michael Pertwee. The film was remade as '' Some Will, S ...

'' (1951) * '' Curtain Up'' (1952) * ''

Top Secret Classified information is confidential material that a government deems to be sensitive information which must be protected from unauthorized disclosure that requires special handling and dissemination controls. Access is restricted by law or ...

'' (also known as ''Mr. Potts Goes to Moscow'') (1952) * '' Happy Ever After'' (also known as ''Tonight's the Night'') (1954) * '' Doctor at Sea'' (1955) * ''

An Alligator Named Daisy ''An Alligator Named Daisy'' is a 1955 British comedy film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Donald Sinden, Jeannie Carson, James Robertson Justice, Diana Dors, Roland Culver and Stanley Holloway. It was written by Jack Davies based on ...

'' (1955) * '' Jumping for Joy'' (1956) * '' Around the World in 80 Days'' (as an uncredited actor only) (1956) * ''

Up in the World ''Up in the World'' is a 1956 black and white comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom, Maureen Swanson and Jerry Desmonde. It was written by Jack Davies, Henty Blyth and Peter Blackmore, and produced by Rank ...

'' (1956) * ''

True as a Turtle ''True as a Turtle'' is a 1957 British comedy film directed by Wendy Toye and starring John Gregson, Cecil Parker, June Thorburn and Keith Michell. The screenplay was by John Coates, Jack Davies and Nicholas Phipps, based on the 1955 nove ...

'' (1957) * '' High Flight'' (1957) * '' I Only Arsked!'' (1958) * '' The Square Peg'' (1958) * ''

The Ugly Duckling "The Ugly Duckling" () is a Danish literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875). It was first published on 11 November 1843 in '' New Fairy Tales. First Volume. First Collection'', with three other tale ...

'' (1959) * '' Invitation to Monte Carlo'' (documentary; also known as ''Love in Monaco'') (1959) * '' Don't Panic Chaps!'' (1959) * '' Follow a Star'' (1959) * ''

It Started in Naples ''It Started in Naples'' is a 1960 American romantic comedy film directed by Melville Shavelson and produced by Jack Rose from a screenplay by Suso Cecchi d'Amico, based on the story by Michael Pertwee and Jack Davies. The Technicolor cinema ...

'' (1960) * ''

The Bulldog Breed ''The Bulldog Breed'' is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Robert Asher and starring Norman Wisdom. It was written by Henry Blyth, Jack Davies and Wisdom. Plot Norman Puckle, a well-meaning but clumsy grocer's assistant, cannot seem to ...

'' (1960) * '' Seven Keys'' (1961) * ''

Very Important Person A very important person (VIP or V.I.P.) or personage is a person who is accorded special privilege (legal ethics), privileges due to their high social rank, social status, status, social influence, influence, or Importance (disambiguation), impo ...

'' (also known as ''A Coming-Out Party'') (1961) * '' Nearly a Nasty Accident'' (1961) * '' Crooks Anonymous'' (also as an associate producer) (1962) * '' On the Beat'' (1962) * '' The Fast Lady'' (1962) * '' A Stitch in Time'' (1963) * '' Father Came Too!'' (1963) * '' The Cavern'' (1964) * '' Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines'' (also as an associate producer) (1965) * ''

The Early Bird ''The Early Bird'' is a 1965 British comedy film directed by Robert Asher (director), Robert Asher and starring Norman Wisdom, Edward Chapman (actor), Edward Chapman, Bryan Pringle, Richard Vernon, John Le Mesurier and Jerry Desmonde. It was t ...

'' (1965) * '' Doctor in Clover'' (also known as ''Carnaby, M.D.'') (1966) * ''

Gambit A gambit (from Italian , the act of tripping someone with the leg to make them fall) is a chess opening in which a player sacrifices with the aim of achieving a subsequent advantage. The word '' gambit'' is also sometimes used to describe si ...

'' (1966) * ''

'' (also known as ''Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies'') (1969) * ''

Some Will, Some Won't ''Some Will, Some Won't'' is a 1970 British comedy film directed by Duncan Wood, starring an ensemble British cast including Michael Hordern, Ronnie Corbett, Dennis Price, Leslie Phillips and Arthur Lowe. It is a remake of ''Laughter in Paradise ...

'' (1970) * ''

Doctor in Trouble ''Doctor in Trouble'' is a 1970 British comedy film, the seventh and last film in the ''Doctor'' series. The film was directed by Ralph Thomas and stars Leslie Phillips as a doctor who gets accidentally trapped on an outgoing cruise ship while i ...

'' (1970) * ''

'' (as editor only) (1975) * ''

'' (1975) * '' North Sea Hijack'' (1979)

Television

* '' Man of the World'' (2 episodes: "The Sentimental Agent" and "Double Exposure" (1962–63) * '' The Sentimental Agent'' (1 episode: "The Scroll of Islam") (1963) * '' The Poppy Is Also a Flower'' (TV film) (1966) * ''

'' (TV film; as assistant editor only) (1974) * ''

'' (12 episodes) (1985)

Bibliography

* ''Monte Carlo or Bust!: Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies'' (1969), ; film adaptation: ''

'' * ''Paper Tiger'' (1974), ; film adaptation: ''

'' * ''Le Hold Up'' (1977), . * ''Esther, Ruth, and Jennifer'' (1979), ; film adaptation: '' North Sea Hijack''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Davies, Jack 1913 births 1994 deaths English male screenwriters 20th-century English screenwriters 20th-century English male writers