James Gow (August 23, 1907 – February 11, 1952) was an American writer, screenwriter, and playwright. He was the motion picture critic of the ''

New York World The ''New York World'' was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 to 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers as a leading national voice of the Democratic Party. From 1883 to 1911 under publisher Jo ...

''. He wrote the film ''

One Night of Love ''One Night of Love'' is a 1934 American Columbia Pictures romantic musical film set in the opera world, starring Grace Moore and Tullio Carminati. The film was directed by Victor Schertzinger and adapted from the story ''Don't Fall in Love'', ...

'' and co-wrote the film ''

Repent at Leisure ''Repent at Leisure'' is a 1941 American domestic comedy film directed by Frank Woodruff from a screenplay by Jerry Cady based on a story by James Gow and Arnaud D'Usseau Arnaud d'Usseau (April 18, 1916 – January 29, 1990) was a playwright ...

'' with

Arnaud d'Usseau Arnaud d'Usseau (April 18, 1916 – January 29, 1990) was a playwright and B-movie screenwriter who is perhaps best remembered today for his collaboration with Dorothy Parker on the play '' The Ladies of the Corridor''. Career D'Usseau was bor ...

. Gow wrote the plays ''Tomorrow the World'', ''

Deep Are the Roots ''Deep Are the Roots'' is a 1945 play by Arnaud d'Usseau and James Gow about a decorated African-American soldier who has returned from World War II. Plot Lieutenant Brett Charles returns to the Deep South, where he grew up as the son of the hou ...

'', and ''Legend of Sarah'' with d'Usseau.

Life and career

Gow was born on August 23, 1907, in

Creston, Iowa Creston is a city in and the county seat of Union County, Iowa. The population was 7,536 at the time of the United States Census, 2020, 2020 Census. History Creston was originally settled in 1868 as a survey camp for the Burlington and Missou ...

. He attended the

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...

and the

University of Colorado The University of Colorado (CU) is a system of public universities in Colorado. It consists of four institutions: the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, the University of Colorado Denver, and the U ...

, graduating from the latter. From 1928 to 1931, he worked as a reporter for the ''

''. He was a member of the film committee of the Fourth American Writers Congress in 1941. ''Tomorrow the World'' opened on Broadway in April 1943. The play ran for 500 performances and was later adapted into a 1944 film directed by

Leslie Fenton Leslie Fenton (12 March 1902 – 25 March 1978) was an English actor and film director. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1923 and 1945. Early life Fenton emigrated to America with his mother, Elizabeth Carter Fenton, and his brothe ...

. The opening night cast included

Ralph Bellamy Ralph Rexford Bellamy (June 17, 1904 – November 29, 1991) was an American actor whose career spanned 65 years on stage, film, and television. During his career, he played leading roles as well as supporting roles, garnering acclaim and award ...

Shirley Booth Shirley Booth (born Marjory Ford; August 30, 1898October 16, 1992) was an American actress. One of 24 performers to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting, Booth was the recipient of an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards and three Tony Awards. ...

, and

Joyce Van Patten Joyce Van Patten (born March 9, 1934) is an American film and stage actress. She is best known for her roles in films like ''The Bad News Bears'' (1976), '' St. Elmo's Fire'' (1985) (as Mrs. Beamish), and as Gloria Noonan in '' Grown Ups'' (2010) ...

. The play was also produced in London and Moscow. The play was revived at the

Hollywood Playhouse ''Hollywood Playhouse'', also known as ''Woodbury Hollywood Playhouse'', is a radio anthology drama series that featured adaptations of plays and short stories. Created as a showcase for Tyrone Power, the series began October 3, 1937, on the B ...

in 1993. ''Deep Are the Roots'' opened on Broadway in September 1945. The play was the first independent production of

Kermit Bloomgarden Kermit Bloomgarden (December 15, 1904 – September 20, 1976) was an American theatrical producer. He was an accountant before he began producing plays on Broadway including ''Death of a Salesman'' (1949), '' The Diary of Anne Frank'' (1955 ...

. ''Deep are the Roots'' ran for 477 performances. The ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' described the play as having "raised the then-scandalous theme of miscegenation while pleading for racial tolerance." The play was revived at the

Metropolitan Playhouse The Metropolitan Playhouse was a resident producing theater in New York City founded in 1992 by Parsifal's Productions, Inc. Originally producing in the auditorium of The High School for Graphic Communication Arts on W. 49th Street, the theater ...

in 2012. ''Legend of Sarah'' opened on Broadway in October 1950. The play is a comedy. Gow died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

on February 11, 1952, in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

. He was married to Olga Alexander.

Communist ties

He was a member of the

League of American Writers The League of American Writers was an association of American novelists, playwrights, poets, journalists, and literary critics launched by the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) in 1935. The group included Communist Party members, and so-called " fellow ...

, an organization created by the Communist Party. Gow was a sponsor of the

Cultural and Scientific Conference for World Peace The World Peace Council (WPC) is an international organization created in 1949 by the Cominform and propped up by the Soviet Union. Throughout the Cold War, WPC engaged in propaganda efforts on behalf of the Soviet Union, whereby it criticized ...

.http://www.fredsakademiet.dk/tid/1900/1949/newyork1949.pdf According to the

House Un-American Activities Committee The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA), popularly the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), was an investigative United States Congressional committee, committee of the United States House of Representatives, created in 19 ...

, Gow was affiliated with the

American Labor Party The American Labor Party (ALP) was a political party in the United States established in 1936 that was active almost exclusively in the state of New York. The organization was founded by labor leaders and former members of the Socialist Party of ...

, Stage for Action, the Citizens Committee for Robert Thompson and Benjamin J. Davis, the Committee to Defend Don West, and was a supporter of Henry A. Wallace's presidential candidacy. Arnaud d'Usseau was questioned about Gow's communist ties by

Roy Cohn Roy Marcus Cohn ( ; February 20, 1927 – August 2, 1986) was an American lawyer and prosecutor. He first gained fame as a prosecutor of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in their trials (1952–53) and as Senator Joseph McCarthy's chief counsel duri ...

after being subpoenaed.

Works

Films

* ''

'' (1934) * '' Thanks a Million'' (1935) * ''All the King's Horses'' (1935) * ''I Dream Too Much'' (1935) * ''

Murder on a Bridle Path ''Murder on a Bridle Path'' is a 1936 American mystery film directed by Edward Killy and William Hamilton, and starring James Gleason, Helen Broderick, and Louise Latimer. This film was the fourth production in the Hildegarde Withers series, a ...

'' (1936) * ''Bunker Bean'' (1936) * ''Shall We Dance'' (1937) * ''

'' (1941) * ''

Moonlight in Hawaii ''Moonlight in Hawaii'' is a 1941 American musical comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Jane Frazee, Johnny Downs and Leon Errol. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. Future star Maria Montez has a small role, wit ...

'' (1941)

Plays

*'' Tomorrow the World'' (1943) *''

Deep are the Roots ''Deep Are the Roots'' is a 1945 play by Arnaud d'Usseau and James Gow about a decorated African-American soldier who has returned from World War II. Plot Lieutenant Brett Charles returns to the Deep South, where he grew up as the son of the hou ...

'' (1945) *''Legend of Sarah'' (1950)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gow, James 1907 births 1952 deaths 20th-century American writers People from Creston, Iowa University of Iowa people University of Colorado alumni Writers from New York City