Rian James ''(né'' Julian Herbert Rothschild; October 3, 1899 – April 26, 1953) was an American

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 author. He wrote for more than 30 films between 1932 and 1947.

Career

A "

Jack of all trades "Jack of all trades, master of none" is a figure of speech used in reference to a person who has dabbled in many skills, rather than gaining expertise by focusing on only one. The original version, "a jack of all trades", is often used as a com ...

", James was a columnist covering arts and entertainment for the ''

Brooklyn Eagle The ''Brooklyn Eagle'' (originally joint name ''The Brooklyn Eagle'' and ''Kings County Democrat'', later ''The Brooklyn Daily Eagle'' before shortening title further to ''Brooklyn Eagle'') was an afternoon daily newspaper published in the city ...

'' from about 1928 to 1935. He later was a foreign correspondent, parachute jumper, stunt man, airmail pilot, Air Force lieutenant, vaudeville actor, and finally, writer, director and producer.

Selected works

* ''Dining in New York'' (2nd ed.),

John Day Company The John Day Company was a New York City-based publishing firm that specialized in illustrated fiction and current affairs books and pamphlets from 1926 to 1968. It was founded by Richard J. Walsh (publisher), Richard J. Walsh in 1926 and named a ...

(1931); * ''Love is a Racket'', Alfred H. King (1931); * ''42nd Street'' (screenplay); * ''Helldorado'' * ''Not Made In Heaven'', Julian Messner (1936) * ''

Broadway Limited The ''Broadway Limited'' was a passenger train operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) between New York City and Chicago from 1912 to 1995. It was the Pennsylvania's premier train, competing directly with the New York Central Railroad's '' 2 ...

'' (1941)

Selected filmography

; As story writer * ''

Love Is a Racket ''Love Is a Racket'' ( UK title: ''Such Things Happen'') is a 1932 American pre-Code romantic comedy-drama film, starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Ann Dvorak Ann Dvorak (born Anna McKim; August 2, 1911 – December 10, 1979) was an Ame ...

'' (1932) * ''

Parachute Jumper ''Parachute Jumper'' is a 1933 American pre-Code black-and-white comedy drama film directed by Alfred E. Green. Based on a story by Rian James titled "Some Call It Love", it stars Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Bette Davis and Frank McHugh. Plot ...

'' (1933) * ''

Down Argentine Way ''Down Argentine Way'' is a 1940 American musical film made in Technicolor by Twentieth Century Fox. It made a star of Betty Grable in her first leading role for the studio although she had already appeared in 31 films, and it introduced America ...

'' (1940) * '' Eve Knew Her Apples'' (1945) ; As screenwriter * ''

42nd Street 42nd Street most commonly refers to: *42nd Street (Manhattan), a major crosstown street in the New York City borough of Manhattan It may also refer to: *42nd Street (film), ''42nd Street'' (film), a 1933 American Warner Bros. musical film with lyri ...

'' (1933) * '' Mary Stevens, M.D.'' (1933) * ''

Lawyer Man ''Lawyer Man'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by William Dieterle, based on the novel by Max Trell. The film stars William Powell and Joan Blondell. It was produced by Warner Bros. By the time of the release, several actors we ...

'' (1933) * '' Gift of Gab'' (1934) * ''

The Witness Chair ''The Witness Chair'' is a 1936 American courtroom drama film directed by George Nicholls, Jr. and starring Ann Harding, Walter Abel and Douglass Dumbrille. Plot Late one night, secretary Paula Young ( Ann Harding) leaves the office of her bo ...

'' (1936) * '' Walking on Air'' (1936) * '' Internes Can't Take Money'' (1937) * ''

The Housekeeper's Daughter ''The Housekeeper's Daughter'' is a 1939 comedy/drama film directed and produced by Hal Roach. The film stars Joan Bennett, Adolphe Menjou and John Hubbard. The screenplay was written by Rian James, Gordon Douglas, Jack Jevne and Claude Marti ...

'' (1939) * '' The Gorilla'' (1939) * ''

'' (1941) * '' Parachute Nurse'' (1942) * ''Not a Ladies Man'' (1942) * ''

La Otra ''La otra'' (English: ''The Other Woman'') is a Mexican telenovela produced by Ernesto Alonso for Televisa in 2002. It aired on Canal de las Estrellas from May 20 to September 20, 2002. The telenovela stars Juan Soler, Yadhira Carrillo, Ja ...

'' (1946), remade as ''

Dead Ringer Dead Ringer or Dead Ringers may refer to: * Dead ringer (idiom) Books * ''The Dead Ringer'', a 1948 mystery novel by Fredric Brown * ''Dead Ringer'', novel in the '' Rosato & Associates'' series Radio, film and television Films * ''Dead ...

'' (1964) * ''

Whispering City ''Whispering City'' (also known as ''Crime City'') is a 1947 Canadian black-and-white film noir directed by Fedor Ozep and starring Paul Lukas, Mary Anderson (actress, born 1918), Mary Anderson, and Helmut Dantine.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Ca ...

'' (1947) * '' La Forteresse'' (1947) ; As adaptation writer * ''

The White Parade ''The White Parade'' is a 1934 film directed by Irving Cummings and starring Loretta Young and John Boles. It was written by Rian James, Jesse Lasky Jr., Sonya Levien and Ernest Pascal, from the novel by Rian James. Dedicated to "the memory ...

'' (1934) * ''

The Dragon Murder Case ''The Dragon Murder Case'' (first published in 1934) is a novel in a series by S. S. Van Dine about fictional detective Philo Vance. It was also adapted to a film version in 1934, starring Warren William as Vance. Plot A guest at an estate ...

'' (1934)

Family history

Several biographical sources state that James was born in

Eagle Pass, Texas Eagle Pass is a city in and the county seat of Maverick County, Texas, United States. Its population was 28,130 as of the 2020 census. Eagle Pass borders the city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, which is to the southwest and across the ...

. But he was actually born in

Manhattan, New York Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

, October 3, 1899, to Alexander Walter Rothschild and Sophie Nusbaum. James died at age 53, from Leukemia, in

Newport Beach, California Newport Beach is a coastal city of about 85,000 in southern Orange County, California, United States. Located about southeast of downtown Los Angeles, Newport Beach is known for its sandy beaches. The city's harbor once supported maritime indu ...

. He was survived by wife Anne James ''(née'' Marina Alexeieff Zeitlin, known as Anne Andre; born 1919), an English actress, and children, Rian Jeffrey James and Victoria James. James' mother was a sister-in-law of songwriter

Albert Von Tilzer Albert Von Tilzer (born Albert Gumm, March 29, 1878 – October 1, 1956) was an American songwriter, the younger brother of fellow songwriter Harry Von Tilzer. He wrote the music to many hit songs, including, most notably, " Take Me Out to the B ...

. ; Prior marriages * Dorothy Pauline Barmon (1902–1976), married March 31, 1921 * Goldie Jane H. Taub (born 1904), married April 28, 1924, Manhattan, New York * Diane Corday, married May 5, 1930, divorced April 18, 1936

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:James, Rian 1899 births 1953 deaths American male screenwriters People from Eagle Pass, Texas Screenwriters from Texas 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters