Robert E. Kent (August 31, 1911 in

Canal Zone The Panama Canal Zone (), also known as just the Canal Zone, was a concession of the United States located in the Isthmus of Panama that existed from 1903 to 1979. It consisted of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending on each side o ...

Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and ...

– December 11, 1984 in Los Angeles) was an American

film writer 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 film producer.

Career

Kent began as a rapid screenwriter for

Sam Katzman Sam Katzman (July 7, 1901 – August 4, 1973) was an American film producer and director. Katzman's specialty was producing low-budget genre films, including serials, which had disproportionately high returns for the studios and his financi ...

at Columbia. For seven years he worked as a writer and story editor at Columbia. He then became a producer for

Edward Small Edward Small (born Edward Schmalheiser, February 1, 1891 – January 25, 1977) was an American film producer from the late 1920s through 1970, who was enormously prolific over a 50-year career. He is best known for the movies ''The Count of Mon ...

. He used the pseudonym James B. Gordon for some of his work, According to ''Filmink'' Kent "wasn’t bad creating female characters for these sort of movies (at least compared to others made around this time)." He later formed his own production company, and Admiral Productions together with Grant Whytock and

. Admiral produced two horror films with

Vincent Price Vincent Leonard Price Jr. (May 27, 1911 – October 25, 1993) was an American actor. He was known for his work in the horror film genre, mostly portraying villains. He appeared on stage, television, and radio, and in more than 100 films. Price ...

and four Westerns with

Audie Murphy Audie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was an American soldier, actor, and songwriter. He was widely celebrated as the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II, and has been described as the most highly decorated enli ...

. Robert E. Kent died in 1984.Richard F. Docte
''Becoming a Woman: A Biography of Christine Jorgensen''
New York: Haworth Press (Taylor & Francis), 2013, p.241

Selected filmography

*''

Paid to Dance ''Paid to Dance'' (also known as ''Hard to Hold'') is a 1937 American drama film starring Don Terry, Jacqueline Wells and Rita Hayworth. Plot Government agents William Dennis and Joan Bradley are undercover, working to solve the disappearances ...

'' (1937) *''

Juvenile Court Juvenile court, also known as young offender's court or children's court, is a tribunal having special authority to pass judgements for crimes committed by children who have not attained the age of majority. In most modern legal systems, chi ...

'' (1938) *'' Gambling on the High Seas'' (1940) *'' Always a Bride'' (1940) *''

Father Is a Prince ''Father Is a Prince'' is a 1940 comedy film directed by Noel M. Smith, starring Grant Mitchell and Nana Bryant. ''Father is a Prince'' is a remake of the 1934 comedy-drama ''Big Hearted Herbert'', itself based on a play by Sophie Kerr Sophie K ...

'' (1940) *''

Calling All Husbands ''Calling All Husbands'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Noel M. Smith and written by Robert E. Kent and based on Martin Flavin's 1929 play "Broken Dishes". The film stars George Tobias, Lucile Fairbanks, Ernest Truex, George R ...

'' (1940) *'' Ladies Must Live'' (1940) *''

The Case of the Black Parrot ''The Case of the Black Parrot'' is a 1941 American mystery crime film directed by Noel M. Smith and written by Robert E. Kent. The film stars William Lundigan, Maris Wrixon, Eddie Foy, Jr., Luli Deste, Paul Cavanagh and Charles Waldron. The ...

'' (1941) *''

Bad Men of Missouri ''Bad Men of Missouri'' is a 1941 American western film directed by Ray Enright and written by Charles Grayson. The film stars Dennis Morgan, Jane Wyman, Wayne Morris and Arthur Kennedy. The film was released by Warner Bros. on July 26, 1941 ...

'' (1941) *''

Spy Ship A spy ship or reconnaissance vessel is a dedicated ship intended to gather intelligence, usually by means of sophisticated electronic eavesdropping. In a wider sense, any ship intended to gather information could be considered a spy ship. Sp ...

'' (1942) *'' Bullet Scars'' (1942) *''

I Was Framed ''I Was Framed'' is a 1942 American crime film directed by D. Ross Lederman. According to Warner Bros records the film earned $159,000 domestically and $90,000 foreign. Plot Cast * Tod Andrews as Ken Marshall (Scott) (as Michael Ames) * Jul ...

'' (1942) *''

Adventure in Iraq ''Adventure in Iraq'' is a 1943 American adventure film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring John Loder, Ruth Ford, Warren Douglas and Paul Cavanagh. The film is based on the 1921 play '' The Green Goddess'' by William Archer. Plot Thre ...

'' (1943) *''

Truck Busters ''Truck Busters'' is a 1943 American drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason, written by Robert E. Kent and Raymond L. Schrock, and starring Richard Travis, Virginia Christine, Charles Lang, Ruth Ford, Richard Fraser, Tod Andrews and Frank Wil ...

'' (1943) *'' Murder on the Waterfront'' (1943) *''

Gildersleeve on Broadway ''Gildersleeve on Broadway'' is a 1943 American comedy film starring Harold Peary as his radio character The Great Gildersleeve. It is the third of four Gildersleeve features, others were '' The Great Gildersleeve'' (1942), '' Gildersleeve's B ...

'' (1943) *'' Find the Blackmailer'' (1943) *''

Two O'Clock Courage ''Two O'Clock Courage'' is a 1945 American film noir directed by Anthony Mann and written by Robert E. Kent, based on a novel by Gelett Burgess. The drama features Tom Conway and Ann Rutherford. It is a remake of ''Two in the Dark'' (1936). Pl ...

'' (1945) *''

The Falcon in San Francisco ''The Falcon in San Francisco'' is a 1945 American crime and mystery film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and stars Tom Conway, Rita Corday and Edward Brophy, who played the recurring role of "Goldie" Locke. The film was the 11th in The Falcon ser ...

'' (1945) *''

Dick Tracy vs. Cueball ''Dick Tracy vs. Cueball'' is a 1946 American action film based on the 1930s comic strip character of the same name created by Chester Gould. The film stars Morgan Conway as Dick Tracy in the second installment of the ''Dick Tracy'' film s ...

'' (1946) *''

Philo Vance Returns ''Philo Vance Returns'' is a 1947 American mystery film directed by William Beaudine and starring William Wright (actor), William Wright, Vivian Austin and Leon Belasco.Marshall p.333 It is one of a series of films featuring private detective Phil ...

'' (1947) *''

Gas House Kids Go West ''Gas House Kids Go West'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by William Beaudine. A sequel to the 1946 film '' Gas House Kids'', which had starred former Dead End Kids leader Billy Halop, this new film emphasized comedy and recast the gang w ...

'' (1947) *''

Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome ''Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome'' (also known as ''Dick Tracy Meets Karloff'' and ''Dick Tracy's Amazing Adventure'' (UK) ) is a 1947 American thriller film directed by John Rawlins and starring Boris Karloff, Ralph Byrd and Anne Gwynne. The film ...

'' (1947) *''

Gas House Kids in Hollywood Gas is a state of matter that has neither a fixed volume nor a fixed shape and is a compressible fluid. A ''pure gas'' is made up of individual atoms (e.g. a noble gas like neon) or molecules of either a single type of atom ( elements such as o ...

'' (1947) *''

The Reckless Moment ''The Reckless Moment'' is a 1949 American noir melodrama film directed by Max Ophüls, produced by Walter Wanger, and released by Columbia Pictures with Burnett Guffey as cinematographer. It starred James Mason and Joan Bennett. The film is ...

'' (1949) *''

Where the Sidewalk Ends ''Where the Sidewalk Ends'' is a 1974 children's poetry collection written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. It was published by Harper and Row Publishers. The book's poems address common childhood concerns and also present fanciful stories ...

'' (1950) *''

Last of the Buccaneers ''Last of the Buccaneers'' is a 1950 American Technicolor adventure film directed by Lew Landers and starring Paul Henreid as Jean Lafitte. Plot Swashbuckler about the adventures of pirate Jean Lafitte after he helped save New Orleans from a Brit ...

'' (1950) *'' Drums of Tahiti'' (1951) * ''

When the Redskins Rode ''When the Redskins Rode'' is a 1951 American historical Western film directed by Lew Landers and starring Jon Hall, Mary Castle and James Seay. The film is loosely based on the events leading up to the outbreak of the French and Indian War. ...

'' (1951) *''

Thief of Damascus '' Thief of Damascus '' is a 1952 American Technicolor adventure film directed by Will Jason and starring Paul Henreid, John Sutton (actor), John Sutton and Jeff Donnell. The film features a generous use of stock footage from such films as ''Joa ...

'' (1952) *''

The Golden Hawk ''The Golden Hawk'' is a 1952 American historical adventure film in Technicolor directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Rhonda Fleming, Sterling Hayden and John Sutton. It is based on the 1948 novel of the same name by Frank Yerby. Plot During ...

'' (1952) *''

California Conquest ''California Conquest'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Lew Landers and starring Cornel Wilde and Teresa Wright.

'' (1952) *''

Brave Warrior ''Brave Warrior'' is a 1952 Technicolor American Western film, directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet. It stars Jon Hall and Christine Larsen. The story is based on events during the War of 1812 and the Battle of Tippecanoe, but contains historical ...

'' (1952) *''

Flame of Calcutta ''Flame of Calcutta'' is a 1953 American historical adventure film directed by Seymour Friedman and starring Denise Darcel, Patric Knowles and Paul Cavanagh. It was one of a number of historical films made by Sam Katzman's production unit for Colu ...

'' (1953) *'' The Pathfinder'' (1953) *'' The Miami Story'' (1954) *'' Charge of the Lancers'' (1954) *''

Rock Around the Clock "Rock Around the Clock" is a rock and roll song in the 12-bar blues format written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers (the latter being under the pseudonym "Jimmy De Knight") in 1952. The best-known and most successful rendition was reco ...

'' (1956) *'' The Werewolf'' (1956) *'' The Houston Story'' (1956) *''

Miami Exposé ''Miami Exposé'' is a 1956 American film noir crime film directed by Fred F. Sears and starring Lee J. Cobb, Patricia Medina and Edward Arnold. The film marked the last performance of Arnold, who was fatally stricken during the production. Als ...

'' (1956) *''

Don't Knock the Rock ''Don't Knock the Rock'' is a 1956 American musical film starring Alan Dale and Alan Freed. Directed by Fred F. Sears, the film also features performances by Bill Haley & His Comets (who were top-billed), Little Richard, The Treniers, and Da ...

'' (1956) *''

Monkey on My Back ''Pump'' is the tenth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith. It was released on September 12, 1989, by Geffen Records. The album peaked at No. 5 on the US charts, and was certified septuple platinum by the RIAA in 1995. The album contain ...

'' (1957) *''

Chicago Confidential ''Chicago Confidential'' is a 1957 American crime film noir directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Brian Keith, Beverly Garland and Dick Foran. It is based on the 1950 book ''Chicago: Confidential!'' by Jack Lait and Lee Mortimer. ''Chicago ...

'' (1957) *'' Gun Duel in Durango'' (1957) *''

Badman's Country ''Badman's Country'' is a 1958 American Western film directed by Fred F. Sears and written by Orville H. Hampton. The film stars George Montgomery. Plot Pat Garrett arrives in Abilene where he catches five of Butch Cassidy's gang. He calls in ...

'' (1958) *'' Invisible Invaders'' (1959) *''

Twist Around the Clock ''Twist Around the Clock'' is an American musical film released in 1961. It was a remake of Sam Katzman and Robert E. Kent's ''Rock Around the Clock.'' Like ''Rock Around the Clock,'' which was followed by a sequel titled ''Don't Knock the Rock ...

'' (1961) *''

Don't Knock the Twist ''Don't Knock the Twist'' is a 1962 comedy musical film starring Lang Jeffries, directed by Oscar Rudolph and produced by Sam Katzman for release by Columbia Pictures. It is a sequel to the 1961 film '' Twist Around the Clock'', featuring ...

'' (1962) *'' Diary of a Madman'' (1963) *''

Twice-Told Tales ''Twice-Told Tales'' is a short story collection in two volumes by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The first volume was published in the spring of 1837 and the second in 1842. The stories had all been previously published in magazines and annuals, hence t ...

'' (1963) *'' Get Yourself a College Girl'' (1964) *''

The Quick Gun ''The Quick Gun'' is a 1964 American Techniscope Western film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Audie Murphy. It was the second of four films produced by Grant Whytock and Edward Small's Admiral Pictures in the 1960s.When the Boys Meet the Girls When the Boys Meet the Girls may refer to: * ''When the Boys Meet the Girls'' (film), a 1965 American musical film * ''When the Boys Meet the Girls'' (album), a 1985 album by Sister Sledge {{dab ...

'' (1965) *'' Hold On!'' (1966) *'' Hot Rods to Hell'' (1967) *''

The Fastest Guitar Alive ''The Fastest Guitar Alive'' is a 1967 American Musical film, musical Comedy film, comedy western (genre), Western film directed by Mickey Moore, Michael D. Moore and starring singer Roy Orbison in his only acting role. The film features Orbison ...

'' (1967) *'' A Time to Sing'' (1968) *''

The Christine Jorgensen Story ''The Christine Jorgensen Story'' is a 1970 American drama film and a fictionalized biographical film about trans woman Christine Jorgensen. While the overall premise of the film is accurate, many of the details are fictionalized for the conti ...

'' (1970)

Notes

External links

* 1911 births 1984 deaths American male screenwriters 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters American expatriates in Panama {{US-film-bio-stub