Theodore Strauss (December 27, 1912–October 30, 2009) was an American writer.

Biography

Strauss was born in Oklahoma on December 27, 1912."In memoriam". ''

Writers Guild of America West The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) is a labor union representing film, television, radio, and new media writers. It was formed in 1954 from five organizations representing writers, including the Screen Writers Guild. It has around 20,000 mem ...

Journal''. Vol. 14, Iss. 1. p. 56. Via Proquest. He worked in circulation at the ''New York Times'' in the 1930s."Books and Authors". ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

''. Sep 26, 1937. p. 16. Via Proquest. His novel ''Night at Hogwallow'' (Little, Brown & Co.,1937) was received positively by the ''New York Times''. Later he became the paper's "second-string film critic" (after

Bosley Crowther Francis Bosley Crowther Jr. (July 13, 1905 – March 7, 1981) was an American journalist, writer, and film critic for ''The New York Times'' for 27 years. His work helped shape the careers of many actors, directors and screenwriters, though his ...

)."Pictures: N.Y. Times' Ted Strauss To Par As Pic Writer". ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

''. Jan 19, 1944. 153, 6. p. 40. Via Proquest. In 1944, he left the ''New York Times'' to work as a screenwriter at

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. The following busin ...

. Strauss was known for his novel ''Moonrise'' (Viking, 1946). It was first published serially in a magazine and then adapted for the 1948 film of the same name. He worked for ''

Life Life is a quality that distinguishes matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes, from that which does not, and is defined by the capacity for Cell growth, growth, reaction to Stimu ...

'' magazine and in 1956 was named editor of ''

Woman's Home Companion ''Woman's Home Companion'' was an American monthly magazine, published from 1873 to 1957. It was highly successful, climbing to a circulation peak of more than four million during the 1930s and 1940s. The magazine, headquartered in Springfield, O ...

''. He was also editorial director of Crowell-Collier."Rambling reporter". ''The Hollywood Reporter''. Mar 20, 1951. 113, 20. p. 2. Via Proquest. In 1957, he returned to the film industry in the eastern story department of

20th Century-Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Disne ...

. Robert Goldstein named him executive story editor at Fox in 1960. From the 1960s–1980s, he was known for television documentaries. Strauss and

Terry Sanders Terry Sanders (born December 20, 1931) is an American filmmaker having produced and/or directed more than 70 dramatic features, televisions specials, documentaries and portrait films. He co-heads the American Film Foundation and has produced an ...

won a

Writers Guild of America Award The Writers Guild of America Awards is an award for film, television, and radio writing including both fiction and non-fiction categories given by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America West since 1949. Eligibility Th ...

for the film ''

The Legend of Marilyn Monroe ''The Legend of Marilyn Monroe'' is a 1966 American documentary film chronicling the life and career of actress Marilyn Monroe. Directed by Terry Sanders, and narrated by John Huston, the film was also released under the title ''The Marilyn Monroe ...

'' (1966). He was nominated for an Emmy for '' I Will Fight No More Forever'' (1975) and he won an Emmy for ''America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music'' (1976). Strauss narrated the first hour of ''Jacques Cousteau: Cries from the Deep'' (1982). A ''Variety'' review said it was "dismally narrated" and elaborated that his "high-toned verbiage" spoiled the trip for viewers.Adil. "Radio-Television: Canadian TV Reviews - Jacques Cousteau: Cries from the Deep". ''Variety''. Oct 27, 1982. 308, 13. p. 62. Via Proquest. A ''Variety'' review of his 1986 effort, ''Clue: Movies, Murder & Mystery'', was critical: "Writer Theodore Strauss throws in so many subjects involved in fictional murder that the viewer is left wondering what the mystery is all about".Tone. "Radio-Television: Clue: Movies, Murder & Mystery". ''Variety''. Sep 24, 1986. 324, 9. p. 110. Via Proquest.

Personal life

Strauss was married to Catherine Morrison; they had a son, Eric. Later Strauss married

Dorothy Comingore Mary Louise Comingore (August 24, 1913 – December 30, 1971), known professionally as Dorothy Comingore, was an American film actress. She starred as Susan Alexander Kane in ''Citizen Kane'' (1941), the critically acclaimed debut film of ...

from 1947 to 1952; they had a son, Peter. In 1956, Strauss married his third wife, Luann "Ludy" Miller, in

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...

; they had a son, Jonathan, around 1960. Theodore Strauss died on October 30, 2009.

Novels

* ''Night at Hogwallow'' (Little, Brown & Co., 1937); also published under the title ''The Haters'' * ''Moonrise'' (Viking, 1946)

Selected filmography

Film

* ''Moonrise'' (1948) * ''

Isn't It Romantic? "Isn't It Romantic?" is a popular song and part of the Great American Songbook. The music was composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart. It has a 32-bar chorus in A–B–A–C form. Alec Wilder, in his book ''American Popular So ...

'' (1948) * ''The Russian Story'' (1948) * ''

Four Days in November ''Four Days in November'' is a 1964 American documentary film directed by Mel Stuart about the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Summary The film includes Dallas radio and tel ...

'' (1964)

Television

* ''The Way Out Men'' (television) (1965) * ''They've Killed President Lincoln'' (1971) * ''The Crucifixion of Jesus'' (1972) * ''The Killer Instinct'' (1973) * ''Struggle for Survival'' (1974) * '' I Will Fight No More Forever'' (1975) * ''America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music'' (1976) * ''Jacques Cousteau: Cries from the Deep'' (1982) * ''Honeymooners Reunion'' (1985)Gansberg, Alan L. "Solt Prods, specials get wide May airing". ''The Hollywood Reporter''. May 10, 1985. p. 1, 34. Via Proquest. * ''Clue: Movies, Murder & Mystery'' (1986)

References

External links

*
Theodore Strauss
at Writers Guild Foundation Archive
"The Moral of the ''Auteur'' Theory": Frank Borzage's ''Moonrise'' (and Theodore Strauss' Source Novel)
at ''

Senses of Cinema ''Senses of Cinema'' is a quarterly online film magazine founded in 1999 by filmmaker Bill Mousoulis. Based in Melbourne, Australia, ''Senses of Cinema'' publishes work by film critics from all over the world, including critical essays, caree ...

'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Strauss, Theodore 1912 births 2009 deaths American male screenwriters American male novelists Writers from Oklahoma Emmy Award winners American magazine editors American film critics