Jo Swerling
Jo Swerling was a significant figure in American theater and film, born on April 18, 1897, in Bardichov, Russia, and later emigrating with his family to the United States. Growing up in a challenging environment, he began his career in journalism at the Herald and Examiner in Chicago, where he also explored various forms of writing, including vaudeville sketches and comic strips. Swerling made his mark in the 1920s with successful plays such as "One of Us" and "The Kibitzer," showcasing his ability to capture the essence of ordinary people facing life's challenges.
In the late 1920s, he transitioned to Hollywood, where he became a prominent screenwriter for major directors like Frank Capra and Alfred Hitchcock. His notable works include "Gone with the Wind," "The Pride of the Yankees," and the classic "It's a Wonderful Life." Swerling's storytelling often centered on relatable characters, reflecting themes of perseverance and optimism. His collaboration on the Broadway musical "Guys and Dolls" earned him two Tony Awards, solidifying his legacy in both theater and film. He passed away on October 23, 1964, leaving behind a rich body of work that continues to be celebrated.
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Jo Swerling
Playwright
- Born: April 18, 1897
- Birthplace: Bardichov, Russia
- Died: October 23, 1964
- Place of death: Los Angeles, California
Biography
Joseph “Jo” Swerling was born on April 18, 1897, in Bardichov, Russia, one of five sons and two daughters born to Russian Jews, who moved to the United States in the late 1890’s, settling on the Lower East Side of New York City. As a youngster, Swerling sold newspapers to assist his poverty-stricken family. While still in his teens, Swerling moved to Chicago, where he landed a job at the Herald and Examiner newspaper. Over a twelve- year period, working in Chicago and New York, he served as a reporter, entertainment critic, and editor, meanwhile writing vaudeville sketches, comic strips, and a book of stories and poems, Typo Tales and Verses.
As a reviewer, Swerling met the Marx Brothers and wrote a musical comedy for them, Streetwise Cinderella. Though the musical was a flop, the experience was rewarding enough for Swerling to focus his energies on writing plays. His first effort, One of Us, was produced in New York and other successes followed throughout the 1920’s, including One Helluva Night, The Understander, and The Kibitzer, the last play cowritten with actorEdward G. Robinson.
In the late 1920’s, Swerling moved to Hollywood, where for the next twenty-five years he wrote stories, plays, screenplays, dialogue, and adaptations for such distinguished directors as Frank Capra, John Ford, Rouben Mamoulian, Alfred Hitchcock, and Billy Wilder. Some of his early efforts include Hell’s Island, Ten Cents a Dance, Platinum Blonde, The Whole Town’s Talking, and Pennies from Heaven. Swerling’s screenplays often focus on ordinary people, who may be gold-diggers, taxi dancers, or small-timers but who nevertheless persevere through hard work, common sense, and optimism.
The late 1930’s and early 1940’s represented Swerling’s heyday as a screenwriter. Though he received no screen credit, he was one of the writers for Gone with the Wind. He also scripted The Westerner, the remake of Blood and Sand, and the Academy Award- nominated screenplay for The Pride of the Yankees. In addition, he adapted the script for Hitchcock’s acclaimed film Lifeboat from a John Steinbeck story. Swerling also was one of the writers to receive credit for It’s a Wonderful Life. Although he would receive his last screenwriting credit in 1961, Swerling’s final triumph came a decade earlier when he collaborated with with Abe Burrows on Guys and Dolls, a Broadway hit musical that won the authors two Tony Awards,
Swerling was married to Florence Manson and the couple had two sons: Joseph Swerling, Jr., a successful producer and occasional writer of dozens of television series from the 1960’s to the 1990’s, and Peter Swerling, a mathematician who worked for the Rand Corporation and made many significant contributions to the field of radar. Swerling died on October 23, 1964.