Melvin Frank

Melvin Frank (13 August 1913 – 13 October 1988) was an American screenwriter, film producer and film director. He is known for his partnership with Norman Panama and their work on films such as Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, White Christmas (1954), and The Court Jester (1956). He also directed films such as Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968) and A Touch of Class (1973).

Life and career Born to a Jewish family, Frank met his future collaborator Norman Panama in 1933 when they were both at the University of Chicago. After graduating, they formed a partnership in 1935 which endured for four decades; first writing for Milton Berle before becoming writers for Bob Hope's radio show. In 1941, they sold their first script to Paramount Pictures, My Favorite Blonde (1942), which starred Hope. They started with The Reformer and the Redhead (1950) and also made Knock on Wood (1954) and The Court Jester (1956), both with Danny Kaye, with the former earning them another Academy Award nomination. They also co-wrote White Christmas (1954) with Norman Krasna. They wrote a Broadway play together in 1956, later adapted into Li'l Abner (1959), directed by Frank. They received another Academy Award nomination for The Facts of Life (1960) and also worked on The Road to Hong Kong (1962). At the time of his death he was still married to his second wife, Juliet. He had three children, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Elizabeth Frank and sons Andrew and James.

Selected filmography Year Title Director Writer Producer 1942 My Favorite Blonde 1946 Road to Utopia Monsieur Beaucaire 1947 It Had to Be You 1948 The Return of October Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House 1950 The Reformer and the Redhead 1951 Strictly Dishonorable Callaway Went Thataway 1952 Above and Beyond 1954 White Christmas Knock on Wood 1956 The Court Jester That Certain Feeling 1959 Li'l Abner The Trap The Jayhawkers! 1960 The Facts of Life 1962 The Road to Hong Kong 1965 Strange Bedfellows 1966 Not with My Wife, You Don't! A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 1968 Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell 1973 A Touch of Class 1975 The Prisoner of Second Avenue 1976 The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox 1979 Lost and Found 1987 Walk Like a Man