William Bowers

For other people named William Bowers, see William Bowers (disambiguation).
William Bowers
Born 1916
Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
Died 1987 (aged 70–71)
Woodland Hills, California, United States
Occupation Writer

William Bowers (January 17, 1916 in Las Cruces – March 27, 1987 in Woodland Hills, California) was a reporter in Long Beach, California and Life Magazine|Life]] magazine reporter before becoming a screenwriter. He specialized in writing comedy westerns, and also turned out several thrillers.

Career

Bowers' first play was Where Do We Go From Here?' that ran for 15 performances in 1968[1]His first credited screenplay was My Favorite Spy in 1942.[2]

During World War II Bowers served in the United States Army Air Forces where he met Arch Hall Sr.. Bowers later wrote a screenplay based on his experiences, The Last Time I Saw Archie, where Jack Webb played Bowers.[3][4] A play he wrote entitled West of Tomorrow was filmed as Jungle Patrol.

In 1950 he was Oscar nominated for the gritty Gregory Peck Western, The Gunfighter. After this his career noticeably picked up, leading to such assignments as the remake of My Man Godfrey in 1957 and The Sheepman in 1958 (a second Oscar nomination).

Bowers produced the last film that he wrote, the Western parody Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969). He also had a bit part as an actor in The Godfather Part II (1974).

Selected filmography

References

  1. ↑ https://www.ibdb.com/Production/View/12394
  2. ↑ "William Bowers". The New York Times. April 7, 1987.
  3. ↑ p.3 Weaver, Tom Richard Alden Interview I Talked with a Zombie: Interviews with 23 Veterans of Horror and Sci-fi Films and Television McFarland, 2009
  4. ↑ p. 217 Erickson, Hal Military Comedy Films: A Critical Survey and Filmography of Hollywood Releases Since 1918 McFarland, 7 Aug 2012
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