Jane-Howard Hammerstein
{{Short description|American screenwriter (1934–2022)}}
Jane-Howard Hammerstein (December 16, 1934 – January 15, 2022) was an American screenwriter best known as the writer of the film Summer of My German Soldier (1978), which earned a Humanitas Prize and was nominated for an Emmy Award. She also wrote the screenplay for Long Road Home (1991).
{{Infobox writer
| name = Jane-Howard Hammerstein
| occupation = screenwriter
| notable_works = Summer of My German Soldier (1978)
| awards = Humanitas Award
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1934|12|16}}
| birth_place = Greensboro, North Carolina
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|01|15|1934|12|16}}
| death_place = Danbury, Connecticut
| period = 1966-1991
}}
Early life and education
Hammerstein was born in Greensboro, North Carolina on December 16, 1934. Her parents were William Henry Holderness and Martha Broadhurst Brooks.{{Cite web |title=JANE-HOWARD HAMMERSTEIN Obituary (1934 - 2022) - New York, NY - New York Times |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/jane-howard-hammerstein-obituary?id=32332837 |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Legacy.com}} She was educated in Greensboro public schools and briefly attended Woman's College (now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro) but did not complete her bachelor's degree.{{Cite news |last=Kenion |first=Jerry |date=October 29, 1978 |title=Screenplay Has Greensboro Touch |pages=85 |work=Greensboro Daily News}}
Hammerstein represented North Carolina at the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels.
Career
Hammerstein began writing in 1961 while living in London with her first husband, Robert Carrington. Carrington and Hammerstein co-wrote several screenplays during the 1960s, including those for the films Kaleidoscope (1966) and Wait Until Dark (1967). During this time, she was credited as Jane-Howard Carrington.{{Cite web |title=Jane-Howard Hammerstein {{!}} Writer |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0358568/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}
In 1978, Hammerstein achieved wide recognition as the writer of the NBC television film Summer of My German Soldier, directed by Michael Tuchner and adapted from the novel of the same name by Bette Greene. Hammerstein was nominated for an Emmy Award for the film's screenplay, the first feature-length script she had written without a partner.
Hammerstein also wrote the screenplay for the 1991 film Long Road Home, a period piece about migrant farm workers during the Great Depression directed by John Korty. The story was adapted from the novel of the same name by Ronald B. Taylor.{{Cite news |date=March 24, 1992 |title='Thelma' wins Writers Guild award|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/539229225/ |pages=B-5 |work=The Daily Advertiser}} Reviews of the screenplay were more mixed than they had been for Summer of My German Soldier.{{Cite news |last=Kahn |first=Joseph |date=February 25, 1991 |title=Harmon Stars in NBC movie |pages=17 |work=Kennebec Journal}}{{Cite news |last=Sharbutt |first=Jay |date=February 25, 1991 |title=Son of 'Grapes of Wrath' |pages=42 |work=Philadelphia Daily News}} However, Hammerstein's script earned a Writers Guild Award for best adapted longform screenplay.
Private life and death
Hammerstein was married to fellow writer Robert Carrington during the 1960s. In 1972, she married William Hammerstein, son of lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II.
Hammerstein died in her sleep at Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Connecticut on January 15, 2022. She was 87 years old.
References
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Category:American women screenwriters