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Seton I. Miller

{{short description|American screenwriter (1902–1974)}}

{{Infobox person

|name = Seton I. Miller

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|birth_name = Seton Ingersoll Miller

|birth_date = {{Birth date|1902|5|3}}

|birth_place = Chehalis, Washington, U.S.

|death_date = {{Death date and age|1974|3|29|1902|5|3}}

|death_place = Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, U.S.

|other_names = Hap {{small|(nickname)}}

|education = Yale University

|occupation = Screenwriter & Producer

|spouse = {{marriage|Bonita J. Miller||1940|end=divorced}}
{{marriage|Ann Evers|1946}}

|children = 3

}}

Seton Ingersoll Miller (May 3, 1902 – March 29, 1974) was an American screenwriter and producer. During his career, he worked with film directors such as Howard Hawks and Michael Curtiz. Miller received two Oscar nominations and won once for Best Screenplay for the 1941 fantasy romantic comedy film, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, along with Sidney Buchman.

Early life

Seton Miller was born and raised in Chehalis, Washington. His father, Harry John, was a successful lumberman and a state legislator, and his mother was a prominent member of the local community. He attended Yale University and was part of the college orchestra and crew.{{cite news |title=Brevities |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lWo9AAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=July 25, 1924 |page=7}} A few of his movies were screened locally in his hometown, including 1932's Scarface at the Peacock Theater{{cite news |title=Chehalis Boy Joint Author of "Scarface" |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wYU9AAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=August 26, 1932 |page=6}} and his 1933 movie, The Eagle and the Hawk, was honored with a first-run showing at the St. Helens Theater in downtown Chehalis.{{cite news |title=Seton Miller Picture At St. Helens Theater |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZoA9AAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=June 2, 1933 |page=4}}

Career

=Early writing and Fox Films=

A Yale graduate, Miller began writing stories for silent films in the late 1920s. He worked on Brown of Harvard in technical direction and as a member of the cast.{{cite news |title=Seton Miller Gets Post |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1ak9AAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=March 26, 1926 |page=17}} He signed a three-year contract at Fox Film Corporation in 1927{{cite news |title=Seton Miller Signs Contract With Fox |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oDBLAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 27, 1927 |page=9}} where his credits included the films, Paid to Love, Two Girls Wanted,{{cite news|author=Babcock, M. |date=Sep 18, 1927|title=Hilarious comedy offered in "TWO GIRLS WANTED"|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|162099343}}}} High School Hero, and Wolf Fangs. He also started early work with Howard Hawks on the productions, Fazil and Cradle Snatchers.

=''A Girl in Every Port'' and Howard Hawks=

Miller's first big hit was the 1928 film, A Girl in Every Port, directed by Howard Hawks, a crucial film in Hawks' career. He was reunited with Hawks later that year for Fazil then did two Rex Bell 1928 Westerns, The Cowboy Kid and Girl-Shy Cowboy. In 1929, Miller wrote Hawks' first sound film, The Air Circus then did The Far Call for Allan Dwan that same year, following it up in 1930 with The Lone Star Ranger and a comedy, Harmony at Home, then left Fox.

Miller joined Hawks at First National and in 1930 did The Dawn Patrol, working with another team on Today that same year. In 1931 he started work on three movies with Hawks, The Criminal Code at Columbia, and in 1932, both Scarface, and The Crowd Roars.{{cite news|title=ON THE CINEMA HORIZON. |date=Jun 28, 1931|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|99335691}}}}{{cite news|title=SCREEN LIGHTS AND SHADOWS. |date=Jan 3, 1932|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|99773070}}}} His final works at Fox Films include The Last Mile then adapted the comedy play Once in a Lifetime, both completed in 1932.

=Paramount=

At Paramount, Miller wrote Hot Saturday (1932) and in 1933, the horror film, Murders in the Zoo,{{Cite news|title=PICTURES AND PLAYERS IN HOLLYWOOD. |date=Nov 20, 1932|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|99761198}}}} the Hawks movie The Eagle and the Hawk, and Gambling Ship (1933). During the year he went to Columbia for Master of Men. In 1934, he worked on Come On Marines! for Henry Hathaway, then went back to Fox for Murder in Trinidad, Marie Galante and Charlie Chan's Courage.{{cite news|title=COMIC PAIR STARRED IN MUSIC FILM|date=Jan 23, 1934|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|163228111}}}}

He worked on The Farrell Case for James Cagney and Jack Holt but it was not made.{{Cite news|author=Schallert, E.|title=Jack holt and jimmy Cagney will team in seton miller's "the farrell case".|date=Feb 19, 1935|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|163365554}}}}

=Warner Bros=

For Warner Bros., Miller wrote The St. Louis Kid (1934) for James Cagney. In 1935, after working on Murder on a Honeymoon for RKO, Warner Bros. asked him to return to work on further Cagney films: G Men, and Frisco Kid. He wrote a sequel to G Men, G Women{{Cite news|author=Schallert, E.|title=Careers of two foreign actresses brighten as they sign new film contracts|date=Jun 14, 1935|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|163314885}}}} that was not made.

Miller continued to write for other studios and in 1936, wrote It Happened in New York for Universal and in 1937, Two in the Dark for RKO and for Republic, The Leathernecks Have Landed.

Miller went back to Warner Bros. in 1937 to do Bullets or Ballots for Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart.{{cite news|author=Schallert, E.|title=Rumors of movie deal again start following arrival of stokowsky on coast.|date=Jan 21, 1936|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|164555263}}}} He stayed at the studio to work on Marked Woman, San Quentin, Back in Circulation, and Kid Galahad. He wrote Kit Carson for Wayne Morris but it as not made.{{cite news|date=Nov 24, 1937|title=NEWS OF THE SCREEN|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|102160200}}}}

In 1938, Miller worked on the Errol Flynn vehicle, The Adventures of Robin Hood, which was a big success. He was put on another Flynn film, a remake of The Dawn Patrol.{{cite news|date=Jun 7, 1938|title=NEWS OF THE SCREEN|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|102547364}}}} Miller wrote Valley of the Giants that year and following in 1939, two productions with John Garfield, Dust Be My Destiny and Castle on the Hudson.{{cite news|author=Schallert, E.|title=Sing sing epic listed as garfield venture.|date=Feb 20, 1939|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|164942555}}}}

He officially left Warners in July 1939 after four years.{{Cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD|author=DOUGLAS W CHURCHILL |date=Jul 12, 1939|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|102759565}}}} but did another Flynn swashbuckler, The Sea Hawk in 1940.{{cite news|date=Aug 4, 1938|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|102505887}}}} He also wrote a Western for Flynn, Tombstone{{Cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD|author=DOUGLAS W CHURCHILL |date=May 31, 1939|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|103036753}}}} but it was not made.

=Post-Warners=

At Universal he adapted I James Lewis but it does not appear to have been made.{{Cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD|author=DOUGLAS W CHURCHILL |date=Nov 12, 1940|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|105301081}}}} At Columbia he cowrote Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941), which won him an Oscar, following it up with a Universal production, This Woman is Mine (1942). Warners' Secret Enemies (1942) was based on his story.{{cite news|title=Fontaine, cooper win 'oscars'; crisp and astor best support |date=Feb 27, 1942|work=The Christian Science Monitor|id= {{ProQuest|513767178}}}}

=20th Century Fox=

Miller went to Fox, where in 1942 he worked on My Gal Sal and The Black Swan.{{Cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD|author=DOUGLAS W CHURCHILL|date=Oct 29, 1941|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|105697829}}}} Working briefly for Columbia, he adapted the play Heart of City for Merle Oberon{{Cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD|date=Jun 19, 1942|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|106406367}}}} but it was not made.

=Paramount: Turning Producer=

Miller signed a contract with Paramount to write and produce. He started with Ministry of Fear (1944), directed by Fritz Lang.{{Cite news|author=Schallert, E.|title=DRAMA AND FILM.|date=Mar 20, 1943|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|165397717}}}} He was assigned The Griswold Story but it was not made.{{Cite news|author=Schallert, E.|title=SCREEN AND STAGE.|date=Aug 3, 1943|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|165468381}}}} Miller also produced The Bride Wore Boots (1946).{{cite news|date=May 28, 1945|title=NEWS OF THE SCREEN.|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|107307109}}}}

He had written a script of Two Years Before the Mast for Edward Small in 1939.{{cite news|date=Dec 6, 1943|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|106595638}}}} The project was bought by Paramount, and Miller also produced. It was directed by John Farrow and he and Miller made two more films together, California (1947), and Calcutta (1947).{{Cite news|author=Schallert, E.|title='Two years before mast' personnel assembling.|date=Feb 14, 1944|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|165477320}}}}{{Cite news|title=HOLLYWOOD HAPPENINGS|author=F. S.|date=Sep 30, 1945|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|107267384}}}}

=Warners & Universal=

Miller sold his script for Singapore to Universal in 1947. It was later remade as Istanbul (1957).{{Cite news|title=M'MURRAY TO PLAY LEAD IN 'SINGAPORE': Actor Is Signed by Universal- International for Picture-- Fox Engages Moss Hart|author=THOMAS F. BRADY|work=New York Times|date=Feb 3, 1947|page=22}} In August 1947, he signed with Warner Bros to write and produce. He was to start with Colt 45 starring Wayne Morris.{{Cite news|title=BUCKNER TO MAKE A COMEDY FOR U-I|author=THOMAS F BRADY |date=Aug 14, 1947|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|107812661}}}} It was not made. Instead he wrote and produced Fighter Squadron (1948).{{Cite news|title=O'brien will star in film of war aces|author=F. D.|date=Jul 16, 1948|work=The Christian Science Monitor|id={{ProQuest|516146759}}}}

=1950s independent writer and studio works=

In the 1950s, Miller wrote either independently or for various studios. In 1950, Miller wrote The Man Who Cheated Himself, originally known as The Gun,{{Cite news|title=BOGART AND LORD BUY 'BUTCHER BIRD'|author=THOMAS F BRADY |date=May 1, 1950|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|111402475}}}} and associate produced The Sound of Fury.{{Cite news|title=NO COMPLAINTS|author=R. S.|date=Apr 23, 1950|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|111416331}}}} Early in that year he formed a company with Irvin Rubin.{{Cite news|title=Drama: Beverly Tyler Signs for 'Challenge;' Dane Clark Launches Company|author=Schallert, Edwin.|date=Jan 5, 1950|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B9}}

He wrote and produced Queen for a Day (1951) at United Artists{{Cite news|title=METRO PLANNING NEW WAR PICTURE|author=THOMAS F BRADY|date=Jan 25, 1950|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|111556795}}}} and wrote an adaptation of Island in the Sky{{Cite news|title=STILLMAN TO MAKE NEW AVIATION FILM|author=THOMAS F BRADY |date=Jan 26, 1950|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|111552121}}}} but is not credited on the final film. Miller wrote The Mississippi Gambler (1953) and in 1954, the Bengal Brigade for Universal and The Shanghai Story for Republic.

In 1955, he sold a Western script, The Staked Plains to Henry Fonda.{{cite news|author=THOMAS M PRYOR|date=Nov 18, 1955|title=FONDA WILL FILM 'STAKED PLAINS'.|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|113379091}}}} He wrote scripts for a Dennis O'Keefe TV series Hart of Honolulu.{{cite news|date=Aug 20, 1955|title=DISNEY TO UNVEIL TV VARIETY SERIES.|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|113390356}}}} He wrote The Willie Gordon Story for Ray Milland in 1957, meant to be shot in England but it was not made.{{Cite news|title=UNIVERSAL SUES ACTOR IT OUSTED|author=THOMAS M PRYOR|date=Feb 21, 1957|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|113899056}}}} That same year, he sold a story Pete's Dragon for the Disney company to make as a vehicle for Kevin Corcoran.{{Cite news|author=Hopper, H.|title=Looking at hollywood.|date=Dec 17, 1957|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|id={{ProQuest|180210876}}}} The eventual film was not made for another two decades.

Miller was credited on the remake of The Last Mile (1959).{{Cite news|title=LAST MILE' CREDIT IS BASIS FOR SUIT|author=THOMAS M PRYOR|date=Mar 20, 1959|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|114923385}}}} He closed out the decade by writing Death Valley Days and creating a series, Rogue for Hire.

=Later career=

His later credits span into the 1970s, including Knife for the Ladies (1974) and an unpublished story of his was filmed as Pete's Dragon (1977).

Awards and nominations

Miller was nominated with Fred Niblo, Jr. for their 1931 screen adaptation of Martin Flavin's play The Criminal Code. He and Sidney Buchman won the Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay in 1941 for Here Comes Mr. Jordan.

Personal life

Miller married Bonita and had two children, Keith and Bonita, but he and his wife divorced in 1940. She demanded $2,000 a month in alimony claiming Miller abused her verbally and physically.{{cite news|title=Alimony of $2000 sought from writer |date=Jun 18, 1940|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|165081048}}}} He remarried in 1946, to actress Ann Evers{{cite news|title=Film Producer to Wed Actress|author=Hopper, Hedda.|work=Los Angeles Times|date=Jan 25, 1946|page=A2}} and had another child, a daughter, Catherine, who became an actor.

Partial filmography

:As writer, unless otherwise specified.

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References

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External links

  • [http://www.filmreference.com/Writers-and-Production-Artists-Me-Ni/Miller-Seton-I.html http://www.filmreference.com/Writers-and-Production-Artists-Me-Ni/Miller-Seton-I.html]
  • {{IMDb name|id=0589316|name=Seton I. Miller}}

{{AcademyAwardBestAdaptedScreenplay 1941–1960}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Seton I.}}

Category:1902 births

Category:1974 deaths

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award winners

Category:20th-century American male writers

Category:20th-century American screenwriters

Category:People from Chehalis, Washington