New York Times (19/Jun/1995) - Obituary: Charles Bennett
(c) The New York Times (19/Jun/1995)
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CEED91139F93AA25755C0A963958260
- keywords: Alfred Hitchcock, Blackmail (1929), Charles Bennett, David O. Selznick, Foreign Correspondent (1940), Robert Stevenson, Saboteur (1942), Secret Agent (1936), The 39 Steps (1935), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
Charles Bennett, 95; Hitchcock Colleague
Charles Bennett, a screenwriter who collaborated with Alfred Hitchcock on several classic thrillers, died here on Thursday. He was 95.
Mr. Bennett's association with Hitchcock began in 1929 with "Blackmail," which was adapted from his own play and became Britain's first sound picture. He went on to write "The Man Who Knew Too Much," "The 39 Steps," "The Secret Agent" and "King Solomon's Mines," all directed by Hitchcock and produced in Britain.
In the United States, Mr. Barnett wrote -- alone or with a collaborator -- "Foreign Correspondent," "Reap the Wild Wind," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" and a remake of "The Man Who Knew Too Much."
He moved to Hollywood in 1937 and claimed credit for introducing Hitchcock to David Selznick and for discovering Alan Ladd. He and Hitchcock worked together for the last time in 1942 on "Saboteur," but remained close friends until Hitchcock's death.
Mr. Bennett directed two pictures: the British film "Madness of the Heart" in 1949 and "Escape" in 1953. His final film was "War Gods of the Deep," in 1965.
He also worked in television, contributing episodes to "The Wild, Wild West" and "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea." In March he was awarded the Screen Laurel award for lifetime achievement from the Screen Writers Guild of America.
He is survived by a son, John.
Correction: June 21, 1995, Wednesday
An obituary on Monday about Charles Bennett, a screenwriter, misidentified the director of the 1937 movie "King Solomon's Mines," for which Mr. Bennett shared screen writing credit. The director was Robert Stevenson, not Alfred Hitchcock.
