Valentine Davies

Film director, screenwriter (1905–1961)

Valentine Loewi Davies (August 25, 1905 – July 23, 1961) was an American film and television writer, producer, and director. His film credits included Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Chicken Every Sunday (1949), It Happens Every Spring (1949), The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954), and The Benny Goodman Story (1955).2

From Wikipedia’s article on Valentine Davies (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Aug 25, 1905, died Jul 23, 1961.1

About

He won the 1947 Academy Award for Best Story for Miracle on 34th Street and was nominated for the 1954 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Glenn Miller Story.

From Wikipedia’s article on Valentine Davies, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Companies

Early life and education

  • Date not recordedUniversity of Michigan3

Davies was born in New York City in 1905; his father worked in real estate. Davies attended the University of Michigan starting in 1923, and wrote reviews for The Michigan Daily, the school newspaper. While at UM, he met Elizabeth Straus, and married her soon after he graduated in 1926. They became the parents of son John and daughter Judith. He later obtained a graduate degree at Yale Drama School.

From Wikipedia’s article on Valentine Davies (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: film director, screenwriter, film producer.5

Known for: Miracle on 34th Street.6

In 1925, while a college student, Davies wrote the book and lyrics for a musical entitled Tambourine. He later wrote three Broadway plays: Three Times the Hour (opened August 25, 1931), Keeper of the Keys (opened October 18, 1933), and Blow Ye Winds (opened September 23, 1937).

Davis moved to California and began writing film screenplays. He served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II, and around Christmas 1943 he wrote the story for what would become the 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Story.

From 1949 to 1950, he served as President of the Screen Writers Guild and was on the Board of Governors from 1955 to 1961. The Valentine Davies Award was established by the Writers Guild of America, West, which is given to Guild members whose work brought honor and dignity to all writers.

From Wikipedia’s article on Valentine Davies (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • BornAug 25, 1905, New York City7
  • DiedJul 23, 1961, Malibu8
  • CitizenshipUnited States9

Awards

  • 1948Academy Award for Best Story for Miracle on 34th Street10 11

Sources

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