James Edward Grant - The John Wayne Message Board (JWMB) (2024)

JAMES EDWARD GRANT

Information From IMDb

Date of Birth
2 July 1905, Illinois, USA

Date of Death
19 February 1966, Burbank, California, USA (cancer)

Mini Biography
James Edward Grant started as a newspaperman in Chicago in the 1920s.
He moved to Hollywood to write under contract with Republic.
His passions were bullfighting and writing.
He spent the last years of his life in Spain.
IMDb Mini Biography By:

Spouse
Josephine Foy Grant (d.1987)

Trivia
Close friend of and frequent film collaborator with John Wayne.

When John Wayne insisted that Grant be brought
in to rewrite the script to Circus World (1964),
director Frank Capra, who wanted to use his own script, quit the film.

Filmography
Director:
1. Ring of Fear (1954)
2. Angel and the Badman (1947)
... aka The Angel and the Outlaw

Writer:
1. Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971) (written by)
2. "Hondo" (2 episodes, 1967)
- Hondo and the War Cry (1967) TV episode (earlier screenplay)
- Hondo and the Eagle Claw (1967) TV episode (earlier screenplay)
3. Hondo and the Apaches (1967) (TV) (earlier screenplay)
4. Hostile Guns (1967) (story)
5. Circus World (1964) (screenplay)
... aka Henry Hathaway's The Magnificent Showman (UK: complete title)
... aka Samuel Bronston's Circus World
... aka The Magnificent Showman (UK)
6. McLintock! (1963) (original screenplay)
7. Donovan's Reef (1963) (writer)
8. Maceralar krali (1963) (story "Johnny Eager") (uncredited)
9. The Comancheros (1961) (screenplay)
10. The Alamo (1960) (original screenplay)
11. The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958) (uncredited)
12. The Proud Rebel (1958) (story "Journal of Linnett Moore")
13. The Sheepman (1958) (screenplay) (story)
... aka Stranger with a Gun (USA: new title)
14. "M Squad" (1 episode, 1958)
- The Black Mermaid (1958) TV episode (writer)
15. Three Violent People (1956) (screenplay)
16. The Last Wagon (1956) (screenplay)
17. Ring of Fear (1954) (original screenplay)
18. Hondo (1953) (screenplay)
19. Trouble Along the Way (1953) (uncredited)
... aka Alma Mater
20. Big Jim McLain (1952) (screenplay)
... aka Jim McLain
21. Flying Leathernecks (1951) (screenplay)
22. Two of a Kind (1951) (writer)
23. Bullfighter and the Lady (1951) (screenplay)
... aka Torero (USA)
24. California Passage (1950) (written by)
25. Surrender (1950) (screenplay) (story)
26. Rock Island Trail (1950) (screenplay)
... aka Transcontinent Express (UK)
27. Father Is a Bachelor (1950) (screenplay) (story)
28. Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) (screenplay)
29. Johnny Allegro (1949) (story)
... aka Hounded (UK)
30. The Plunderers (1948) (story)
31. Angel and the Badman (1947) (written by)
... aka The Angel and the Outlaw
32. Incendiary Blonde (1945) (contributing writer) (uncredited)
33. The Great John L. (1945) (writer)
... aka A Man Called Sullivan (UK)
34. Belle of the Yukon (1944) (screenplay)
35. Gambler's Choice (1944) (story)
36. The Lady Is Willing (1942) (screenplay) (story)
37. Johnny Eager (1942) (screenplay) (story)
38. They Dare Not Love (1941) (story)
39. Boom Town (1940) (story "A Lady Comes to Burkburnett")
40. I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby (1940) (story "Trouble in B-flat")
41. Music in My Heart (1940) (original story and screenplay)
42. Hollywood Cavalcade (1939) (dialogue contibutor) (uncredited)
43. Miracles for Sale (1939) (screenplay)
44. There's That Woman Again (1939) (writer)
... aka What a Woman (UK)
45. We're Going to Be Rich (1938) (writer)
46. Josette (1938) (writer)
47. Danger-Love at Work (1937) (screenplay) (story)
48. The Women Men Marry (1937) (writer)
49. She's No Lady (1937) (story)
50. She Had to Eat (1937) (story)
51. Great Guy (1936) (story "The Johnnie Cave Stories")
... aka Pluck of the Irish (UK)
52. Grand Jury (1936) (writer)
53. The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936) (story)
54. Big Brown Eyes (1936) (story "Hahsit Babe")
55. Muss 'em Up (1936) (novel "The Green Shadow")
... aka Sinister House (UK)
... aka The House of Fate (UK)
56. Whipsaw (1935) (story "The Whipsaw")

Producer
1. The Alamo (1960) (associate producer)
2. The Great John L. (1945) (producer)
... aka A Man Called Sullivan (UK)

James Edward Grant,
who was one of Duke's life-long friends,
and collaboraters,for many years, until his death in 1966.

He was an American film writer and director.
He wrote more than 50 films between 1935 and 1967
as well as directing the 1947 film Angel and the Badman,
which starred John Wayne.
He was nominated for an Academy Award
for Writing Original Screenplay for The Sheepman.
He was also the writer of many of Duke's screenplays,
much to the annoyance of a few of the Directors,
who complained of him being constantly drunk and disappearing!
They were suprised, to how much say, he had on what Duke thought and did.

Quote

When John Wayne insisted that Grant be brought in to rewrite the script to Circus World (1964), director Frank Capra, who wanted to use his own script, quit the film.

James kowtowed to Duke,and tended to tell Duke,
what Duke wanted to hear.

One friend noted.

Quote

James played Chess with Duke for over twenty years,
and never one a single game!

However the screenwriter understood the kind of roles,
that Duke played best, and tailored his scripts
to the actor's strengths, giving him dialogue, that was simple and direct.

Adele Mara maintained:-

Quote

Grant never wrote strong parts for women...his stories were for men.

Grant was an alcholic,and his judgement was not always the best,
Chata hated him, but that was not enough to stop the friendship.

James Edward Grant went on to make with 12 movies with Duke,
as Director, Writer or Producer:-

Circus World (1964) (screenplay)
McLintock! (1963) (original screenplay)
Donovan's Reef (1963) (writer)
The Comancheros (1961) (screenplay)
The Alamo (1960) (Assoc.Producer/ original screenplay)
The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958) (uncredited)
Hondo (1953) (screenplay)
Trouble Along the Way (1953) (uncredited)
Big Jim McLain (1952) (screenplay)
Flying Leathernecks (1951) (screenplay)
Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) (screenplay)
Angel and the Badman (1947) (Director/ Writer)

He was also involved in various capacites,
on the Batjac productions, not starring Duke

Russell Birdwell said:-

Quote

If there had not been John Ford and a James Edward Grant,
we would not today, be enjoying the image known as John Wayne

A relatively little known name among most fans, yet look how many movies he was involved in, of John Wayne's. I had not heard of him before now .

Thanks, Keith!

Chester