Diana Morgan (screenwriter) facts for kids

Mary Diana Morgan (born May 29, 1908 – died December 9, 1996) was a talented writer from Wales. She wrote plays for the stage, scripts for movies, and even novels. Many people know her best for her work as a screenwriter for Ealing Studios, where she was known as Diana Morgan. She was married to Robert MacDermot, who was also a screenwriter.

Her Creative Journey

Early Life and Training

Mary Diana Morgan was born in Cardiff, Wales, on May 29, 1908. She went to the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art. This school helped her learn about acting and drama. Her first time performing on a London stage was in 1931. She appeared in a play called Cavalcade by Noël Coward. This play was shown at the famous Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

On September 8, 1934, she married Robert MacDermot Barbour. He was born in 1910 in Poona, India. Robert later became the head of BBC TV Drama in 1948. Mary and Robert had one son together, named Richard Morgan Derry MacDermot Barbour.

Writing for the Stage

After they got married, Mary and Robert started writing together. Their first works were for the London stage. In 1938, they wrote a full show called Black and Blue. This show was performed at the London Hippodrome. It starred famous performers like Frances Day and Max Wall.

A stage director named Norman Marshall was very impressed with their writing. He liked their clever and funny scripts. He hired them to write a show for a performer named Hermione Gingold. The show was a huge success. It sold out for all eight weeks it was performed.

Mary and Robert continued to write many stage shows. These included Lets Face It! (1939) and Swinging the Gate (1940). They also wrote many short comedy shows called revues. These were performed in London's West End and other smaller theaters. In the 1940s, Mary also wrote several plays by herself. These included House in the Square (1940) and Rain before Seven (1949).

Movies and TV Shows

During the 1940s, Mary Morgan also wrote scripts for several movies. These movies were made by Ealing Studios. Today, she is more famous for her movie scripts than her stage plays. She was a writer who worked under contract for the studio. Her film work included Went the Day Well? (1942). She also wrote extra dialogue for A Run for Your Money (1949).

A Special Film: Hand in Hand

In 1960, she wrote the script for a film called Hand in Hand. This movie was directed by Philip Leacock. It was about a friendship between a Roman Catholic child and a Jewish child. Mary won several international awards for this screenplay.

Other Works

Mary also wrote for television. She contributed to shows like Emergency – Ward 10 and its spin-off Call Oxbridge 2000. She also wrote for radio. Besides scripts, she wrote two novels. These books were called Delia (1974) and Thomas the Fish.

Later Life

Robert MacDermot, Mary's husband, passed away in London on November 21, 1964. Mary Diana Morgan died in Northwood, Middlesex on December 9, 1996. She was 88 years old.

Notable Stage Work

• Bats In The Belfry (1937)
• Transatlantic Lullaby (1939)
• Black & Blue Revue – Frances Day (1939)
• Let's Face it! (1939)
• A House in the Square (1940)
• Three Waltzes (1945)
• My ... Right or Wrong (1947)
• Swinging the Gate (1950)
• Everyman (1952)
• After my Fashion (1952)
• The Starcross Story (1953)
• I"ll Take the High Road... (1956)
• Your Obedient Servant (1960)
• Rain Before Seven (1960)
• Time to Kill (1961)
• Hand in Hand (1963)
• Little evenings (1971)
• My Cousin Rachel (1980) (based in the novel My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier)

Notable Film Work

• Went the Day Well? (1943)
• Pink String and Sealing Wax (1945)
• A Run for Your Money (1949)
• Poet's Pub (1949)
• Dance Hall (1950)
• Hand in Hand (1960)