Melville Shavelson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melville Shavelson
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| Born | April 1, 1917 |
| Died | August 8, 2007 (aged 90) Studio City, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Film director, producer, and screenwriter |
| Spouse(s) | Lucille Shavelson (died 2000) Ruth Florea
(m. 2001) |
| Children | Lynne Joiner Richard Shavelson |
Melville Shavelson (born April 1, 1917 – died August 8, 2007) was a talented American filmmaker. He worked as a director, producer, and screenwriter. He also wrote many books. Shavelson led the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAw) for several terms. This group helps writers in Hollywood.
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Early Life and Career Beginnings
Melville Shavelson was born in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in a Jewish family. He went to Cornell University and finished in 1937. While there, he wrote funny articles for the school newspaper.
After college, Shavelson started working as a writer. He wrote jokes for the famous comedian Bob Hope's radio show. In 1938, he moved to Hollywood. He continued to write jokes for Bob Hope for five years.
Working in Hollywood
Shavelson became a successful screenwriter. He wrote movies for Bob Hope, like The Princess and the Pirate (1944). He also wrote The Great Lover (1949). Another movie he wrote was Sorrowful Jones (1949), which starred Lucille Ball.
Award-Winning Screenplays and Directing
Melville Shavelson was nominated for an Academy Award twice. These nominations were for "Best Original Screenplay." He shared both nominations with Jack Rose.
- The first nomination was for The Seven Little Foys (1955). This movie starred Bob Hope in a serious role.
- The second was for Houseboat (1958).
Shavelson also directed both of these films. He wrote and directed many other popular movies. These include Beau James (1957) and The Five Pennies (1959). For The Five Pennies, he won a Screen Writers Guild Award.
Other films he directed and wrote were It Started in Naples (1960) and On the Double (1961). He also made The Pigeon That Took Rome (1962) and A New Kind of Love (1963). One of his well-known films was Yours, Mine and Ours (1968). This movie starred Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball.
Television Work and Books
Shavelson also worked in television. He created two TV shows that won Emmy Awards. These shows were Make Room for Daddy and My World and Welcome to It. He also wrote for many Academy Award shows.
In 1979, he wrote, produced, and co-directed a six-hour TV show. It was called Ike. This show was about General Dwight Eisenhower during World War II.
Shavelson was also an author. He wrote several books. His autobiography, published in 2007, was titled How to Succeed in Hollywood Without Really Trying, P.S. — You Can't!. He also wrote a book with Bob Hope called "Don't Shoot, It's Only Me." Another book, How to Make a Jewish Movie (1971), shared his experiences making the film Cast a Giant Shadow.
Teaching and Personal Life
From 1998 to 2006, Shavelson taught at USC. He taught screenwriting to students. He often joked, "I'm a writer by choice, a producer by necessity and a director in self-defense."
Melville Shavelson was also an amateur radio operator. His callsign was W6VLH.
He had two children, Lynne Joiner and Richard Shavelson, with his first wife, Lucille. Lucille passed away in 2000. Shavelson then married Ruth Florea in 2001. They lived in Studio City, California.
Melville Shavelson died on August 8, 2007, at his home. He was 90 years old.
Honors and Legacy
Melville Shavelson created the Shavelson Film Awards. These awards are given every year at Cornell University. They honor promising young filmmakers. The awards are named after him.
