Norman Krasna facts for kids

Norman Krasna (born November 7, 1909 – died November 1, 1984) was a talented American screenwriter, playwright, producer, and film director. He was famous for writing funny movies, especially "screwball comedies," which often involved characters being mistaken for someone else.

During his forty-year career in Hollywood, Krasna directed three films. He was nominated for four Academy Awards (Oscars) for his writing. He won one Oscar for his 1943 film Princess O'Rourke, which he also directed.

Norman Krasna's Life Story

Early Years and Dreams

Norman Krasna was born in Queens, a part of New York City. He went to Columbia University and St. John's University School of Law. To pay for his studies, he worked at Macy's Department Store during the day.

He really wanted to become a journalist. In 1928, he managed to get a job as a "copy boy" at the New York World newspaper. A copy boy helps deliver messages and copies around the office.

He eventually left law school to focus on writing. He became a drama critic, reviewing plays for different newspapers. Later, he was offered a job in Hollywood with Warner Bros. to work in their publicity department.

Becoming a Playwright and Screenwriter

After seeing a play called The Front Page, Norman decided he wanted to write plays. To learn how, he typed out that play more than twenty times!

While working at Warner Bros., he wrote his own play at night. It was called Louder, Please and was inspired by his own job. Warner Bros. wasn't interested in his play and even fired him. But a famous producer named George Abbott liked it and put it on Broadway.

The play didn't run for very long, but it helped Norman get a job at Columbia Pictures. He became a junior staff writer, helping to write movie scripts.

Working in Hollywood Studios

In 1932, Norman worked on his first film, Hollywood Speaks. He wrote several films at Columbia Pictures. He even became an assistant to the studio head, Harry Cohn.

He wrote films like So This Is Africa (1933) and Parole Girl (1933). He also wrote another play, Small Miracle, which was successful on Broadway in 1934.

Norman then worked for other big studios like MGM and RKO. At RKO, he wrote The Richest Girl in the World (1934), which earned him an Oscar nomination!

Paramount and Fury

In 1934, Norman signed a big contract with Paramount Pictures. He turned his play Small Miracle into the film Four Hours to Kill! (1935). He also wrote Hands Across the Table (1935).

He had an idea for a serious story about a mob, which became the film Fury (1936). This movie earned him another Oscar nomination.

Norman also worked with his good friend, the famous comedian Groucho Marx, on the film The King and the Chorus Girl (1937).

Producing and Directing Films

In 1937, Norman went to MGM. He wrote and produced Big City and The First Hundred Years. Producing means he helped manage the making of the film.

At RKO, he wrote Bachelor Mother (1939), which was a huge hit. He also wrote Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) for actress Carole Lombard.

Norman also co-produced The Devil and Miss Jones (1941). He tried directing his own play, The Man with Blond Hair (1941), but it didn't do well. This made him decide to focus on comedies for the rest of his career.

Winning an Oscar and War Service

In 1942, Norman signed a deal with Warner Bros. to write and direct films. This led to Princess O'Rourke (1943), which won him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

However, his directing career was paused when he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 during World War II. He served in the First Motion Picture Unit, which made training films. He even directed a film about the Officer Training School.

While in the army, he still wrote in his free time. He wrote the story for Practically Yours (1944) and another version of The Richest Girl in the World called Bride by Mistake (1944).

Broadway Hits

After the war, Norman had great success on Broadway. His play Dear Ruth opened in 1944 and was a massive hit, running for 680 performances! It was later made into a popular film.

He followed this with another successful comedy, John Loves Mary (1947). This play was also turned into a movie. He also wrote Time for Elizabeth (1947) with his friend Groucho Marx, but it didn't run for long.

Wald-Krasna Productions

In 1950, Norman teamed up with Jerry Wald to form their own film production company at RKO. They planned to make many movies.

Their first films included Behave Yourself! (1951), The Blue Veil (1951), Clash by Night (1952), and The Lusty Men (1952). However, Norman and Jerry faced challenges with the studio head, Howard Hughes. In 1952, Norman decided to leave the company and return to writing.

Later Career and More Success

In 1952, Norman wrote the script for the very popular musical film White Christmas (1954), starring Bing Crosby. He was paid $100,000 for his work!

He also returned to Broadway with his play Kind Sir (1954). He later adapted this play into the successful film Indiscreet (1958), starring Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman.

Another one of his plays, Who Was That Lady I Saw You With? (1958), was also turned into a film called Who Was That Lady? (1960), which he produced.

In the 1960s, his play Sunday in New York (1961) was a hit on Broadway and was later made into a film, with Norman writing the script.

He continued to write plays, including Love in E-Flat (1967), Watch the Birdie! (1969), and Bunny (1970). His last produced play was Off Broadway (1982).

Norman Krasna lived in Switzerland for many years before returning to Los Angeles, where he passed away in 1984. He was known for being a skilled writer who could create engaging stories.

Norman Krasna's Family Life

From 1940 to 1950, Norman Krasna was married to Ruth Frazee. They had two children together. After their divorce in 1950, he married Erle Chennault Galbraith in 1951. Erle was the widow of the famous singer Al Jolson. She had two children from her previous marriage.

Norman and Erle lived in Palm Springs, California. They remained married until Norman's death in 1984. Norman Krasna had six children in total.

Norman Krasna's Filmography

Scripts for Films That Weren't Made

Norman Krasna's Theatre Plays

• Paging Napoleon (1931) - a short play performed once in Los Angeles
• Louder, Please (1932)
• Small Miracle (1934)
• The Man with Blond Hair (1941) – he also directed this play
• Dear Ruth (1944)
• John Loves Mary (1947)
• Time for Elizabeth (1949) – written with Groucho Marx, he also directed this play
• Kind Sir (1954)
• Who Was That Lady I Saw You With? (1958)
• Sunday in New York (1962)
• Love in E-Flat (1967)
• Watch the Birdie! (1969) (originally written in 1961)
• Bunny (1970)
• We Interrupt This Program (1975)
• Off Broadway aka Full Moon (1976)
• Lady Harry (1978)

Plays That Were Never Produced

• Night Action (1940s) – film rights were sold to Warner Bros.
• Stars on My Shoulders (1948) – a musical planned with Irving Berlin
• French Street (around 1962) based on Jacques Deval play Roman Saro

Awards and Nominations

Won

• Best Original Screenplay (Princess O'Rourke, 1943)

Nominated

• Best Original Story (The Richest Girl in the World, 1934)
• Best Original Story (Fury, 1936)
• Best Original Screenplay (The Devil and Miss Jones, 1941)