Norman Panama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norman Panama
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| Born | April 21, 1914 |
| Died | January 13, 2003 (aged 88) |
| Occupation | Film director, screenwriter, film producer |
Norman Kaye Panama (born April 21, 1914 – died January 13, 2003) was an American screenwriter, film producer, and film director. He was famous for working with his partner, Melvin Frank. Together, they created many popular movies like Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948), White Christmas (1954), and The Court Jester (1956). Norman Panama also directed films on his own, such as How to Commit Marriage (1969).
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Norman Panama's Early Life and Career
Norman Panama met his future creative partner, Melvin Frank, in 1933. They were both students at the University of Chicago at the time. After they finished college, they started working together in 1935. Their partnership lasted for 40 years!
Starting in Radio and Movies
At first, Norman and Melvin wrote jokes and scripts for famous radio stars. They wrote for Milton Berle, and then for Bob Hope's radio show, and even for Groucho Marx.
In 1941, they sold their very first movie script to Paramount Pictures. This movie was called My Favorite Blonde (1942), and it starred Bob Hope.
Working at Paramount Pictures
Norman Panama and Melvin Frank worked at Paramount Pictures for five years. During this time, they wrote many movies. One of their most famous films was Road to Utopia (1946), which starred Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. For this movie, they were even nominated for an Academy Award!
After Paramount, they moved to Columbia Pictures. There, they wrote movies like It Had to Be You (1947) and The Return of October (1948). They also wrote Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) for another studio called RKO.
Directing and Producing Films
In 1950, Norman and Melvin signed a special deal with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). This deal allowed them to write, produce, and direct movies together. They started with The Reformer and the Redhead (1950).
They also made two popular movies with the actor Danny Kaye: Knock on Wood (1954) and The Court Jester (1956). Knock on Wood earned them another Academy Award nomination. They also helped write the classic holiday movie White Christmas (1954) with Norman Krasna.
Later Works and Awards
In 1956, Norman and Melvin wrote a play for Broadway. This play was later turned into a movie called Li'l Abner (1959). They received another Academy Award nomination for their movie The Facts of Life (1960). They also worked on The Road to Hong Kong (1962).
Norman Panama won an Edgar Award in 1981 for a play he co-wrote called A Talent for Murder. He continued to write and direct movies and plays throughout the 1980s.
Norman Panama passed away in 2003 in Los Angeles, California. He was 88 years old and had complications from Parkinson's disease.
Selected Films by Norman Panama
Here are some of the movies Norman Panama worked on:
- My Favorite Blonde (with Melvin Frank, 1942, story only)
- Road to Utopia (with Melvin Frank, 1946)
- Monsieur Beaucaire (with Melvin Frank, 1946)
- It Had to Be You (with Melvin Frank, 1947)
- Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (with Melvin Frank, 1948)
- The Reformer and the Redhead (with Melvin Frank, 1950, also co-director)
- Strictly Dishonorable (with Melvin Frank, 1951, also co-director)
- White Christmas (with Melvin Frank and Norman Krasna, 1954)
- Knock on Wood (with Melvin Frank, 1954, also co-director)
- The Court Jester (with Melvin Frank, 1956, also co-director)
- Li'l Abner (with Melvin Frank, 1959)
- The Facts of Life (with Melvin Frank, 1960)
- The Road to Hong Kong (with Melvin Frank, 1962, also director)
- Not with My Wife, You Don't! (with Melvin Frank, Peter Barnes and Larry Gelbart, 1966, also director)
- How to Commit Marriage (1969, director only)
- Coffee, Tea or Me? (with Melvin Frank and Stanley Ralph Ross, 1973, TV, also director)
