Sidney Buchman
Sidney Buchman: A Visionary Screenwriter and Filmmaker
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Born as Sidney Buchman, he was also known to be referred to by his nickname Seymour Buchman in some professional circles.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: October 25, 1895
Died: March 28, 1951
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Sidney Buchman was an American screenwriter and filmmaker of the early Hollywood era. His contributions to the film industry are still recognized today.
Early Life and Background
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Buchman's early life in New York City played a significant role in shaping his future as a writer and artist. He started writing at a young age and even worked as an editorial assistant for various publications before turning to screenwriting full-time.
In 1918, Buchman enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War I. After being discharged in 1919, he returned to New York City where he continued working on his writing craft.
Major Accomplishments
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Buchman's major accomplishments include:
Co-Founding The Screen Writers Guild: Buchman was one of the founding members of The Screen Writers Guild (SWG), which later merged with the Writers Guild of America.
Work on the classic film "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" : He co-wrote this iconic comedy starring Gary Cooper, showcasing his ability to craft engaging stories that captivated audiences.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Buchman's notable works include:
Screenwriting for Columbia Pictures: His work at Columbia Pictures led to the production of several films during the 1930s and 1940s.
"The Informer" (1935): This drama film, based on a true story, demonstrated his ability to tackle complex themes with sensitivity.
Impact and Legacy
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Buchman's contributions to the film industry extended beyond his work as a screenwriter. He also played a crucial role in shaping the Writers Guild of America through his involvement in its founding and early leadership roles.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Sidney Buchman is widely remembered for his pioneering work in screenwriting, particularly during the Golden Age of Hollywood. His dedication to protecting writers' rights through the establishment of The Screen Writers Guild left a lasting impact on the film industry.
As a screenwriter and filmmaker, Sidney Buchman's legacy serves as an inspiration to aspiring artists today.
Quotes by Sidney Buchman
Hollywood as a whole has recently been made aware of the Negro's true position in America and our responsibility toward the subject.
Capra's great passion was Dickens. As soon as he had some money, he bought some of the rarest and most extraordinary editions of Dickens's work, and he was very proud of his collection.
Riskin went into directing and made a film with Cary Grant which applied to the letter all the ideas which had made his comedies famous. It had everything except that little something - and the film was a failure.
Capra always wanted a screenwriter with him, even on the soundstage. The writer had to be there at his side.
In the morning, Capra would arrive with twenty-or-so pages in which he'd written down all of his ideas. Most were terrible, then all of a sudden there would be one which was astounding.
I consider the philosophy of the Communist Party as not applicable to our American way of life.
To begin to know the philosophy of socialism, in backward countries where the class differences are great, very great, and terribly exaggerated over the conditions we know in this country, to overcome this, the theory of revolution, of force and violence, was necessary within those political conditions. It couldn't be anything else.
I am a man who has made a great deal of money, and I haven't got a great deal. This is because I give it no value, and a certain Christian precept is something to be lived by, and so forth.
Anyone who assumes that this country is standing still is not a good American, or rather, he is an apathetic and dead one and makes no contribution to the society.
If the condition of Government stands still, it just makes no sense and must die, so, therefore, the improvement within that democracy must be the greater and greater equalization of rights and opportunities to the people as those people grow up.