James Edward Grant

James Edward Grant (July 2, 1905 – February 19, 1966) was an American short story writer and screenwriter who contributed to more than fifty films between 1935 and 1971. He collaborated with John Wayne on twelve projects, starting with Angel and the Badman (which he also directed) in 1947 through Circus World in 1964. Support Your Local Gunfighter was released in 1971, five years after his death.

Biography

Born in Chicago, Grant was originally a journalist in his home town. He wrote a novel Whipsaw which became a best seller in 1935; it was turned into a movie with Myrna Loy and launched his screenwriting career.

Grant wrote numerous short stories that were published in Argosy, The Saturday Evening Post, Cosmopolitan, and Liberty, among others.

He also wrote a play Plan M.

Grant died from cancer in Burbank, California.

He owned a cattle ranch in Winton in Merced County from the 1940s until his death.

Awards

Grant won the Bronze Wrangler, an annual award presented by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, twice, for The Alamo in 1961 and The Comancheros the following year. He and William Bowers were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Sheepman in 1959.

Additional filmography