 1972 saw Frank and Ravetch write the screenplay for The Cowboys, based on the novel of the same name, and The Carey Treatment, based on the novel A Case of Need by Michael Crichton. For the latter, the couple were credited under "James P. Bonner", the last time they would adopt the pen name. Two years later, the couple reunited once again with Martin Ritt to write the screenplay for Conrack, based on the autobiographical book The Water Is Wide, with Frank also working as producer. The film was commercially and critically well-received, winning a BAFTA award. In the same year the couple wrote for an adaptation of the novel The Bank Robber, released as The Spikes Gang. Around this time, Frank also wrote two novels, Single: a novel (1977), and Special Effects (1979).
