Ben Hecht

**Ben Hecht**  (1894–1964) bio je američki književnik, novinar i filmski scenarist, poznat kao autor nekih od najpopularnijih dramskih tekstova sredine 20. vijeka, odnosno scenarija za neke od najznačajnijih ostvarenja klasičnog Hollywooda.

Rodio se kao sin jevrejskog imigranta iz Minska u današnjoj Bjelorusiji. Djetinjstvo je proveo u gradu Racine u državi Wisconsin, te je odmalena pokazao spisateljski talent zbog koga su ga smatrali vunderikindom. Srednju školu je završio u dobi od 16 godina i to iskoristio kako bi pobjegao iz kuće, odnosno u Chicago, gdje se odmah zaposlio kao novinar, provodeći veliki dio vremena na njegovim ulicama.

Godine 1918. ga je Chicago Daily News poslao kao dopisnika u Berlin, gdje je proveo godinu dana. Po povratku u Chicago se istakao istraživačkim novinarstvom i crnom kronikom, te su upravo njegovi članci pomogli da se riješi slučaj ubistva koje je 1920. godine počinio ratni veteran Carl Wanderer. Iako se ranije bavio pisanjem dramskih tekstova, njegovo prvo scensko djelo *The Egotist*, je postavljeno u New Yorku. Zajedno sa kolegom Charlsom MacArthurom je 1928. godine, inspiriran zajedničkim novinarskim iskustvima, napisao satiričku komediju *[[The Front Page]]*.

Ključni trenutak u Hechtovom životu se zbio 1926. godine kada ga je prijatelj Herman J. Mankiewicz pozvao da napusti New York i priključi mu se u Los Angelesu gdje je kod naglo rastuće filmske industrije nastala velika potražnja za scenaristima. Hecht ga je poslušao i već sljedeće godine postigao veliki uspjeh sa filmom *[[Underworld (film, 1927)|Underworld]]*, koji je dobio prvi Oscar za najbolji originalni scenario.

Nastavku Hechtove karijere u Hollywoodu je značajno pridonio i dolazak zvučnog filma, koji je doveo do potrebe za kvalitetnim i autentičnim dijalozima, a za koje je Hecht, uz svoje bogato novinarsko iskustvo sa ulica, pokazao i veliki talent. Tokom sljedećih decenija je surađivao sa nekim od najistaknutijih hollywoodskih sineasta među kojima su se posebno isticali režiseri Howard Hawks i Ernst Lubitsch, te producent David O. Selznick.

1930-ih je Hecht koji se, prema navodima iz vlastite biografije, dotada smatrao "običnim" Amerikancem, otkrio svoj jevrejski identitet, te je postao gorljivi pristaša cionizma. To je posebno došlo do izražaja poslije Drugog svjetskog rata, kada je, isfrustiran britanskim odbijanjem da vlast nad Palestinom prepuste jevrejskim doseljenicima, financijski podržavao radikalnu grupu Irgun i javno pozivao na terorističke akcije protiv britanskih ciljeva. Zbog toga su svi njegovi filmovi u Britaniji od 1948. do 1951. bili na neslužbenoj crnoj listi.

## Scenariji

* *[[Kiss of Death (1995 film)|Kiss of Death]]*
* *[[Casino Royale (1967 film)|Casino Royale]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Circus World (film)|Circus World]]*
* *[[7 Faces of Dr. Lao]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Cleopatra (1963 film)|Cleopatra]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Billy Rose's Jumbo (film)|Billy Rose's Jumbo]]*
* *[[Mutiny on the Bounty (1962 film)|Mutiny on the Bounty]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Walk on the Wild Side (film)|Walk on the Wild Side]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[North to Alaska]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[John Paul Jones (film)|John Paul Jones]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[The Gun Runners]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Queen of Outer Space]]*
* *[[Legend of the Lost]]*
* *[[The Sun Also Rises (1957 film)|The Sun Also Rises]]*
* *[[A Farewell to Arms (1957 film)|A Farewell to Arms]]*
* *[[Miracle in the Rain]]*
* *[[The Iron Petticoat]]*
* *[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1956 film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Trapeze (film)|Trapeze]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[The Indian Fighter]]*
* *[[The Man with the Golden Arm]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Guys and Dolls (film)|Guys and Dolls]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Living It Up]]* (based on his play *Hazel Flagg*)
* *[[Ulysses (1955 film)|Ulysses]]*
* *[[Light's Diamond Jubilee]]* (television)
* *[[Terminal Station (1953 film)|Terminal Station]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Angel Face (1952 film)|Angel Face]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Hans Christian Andersen (film)|Hans Christian Andersen]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Monkey Business (1952 film)|Monkey Business]]*
* *[[Actors and Sin]]* (also directed and produced)
* *[[The Wild Heart (1952 film)|The Wild Heart]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[The Thing from Another World]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[The Secret of Convict Lake]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Strangers on a Train (film)|Strangers on a Train]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[September Affair]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Where the Sidewalk Ends]]*
* *[[Edge of Doom]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Perfect Strangers (1950 film)|Perfect Strangers]]*
* *[[Love Happy]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[The Inspector General (film)|The Inspector General]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Whirlpool (1949 film)|Whirlpool]]*
* *[[Roseanna McCoy]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Big Jack (film)|Big Jack]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Portrait of Jennie]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Cry of the City]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Rope (film)|Rope]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[The Miracle of the Bells]]*
* *[[Dishonored Lady]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Her Husband's Affairs]]*
* *[[The Paradine Case]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Ride the Pink Horse]]*
* *[[Kiss of Death (1947 film)|Kiss of Death]]*
* *[[Duel in the Sun (film)|Duel in the Sun]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Notorious (1946 film)|Notorious]]*
* *[[A Flag is Born]]*
* *[[Specter of the Rose]]* (also directed and produced)
* *[[Gilda]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Cornered (1945 film)|Cornered]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Spellbound (1945 film)|Spellbound]]*
* *[[Watchtower Over Tomorrow]]*
* *[[Lifeboat (film)|Lifeboat]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[The Outlaw]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[China Girl (1942 film)|China Girl]]*
* *[[Journey into Fear (1943 film)|Journey Into Fear]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[The Black Swan (film)|The Black Swan]]*
* *[[Ten Gentlemen from West Point]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Roxie Hart (film)|Roxie Hart]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Lydia (film)|Lydia]]*
* *[[The Mad Doctor (1941 film)|The Mad Doctor]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Comrade X]]*
* *[[Second Chorus]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Angels Over Broadway]]* (also directed and produced)
* *[[Foreign Correspondent (film)|Foreign Correspondent]]* (final scene-uncredited)
* *[[The Shop Around the Corner]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[His Girl Friday]]*
* *[[I Take This Woman (1940 film)|I Take This Woman]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[At the Circus]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Lady of the Tropics]]*
* *[[It's a Wonderful World (1939 film)|It's a Wonderful World]]*
* *[[Wuthering Heights (1939 film)|Wuthering Heights]]*
* *[[Let Freedom Ring (film)|Let Freedom Ring]]*
* *[[Stagecoach (1939 film)|Stagecoach]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Gunga Din (film)|Gunga Din]]*
* *[[Angels with Dirty Faces]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[The Goldwyn Follies]]*
* *[[Nothing Sacred (film)|Nothing Sacred]]*
* *[[The Hurricane (1937 film)|The Hurricane]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[The Prisoner of Zenda (1937 film)|The Prisoner of Zenda]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Woman Chases Man]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[King of Gamblers]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[A Star Is Born (1937 film)|A Star Is Born]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Soak the Rich]]* (also directed)
* *[[The Scoundrel]]* (also directed)
* *[[Spring Tonic]]*
* *[[Barbary Coast (film)|Barbary Coast]]*
* *[[Once in a Blue Moon (1935 film)|Once in a Blue Moon]]* (also directed)
* *[[The Florentine Dagger]]*
* *[[The President Vanishes]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Crime Without Passion]]* (also directed)
* *[[Shoot the Works]]*
* *[[Twentieth Century (film)|Twentieth Century]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Upperworld]]*
* *[[Viva Villa!]]*
* *[[Riptide (1934 film)|Riptide]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Queen Christina (film)|Queen Christina]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Design for Living (film)|Design for Living]]*
* *[[Turn Back the Clock (film)|Turn Back the Clock]]*
* *[[Topaze (1933 American film)|Topaze]]*
* *[[Hallelujah, I'm a Bum (film)|Hallelujah, I'm a Bum]]*
* *[[Back Street (1932 film)|Back Street]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Rasputin and the Empress]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Million Dollar Legs (1932 film)|Million Dollar Legs]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Scarface (1932 film)|Scarface]]*
* *[[The Beast of the City]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[The Unholy Garden (1931 film)]]*
* *[[The Sin of Madelon Claudet]]*  (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Monkey Business (1931 film)|Monkey Business]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Homicide Squad]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Quick Millions (1931 film)|Quick Millions]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Le Spectre vert]]*
* *[[Roadhouse Nights]]*
* *[[Street of Chance (1930 film)|Street of Chance]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[The Unholy Night]]*
* *[[The Great Gabbo]]*
* *[[The Big Noise (1928 film)|The Big Noise]]*
* *[[The American Beauty]]* (nenaveden na špici)
* *[[Underworld (1927 film)|Underworld]]*
* *[[The New Klondike]]* (nenaveden na špici)

## Bibliografija (djelomična)

* *1001 Afternoons in Chicago*, McGee/Covici, (1922); University of Chicago Press, (2009) 
* *Fantazius Mallare, a Mysterious Oath*, 174 pp.,  Pascal Covici (1922)
* *The Florentine Dagger: A Novel for Amateur Detectives* w/ illustrations by Wallace Smith, 256 pp. Boni & Liveright (1923)
* *Kingdom of Evil*, 211pp., Pascal Covici (1924)
* *Broken Necks {Containing More 1001 Afternoons}*, 344pp., Pascal Covici (1926)
* *Count Bruga*, 319 pp., Boni & Liveright  (1926)
* *A Jew in Love*, 341 pp., Covici, Friede (1931)
* *The Book of Miracles*, 465 pp., Viking Press (1939)
* *A Guide for the Bedevilled*, 276 pages, Charles Scribner's Sons (1944), 216 pp. Milah Press Incorporated (September 1, 1999) 
* *The Collected Stories of Ben Hecht*, 524 pp., Crown (1945)
* *[[Perfidy (book)|Perfidy]]* (with critical supplements), 281 pp. (plus 29 pp.), Julian Messner (1962); about the 1954–1955 Kastner trial in Jerusalem
** *Perfidy* 288 pp. Milah Press (1961), Inc. (April 1, 1997) 
* *Concerning a Woman of Sin*, 222 pp., Mayflower (1964)
* *Gaily, Gaily*, Signet (1963) (November 1, 1969) ISBN
* *A Child of the Century* 672 pp. Plume (1954) (May 30, 1985) ISBN
* *The Front Page*, Samuel French Inc Plays (January 1, 1998) ISBN
* *The Champion From Far Away* (1931)
* *Actor's Blood* (1936)
* *A Treasury Of Ben Hecht: Collected Stories And Other Writings* (1959, anthology)
* *Erik Dorn*
* *I Hate Actors!*
* *1001 Afternoons in New York*
* *The Sensualists*
* *Winkelberg* (play)
* *Miracle in the Rain*
* *Letters From Bohemia*
* *Gargoyles*
* *The Egoist*

## Vanjske veze
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* Ben Hecht: Biography with credits for many other works 
* Summary: Perfidy and the Kastner Trial
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* "Nirvana" by Ben Hecht 
* United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - Ben Hecht
* 
* Ben Hecht Papers  at the Newberry Library
* Ben Hecht's writings while in high school