Jules Furthman (March 5, 1888 – September 22, 1966) was a magazine and newspaper writer before working as a screenwriter.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, he was the brother of writer Charles Furthman. During World War I Jules wrote under the name "Stephen Fox." He wrote screenplays for a number of important or popular films, including: The Docks of New York (1928), Thunderbolt (1929), Merely Mary Ann (1931), Shanghai Express (1932), Bombshell (1933), Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), Come and Get It (1936), Only Angels Have Wings (1939), To Have and Have Not (1944), The Big Sleep (1946) and Nightmare Alley (1947). He wrote credited screenplays for eight films directed by Josef Von Sternberg and an equal number for Howard Hawks.
He was nominated for an Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay for Mutiny on the Bounty.
In 1920, he married the actress Sybil Seely, who played in five films directed by Buster Keaton and bore him a son in 1921 and retired from acting in 1922. They remained together until his death.
Jules Furthman died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1966 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. His remains were brought home and interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Read more about Jules Furthman: List of Screenplays
Famous quotes by jules furthman:
“Wheeler: Aren’t you the fellow the Mexicans used to call ‘Brachine’?
Dude: That’s nearly right. Only it’s ‘Borracho.’
Wheeler: I don’t think I ever seen you like this before.
Dude: You mean sober. You’re probably right. You know what ‘Borracho’ means?
Wheeler: My Spanish ain’t too good.
Dude: It means drunk. No, if the name bothers ya’ they used to call me Dude.”
—Jules Furthman (1888–1960)
“You know you don’t have to act with me, Steve. You don’t have to say anything, and you don’t have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together, and blow.”
—Jules Furthman (1888–1960)
“Geoff Carter: Got a match?
Bonnie Lee: Say, don’t you ever have any?
Geoff: No, don’t believe in laying in a supply of anything.
Bonnie: Matches, marbles, money, women.
Geoff: That’s right.
Bonnie: No looking ahead, no tomorrows, just today.
Geoff: That’s right.”
—Jules Furthman (1888–1960)
“Bonnie Lee: Oh, it’s the most wonderful thing I’ve ever seen.
Geoff Carter [sarcastically]: Yes, it reminded you of a great big, beautiful bird, didn’t it?
Bonnie: No, it didn’t at all. That’s why it’s so wonderful. It’s really a flying human being.
Geoff: Well, you’re right about one thing. A bird’d have too much sense to fly in that kind of muck.”
—Jules Furthman (1888–1960)