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Aeneas MacKenzie

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Aeneas MacKenzie, or Æneas MacKenzie (August 15, 1889 in Stornoway, Scotland – June 2, 1962 in Los Angeles), was a Scottish-American screenwriter. MacKenzie wrote many notable Hollywood films, including: The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), They Died with Their Boots On (1941), Ivanhoe (1952), and The Ten Commandments (1956).

Career

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Maackenzie came from England to work on a film of East Lynne.[1]

In January 1938, he was under contract to Warner Bros. to write what would become Juarez.[2] In February 1939, he was working on a biopic of John Paul Jones for James Cagney.[3] He also wrote a biopic of Disraeli for Claude Rains.[4] Neither were made, but by July 1940, he was working on a biopic of George Custer which became They Died with Their Boots On.[5] MacKenzie wrote The Widow of Devil's Island for Bette Davis.[6] In March 1942, he was working on a movie about "Sing Sing" prison.[7]

In October 1943, RKO announced they would make a film from his original story, The Spanish Main.[8]

In July 1946, he wrote a script of Ivanhoe for Paramount.[9] The project was postponed due to the Palestine Cris[clarification needed] and instead MacKenzie was assigned to do a biopic on Ludwig II for producer Robert Fellows.[10] A year later, his Ivanhoe script was sold to RKO.[11] They sold it to MGM who filmed it several years later.

He worked on the script for The Black Book (1949).

In January 1950, he sold a script to Douglas Fairbanks Jr which became Against All Flags.[12] Several months later, MacKenzie sold this story to Universal, who hired him to write the script.[13] Also at Universal, he did The Prince Who Was a Thief.[14]

MacKenzie later headed the script team on The Ten Commandments.[15]

In July 1957, he was writing Peter and Catherine about Russia in the 18th century for Ross Hunter at Universal.[16]

In late 1958, MacKenzie was reported to be working on a biopic of William the Conqueror for Evyan Perfumes.[17][18]

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "Bobbing East Lynne". Variety. 30 July 1930. p. 3.
  2. ^ "Maximilian Story is in Line for Muni". The New York Times. 18 January 1938.
  3. ^ "Karloff Plays Sorcerer in 'Witches' Sabbath'". Los Angeles Times. 9 February 1939.
  4. ^ "Screen News Here and in Hollywood". The New York Times. 24 March 1939.
  5. ^ "Screen News Here and in Hollywood". The New York Times. 18 July 1940.
  6. ^ "News From Hollywood". 4 February 1941.
  7. ^ "Jean Arthur May Be Featured in 'Another Dawn". The New York Times. 19 March 1942.
  8. ^ "Screen News Here and in Hollywood". The New York Times. 13 October 1943.
  9. ^ "Paramount to Do Film on 'Ivanhoe'". The New York Times. 19 July 1946.
  10. ^ "Few Changes Made in Tailoring 'Mourning Becomes Electra' For the Camera". The New York Times. 16 February 1947.
  11. ^ "RANK-RKO to Film Scott's 'Ivanhoe'". The New York Times. 17 June 1947.
  12. ^ "Drama: Pirate Picture Shapes for Fairbanks". Los Angeles Times. 20 January 1950.
  13. ^ "Production Chief Quits Paramount". The New York Times. 6 July 1950.
  14. ^ "U.-I. Will Do Film on Genghis Khan". The New York Times. 10 August 1950.
  15. ^ "DeMille Scribes Scour History for Latest 'Commandments' By Aeneas MacKenzie". The New York Times. 31 July 1955.
  16. ^ Thomas M. Pryor (22 July 1957). "Stage Director Signs Film Pact: Martin Ritt in Two-Picture Deal With Fox--Universal Reactivates 'Katrina' Pearl Buck to Visit Hollywood". The New York Times.
  17. ^ "Evyan Perfumes Forms Movie Firm". The New York Times. 6 October 1958.
  18. ^ "'Tanglewood' Pair Chosen by Ephron". Los Angeles Times. 22 August 1958.
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