Edward Knoblock
Encyclopedia
Edward Knoblock was an American-born British playwright and novelist most remembered for the often revived 1911 play, Kismet
of German parents and was the grandson of the Berlin architect Eduard Knoblauch
. He was graduated from Harvard College
in 1896, but he spent much of his professional life in Europe, first in France
, then in Great Britain
. In 1912, his Milestones, written with Arnold Bennett
, became a hit at the Royalty Theatre
, playing for over 600 performances.
He became a British subject in 1916 during World War I
, anglicized the spelling of his name, received a commission as a Captain in the British Army
and served in the Secret Service Bureau in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Greece. In 1917 he bought and subsequently restored the Regency architecture
Beach House, Worthing
, Sussex
. Knoblock was a life-long collector of Regency style furniture and furnishings and kept much of the celebrated Thomas Hope collection intact. His London bachelor apartment was at The Albany
.
Knoblock wrote many screenplays, perhaps the best known being Douglas Fairbanks' Robin Hood
(1922), though he was uncredited, and The Three Musketeers
(1921).
Plays written by Knoblock alone include The Faun (1911), Kismet (1911), My Lady's Dress (1914), Marie-Odile (1915), Tiger! Tiger! (1918), and Grand Hotel (1931). Among the novels written by Knoblock are The Ant Heap (1929), The Man With Two Mirrors (1931), The Love Lady (1933), and Inexperience (1941).
Knoblock often worked with a collaborator. His plays Milestones (1912), and London Life (1924) were produced with the assistance of Arnold Bennett
. His play Speakeasy, written with George Rosener
, became a 1929 film of the same name
. Similarly, The Good Companions
, originally published in 1929 by J. B. Priestley
, was dramatized jointly by Knoblock and the author in 1931.
Edward Knoblock passed away in July of 1945 at the London home of his sister, Gertrude Knoblauch, a well known sculptor.
Kismet (play)
Kismet is a three-act play written in 1911 by Edward Knoblauch . The title means Fate or Destiny in Turkish and Urdu. The play ran for an extraordinary two years in London...
Biography
Knoblock was born Edward Gustav Knoblauch in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
of German parents and was the grandson of the Berlin architect Eduard Knoblauch
Eduard Knoblauch
Eduard Knoblauch was a German architect.Eduard Knoblauch was born in his family's house on Poststraße 23 in the Nikolaiviertel neighborhood in Berlin, Germany...
. He was graduated from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1896, but he spent much of his professional life in Europe, first in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, then in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. In 1912, his Milestones, written with Arnold Bennett
Arnold Bennett
- Early life :Bennett was born in a modest house in Hanley in the Potteries district of Staffordshire. Hanley is one of a conurbation of six towns which joined together at the beginning of the twentieth century as Stoke-on-Trent. Enoch Bennett, his father, qualified as a solicitor in 1876, and the...
, became a hit at the Royalty Theatre
Royalty Theatre
The Royalty Theatre was a small London theatre situated at 73 Dean Street, Soho and opened on 25 May 1840 as Miss Kelly's Theatre and Dramatic School and finally closed to the public in 1938. The architect was Samuel Beazley, a resident in Soho Square, who also designed St James's Theatre, among...
, playing for over 600 performances.
He became a British subject in 1916 during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, anglicized the spelling of his name, received a commission as a Captain in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and served in the Secret Service Bureau in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Greece. In 1917 he bought and subsequently restored the Regency architecture
Regency architecture
The Regency style of architecture refers primarily to buildings built in Britain during the period in the early 19th century when George IV was Prince Regent, and also to later buildings following the same style...
Beach House, Worthing
Beach House, Worthing
Beach House in Worthing, England is a Regency beach-side villa, built in 1820 to designs by John Rebecca. It was originally known as Marino Mansion.-History:...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. Knoblock was a life-long collector of Regency style furniture and furnishings and kept much of the celebrated Thomas Hope collection intact. His London bachelor apartment was at The Albany
The Albany
The Albany or Albany is an apartment complex in Piccadilly, London.-Building:...
.
Knoblock wrote many screenplays, perhaps the best known being Douglas Fairbanks' Robin Hood
Robin Hood (1922 film)
Robin Hood is the first motion picture ever to have a Hollywood premiere, held at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre on October 18, 1922. The movie's full title, under which it was copyrighted, is Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood, as shown in the illustration at right...
(1922), though he was uncredited, and The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers (1921 film)
__notoc__The Three Musketeers is an American silent film based on the novel The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, père. It was directed by Fred Niblo and starred Douglas Fairbanks as d'Artagnan. The film originally had scenes filmed in the Handschiegl Color Process...
(1921).
Plays written by Knoblock alone include The Faun (1911), Kismet (1911), My Lady's Dress (1914), Marie-Odile (1915), Tiger! Tiger! (1918), and Grand Hotel (1931). Among the novels written by Knoblock are The Ant Heap (1929), The Man With Two Mirrors (1931), The Love Lady (1933), and Inexperience (1941).
Knoblock often worked with a collaborator. His plays Milestones (1912), and London Life (1924) were produced with the assistance of Arnold Bennett
Arnold Bennett
- Early life :Bennett was born in a modest house in Hanley in the Potteries district of Staffordshire. Hanley is one of a conurbation of six towns which joined together at the beginning of the twentieth century as Stoke-on-Trent. Enoch Bennett, his father, qualified as a solicitor in 1876, and the...
. His play Speakeasy, written with George Rosener
George Rosener
George Michael Rosener wrote and acted in the Frank Buck serial Jungle Menace. -Career:...
, became a 1929 film of the same name
Speakeasy (1929 film)
__notoc__Speakeasy was an early talking sports drama film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and adapted by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan and Edwin J. Burke. The picture was produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation. Lola Lane and Paul Page played the lead roles. John Wayne, age 22, had a minor role...
. Similarly, The Good Companions
The Good Companions
The Good Companions is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley.Written in 1929 , it focuses on the trials and tribulations of a concert party in England between World War I and World War II. It is arguably Priestley's most famous novel, and the work which established him as a national figure...
, originally published in 1929 by J. B. Priestley
J. B. Priestley
John Boynton Priestley, OM , known as J. B. Priestley, was an English novelist, playwright and broadcaster. He published 26 novels, notably The Good Companions , as well as numerous dramas such as An Inspector Calls...
, was dramatized jointly by Knoblock and the author in 1931.
Edward Knoblock passed away in July of 1945 at the London home of his sister, Gertrude Knoblauch, a well known sculptor.