Ernest Maas
Encyclopedia
Ernest Maas was a silent-era screenwriter
.
Maas first worked on silent film
s in 1920 when he created the scenario for Uncle Sam of Freedom Ridge, a pro-League of Nations
film in the aftermath of World War I. He also was the first to film the almost unbelievable crush of commuters during the rush hour at New York's Grand Central Station
. In 1925 he was offered a lucrative contract as a producer in the nascent Hollywood and moved to Los Angeles.
It was not until 1926 that Maas received credit for a movie's entire script, which was for The Country Beyond. In 1927 he wrote a script based on his father's life and entitled Beefsteak Joe which he shared with fellow German-American, Emil Jannings
. The story was stolen and reworked into the successful movie The Way of All Flesh
. Maas was never credited.
In Hollywood, Maas married fellow screenwriter Frederica Sagor
. After many years without an on-screen credit, the two wrote the original story for the 1947 film The Shocking Miss Pilgrim
. But Maas never received on-screen credit again. Instead he focused on behind-the-scenes work in television.
The couple lived together until his death in Los Angeles at the age of 94. Afterwards, his wife Frederica published her autobiography describing their life together.
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
.
Maas first worked on silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s in 1920 when he created the scenario for Uncle Sam of Freedom Ridge, a pro-League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
film in the aftermath of World War I. He also was the first to film the almost unbelievable crush of commuters during the rush hour at New York's Grand Central Station
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
. In 1925 he was offered a lucrative contract as a producer in the nascent Hollywood and moved to Los Angeles.
It was not until 1926 that Maas received credit for a movie's entire script, which was for The Country Beyond. In 1927 he wrote a script based on his father's life and entitled Beefsteak Joe which he shared with fellow German-American, Emil Jannings
Emil Jannings
Emil Jannings was a German actor. He was not only the first actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, but also the first person to be presented an Oscar...
. The story was stolen and reworked into the successful movie The Way of All Flesh
The Way of All Flesh (film)
The Way of All Flesh is a drama film directed by Victor Fleming, written by Lajos Biró, Jules Furthman and Julian Johnson from a story by Perley Poore Sheehan. The film is unrelated to Samuel Butler's novel The Way of All Flesh, and is now considered a lost film.-Cast:*Emil Jannings - August...
. Maas was never credited.
In Hollywood, Maas married fellow screenwriter Frederica Sagor
Frederica Sagor Maas
Frederica Alexandrina Sagor Maas is an American playwright, screenwriter, memoirist and author, the youngest daughter of Russian immigrants. Maas is best known for a detailed, tell-all memoir of her time spent in early Hollywood. She is one of the rare supercentenarians known for reasons other...
. After many years without an on-screen credit, the two wrote the original story for the 1947 film The Shocking Miss Pilgrim
The Shocking Miss Pilgrim
The Shocking Miss Pilgrim is a 1947 American musical comedy film written and directed by George Seaton, starring Betty Grable and Dick Haymes...
. But Maas never received on-screen credit again. Instead he focused on behind-the-scenes work in television.
The couple lived together until his death in Los Angeles at the age of 94. Afterwards, his wife Frederica published her autobiography describing their life together.