Frank Baker (author)
Encyclopedia
Frank Baker was an English author, actor, musician and television scriptwriter.
Baker was born in London in 1908 and was educated at Wincester Cathedral School. He worked for five years in his father's marine insurance business in the City of London, before leaving to work for a year at the School of Church Music. He later moved to Cornwall where he had a position of church organist. It was at this time that he wrote his first novel, The Twisted Tree, which was published in 1935 by Peter Davies.
Baker submitted his second novel, The Birds, to Peter Davies at a time that Daphne Du Maurier
was working as a reader for the publisher. Baker's novel was published in 1936, and he admitted that it was inspired by The Terror by Arthur Machen
(first published 1917). Du Maurier denied that she had taken the idea of Baker's novel for her own short story The Birds
, although it had a similar premise. When Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds
was released in 1963, based on du Maurier's story, Baker considered, but was advised against, pursuing costly litigation against Universal Studios
.
Baker's Miss Hargreaves was his most successful novel. It was produced as a play in 1952 with Dame Margaret Rutherford in the starring role, and there have been two radio adaptations.
Baker became a professional actor and toured the UK with Dame Sybil Thorndike, Lewis Casson
(whom he understudied) and Paul Scofield
, during the Second World War. He married Kathleen Lloyd in 1943 and for 18 months Frank was the pianst for the Player's Theatre, accompanying performers such as Leonard Sachs
and Hattie Jacques
.
Baker wrote further novels and short stories, and articles in publications such as the Guardian
, Radio Times
and Life and Letters
. He worked as a script editor and wrote plays for BBC
, and in 1969-1970 spent time in the USA as Artist-in-Residence at Oklahoma University.
Baker died of cancer in 1983.
Baker was born in London in 1908 and was educated at Wincester Cathedral School. He worked for five years in his father's marine insurance business in the City of London, before leaving to work for a year at the School of Church Music. He later moved to Cornwall where he had a position of church organist. It was at this time that he wrote his first novel, The Twisted Tree, which was published in 1935 by Peter Davies.
Baker submitted his second novel, The Birds, to Peter Davies at a time that Daphne Du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier
Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning DBE was a British author and playwright.Many of her works have been adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca and Jamaica Inn and the short stories "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now". The first three were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.Her elder sister was...
was working as a reader for the publisher. Baker's novel was published in 1936, and he admitted that it was inspired by The Terror by Arthur Machen
Arthur Machen
Arthur Machen was a Welsh author and mystic of the 1890s and early 20th century. He is best known for his influential supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. His novella The Great God Pan has garnered a reputation as a classic of horror...
(first published 1917). Du Maurier denied that she had taken the idea of Baker's novel for her own short story The Birds
The Birds (story)
"The Birds" is a famous novelette by Daphne du Maurier, first published in her 1952 collection The Apple Tree. It is the story of a farmhand, his family, and his community, who are attacked by flocks of seabirds who have organized themselves into avian suicide warriors. The story is set in...
, although it had a similar premise. When Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds
The Birds (film)
The Birds is a 1963 horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock based on the 1952 short story "The Birds" by Daphne du Maurier. It depicts Bodega Bay, California which is, suddenly and for unexplained reasons, the subject of a series of widespread and violent bird attacks over the course of a few...
was released in 1963, based on du Maurier's story, Baker considered, but was advised against, pursuing costly litigation against Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
.
Baker's Miss Hargreaves was his most successful novel. It was produced as a play in 1952 with Dame Margaret Rutherford in the starring role, and there have been two radio adaptations.
Baker became a professional actor and toured the UK with Dame Sybil Thorndike, Lewis Casson
Lewis Casson
Sir Lewis Thomas Casson MC was a British actor and theatre director and the husband of Dame Sybil Thorndike.-Early life:...
(whom he understudied) and Paul Scofield
Paul Scofield
David Paul Scofield, CH, CBE , better known as Paul Scofield, was an English actor of stage and screen...
, during the Second World War. He married Kathleen Lloyd in 1943 and for 18 months Frank was the pianst for the Player's Theatre, accompanying performers such as Leonard Sachs
Leonard Sachs
Leonard Sachs was a British actor.-Early life and career:Sachs was born in South Africa in the town of Roodepoort, Transvaal...
and Hattie Jacques
Hattie Jacques
Josephine Edwina Jaques was an English comedy actress, known as Hattie Jacques.Starting her career in the 1940s, Jacques first gained attention through her radio appearances with Tommy Handley on ITMA and later with Tony Hancock on Hancock's Half Hour...
.
Baker wrote further novels and short stories, and articles in publications such as the Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
and Life and Letters
Life and Letters
Life and Letters was an English literary journal published between June 1928 and April 1935.The magazine was edited from first publication by Desmond MacCarthy after he lost interest in the New Statesman. It had financial backing from Lord Esher...
. He worked as a script editor and wrote plays for BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, and in 1969-1970 spent time in the USA as Artist-in-Residence at Oklahoma University.
Baker died of cancer in 1983.