Russell Rouse
Encyclopedia
Russell Rouse was an American screenwriter
, director
, and producer
who is noted for the "offbeat creativity and originality"
of his screenplays and for film noir
movies and television episodes produced in the 1950s.
Rouse was the son of film pioneer Edwin Russell. His first employment in films was in the prop department at Paramount Studios, where he began writing screenplays. His play, Yokel Boy, was filmed in 1942 and became his first film writing credit.
Rouse has 18 credits as a screenwriter between 1942 and 1988.. Commencing with his third writing credit, The Town Went Wild
(1944), Rouse co-wrote many stories and scripts with Clarence Greene
. The partners are noted for their work on a series of six film noir
movies commencing with D.O.A
(directed by Rudolph Maté
-1950). With the second film in the series, The Well
(1951), they also took on directing and producing: Rouse as director, and Greene as producer. This collaboration continued through the noir series (The Thief
(1952), Wicked Woman (1953), New York Confidential (1955), and House of Numbers (1957)) and beyond. In the late 1950s Greene and Rouse formed a production company, Greene-Rouse Productions, which created the film noir television series Tightrope
that ran for one season (1959-60) as well as two films in the 1960s.
In addition to their noir work, Rouse and Greene produced two westerns (The Fastest Gun Alive
(1956) and Thunder in the Sun
(1959). The 1959 film, Pillow Talk, was based on their story. Their careers drew to a close shortly after the unsuccessful film, The Oscar
(1966).
Rouse and Greene were nominated for the Academy Award for writing The Well (1951). They received the Academy Award for Pillow Talk (1959) (with Maurice Richlin
and Stanley Shapiro
). D.O.A. has been preserved in the National Film Registry
; the film has been remade several times, and Rouse was credited as a writer on two: Color Me Dead (1969) and D.O.A
(1988).
Rouse's son Christopher Rouse
is a noted film editor.
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:...
, director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
who is noted for the "offbeat creativity and originality"
of his screenplays and for film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
movies and television episodes produced in the 1950s.
Rouse was the son of film pioneer Edwin Russell. His first employment in films was in the prop department at Paramount Studios, where he began writing screenplays. His play, Yokel Boy, was filmed in 1942 and became his first film writing credit.
Rouse has 18 credits as a screenwriter between 1942 and 1988.. Commencing with his third writing credit, The Town Went Wild
The Town Went Wild
- Cast :*Freddie Bartholomew as David Conway*Jimmy Lydon as Bob Harrison*Edward Everett Horton as Everett Conway*Tom Tully as Henry Harrison*Jill Browning as Carol Harrison*Minna Gombell as Marian Harrison*Maude Eburne as Judge Bingle...
(1944), Rouse co-wrote many stories and scripts with Clarence Greene
Clarence Greene
Clarence Greene was an American screenwriter and film producer who is noted for the "offbeat creativity and originality of his screenplays and for film noir movies and television episodes produced in the 1950s.-Career:...
. The partners are noted for their work on a series of six film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
movies commencing with D.O.A
D.O.A. (1950 film)
D.O.A. , a film noir drama film directed by Rudolph Maté, is considered a classic of the genre. The frantically paced plot revolves around a doomed man's quest to find out who has poisoned him – and why – before he dies.Leo C...
(directed by Rudolph Maté
Rudolph Maté
Born in Kraków , Maté started in the film business after his graduation from the University of Budapest. He went on to work as an assistant cameraman in Hungary and later throughout Europe, sometimes with noted colleague Karl Freund...
-1950). With the second film in the series, The Well
The Well (1951 film)
The Well is a 1951 American film noir which tackled the issue of racial tensions and collective behavior. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing.- Plot :...
(1951), they also took on directing and producing: Rouse as director, and Greene as producer. This collaboration continued through the noir series (The Thief
The Thief (1952 film)
The Thief is a 1952 American black-and white Cold War spy film directed by Russell Rouse. The film is unusual because there is no dialog spoken throughout the film.-Plot:...
(1952), Wicked Woman (1953), New York Confidential (1955), and House of Numbers (1957)) and beyond. In the late 1950s Greene and Rouse formed a production company, Greene-Rouse Productions, which created the film noir television series Tightrope
Tightrope (TV series)
Tightrope is an American crime drama series that aired on CBS from September 1959 to September 1960. Produced by Russell Rouse and Clarence Greene in association with Screen Gems, the series stars Mike Connors as an undercover agent named "Nick" who was assigned to infiltrate criminal gangs...
that ran for one season (1959-60) as well as two films in the 1960s.
In addition to their noir work, Rouse and Greene produced two westerns (The Fastest Gun Alive
The Fastest Gun Alive
The Fastest Gun Alive is a 1956 western film starring Glenn Ford, Jeanne Crain and Broderick Crawford.-Plot:Notorious gunslinger George Kelby Jr. and his wife Dora settle down in a peaceful little town of Cross Creek under assumed identities to avoid having to continually face men out to become...
(1956) and Thunder in the Sun
Thunder in the Sun
Thunder in the Sun is a 1959 western film made by Carrollton Inc and Seven Arts Productions and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Russell Rouse and produced by Clarence Greene from a screenplay by Russell Rouse and...
(1959). The 1959 film, Pillow Talk, was based on their story. Their careers drew to a close shortly after the unsuccessful film, The Oscar
The Oscar (film)
The Oscar is a 1966 American drama film, written by Harlan Ellison, Clarence Greene, Russell Rouse and Richard Sale, directed by Rouse and starring Stephen Boyd, singer Tony Bennett , comedian Milton Berle , Elke Sommer, Ernest Borgnine, Jill St. John, and Eleanor Parker...
(1966).
Rouse and Greene were nominated for the Academy Award for writing The Well (1951). They received the Academy Award for Pillow Talk (1959) (with Maurice Richlin
Maurice Richlin
Maurice Richlin was an American screenwriter.-External links:...
and Stanley Shapiro
Stanley Shapiro
Stanley Shapiro was an American screenwriter and producer responsible for three of Doris Day's most successful films.Born in Brooklyn, New York, Shapiro earned his first screen credit for South Sea Woman in 1953...
). D.O.A. has been preserved in the National Film Registry
National Film Registry
The National Film Registry is the United States National Film Preservation Board's selection of films for preservation in the Library of Congress. The Board, established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, was reauthorized by acts of Congress in 1992, 1996, 2005, and again in October 2008...
; the film has been remade several times, and Rouse was credited as a writer on two: Color Me Dead (1969) and D.O.A
D.O.A. (1988 film)
D.O.A. is a 1988 very loose remake of the 1950 film noir of the same name, sharing the same premise but otherwise having a different story and characters....
(1988).
Rouse's son Christopher Rouse
Christopher Rouse (editor)
Christopher Russell Rouse is an American film and television editor who has about a dozen feature-film credits and numerous television credits. Rouse won the Academy Award for Film Editing, the BAFTA Award for Best Editing, and the ACE Eddie Award for the film The Bourne Ultimatum .Rouse was born...
is a noted film editor.
Filmography
- Yokel Boy (story; 1942)
- Nothing But TroubleNothing But Trouble (1944 film)Nothing But Trouble is a late Laurel and Hardy feature. The plot involves the team as a chef and a butler wrecking a dinner party - the bit where they cook a rubber steak and try to carve it at the table is particularly humorous...
(writer; 1944) - The Town Went WildThe Town Went Wild- Cast :*Freddie Bartholomew as David Conway*Jimmy Lydon as Bob Harrison*Edward Everett Horton as Everett Conway*Tom Tully as Henry Harrison*Jill Browning as Carol Harrison*Minna Gombell as Marian Harrison*Maude Eburne as Judge Bingle...
(story and screenplay; 1944) - The Great Plane Robbery (story; 1950)
- D.O.AD.O.A. (1950 film)D.O.A. , a film noir drama film directed by Rudolph Maté, is considered a classic of the genre. The frantically paced plot revolves around a doomed man's quest to find out who has poisoned him – and why – before he dies.Leo C...
(writing; 1950) - The WellThe Well (1951 film)The Well is a 1951 American film noir which tackled the issue of racial tensions and collective behavior. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing.- Plot :...
(writing and direction; 1951) - The ThiefThe Thief (1952 film)The Thief is a 1952 American black-and white Cold War spy film directed by Russell Rouse. The film is unusual because there is no dialog spoken throughout the film.-Plot:...
(writing and direction; 1952) - Wicked WomanWicked WomanWicked Woman is a 1953 low-budget film noir starred "bad-girl" Beverly Michaels. Co-starring in the film were Richard Egan, Percy Helton, and Evelyn Scott....
(writing and direction, 1953) - New York Confidential (writing and direction; 1955)
- The Fastest Gun AliveThe Fastest Gun AliveThe Fastest Gun Alive is a 1956 western film starring Glenn Ford, Jeanne Crain and Broderick Crawford.-Plot:Notorious gunslinger George Kelby Jr. and his wife Dora settle down in a peaceful little town of Cross Creek under assumed identities to avoid having to continually face men out to become...
(screenplay and direction; 1956) - House of Numbers (screenplay and direction; 1957)
- Thunder in the SunThunder in the SunThunder in the Sun is a 1959 western film made by Carrollton Inc and Seven Arts Productions and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Russell Rouse and produced by Clarence Greene from a screenplay by Russell Rouse and...
(screenplay and direction; 1959) - Pillow Talk (story; 1959)
- A House is Not a HomeA House Is Not a Home (film)A House Is Not a Home is a 1964 drama film loosely based on the 1953 autobiography by madam Polly Adler. The film stars Shelley Winters, Robert Taylor, Cesar Romero, and Kaye Ballard.Raquel Welch made her film debut in a small role as a prostitute.-Plot:...
(screenplay and direction; 1964) - The OscarThe Oscar (film)The Oscar is a 1966 American drama film, written by Harlan Ellison, Clarence Greene, Russell Rouse and Richard Sale, directed by Rouse and starring Stephen Boyd, singer Tony Bennett , comedian Milton Berle , Elke Sommer, Ernest Borgnine, Jill St. John, and Eleanor Parker...
(screenplay and direction; 1966) - The Caper of the Golden Bulls (directed; 1967)
- Color Me Dead (writer; 1969)
- D.O.AD.O.A. (1988 film)D.O.A. is a 1988 very loose remake of the 1950 film noir of the same name, sharing the same premise but otherwise having a different story and characters....
(story; 1988)