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Johanna Harwood

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Johanna Harwood
Born1930 (age 93–94)
County Wicklow,Ireland
NationalityIrish
OccupationScreenwriter
Years active1949–2000

Johanna Harwood(born 1930), a.k.a.J. M. Harwood,is a retired Irish screenwriter. She was born and raised inCounty Wicklow, Ireland.[1][2]She co-wrote twoJames Bondfilms, and went uncredited for adaptation work ona third.[3]

Life and career[edit]

Harwood entered the film industry in 1949. Fluent in the French language, she trained atInstitut des hautes études cinématographiques( "I.D.H.E.C" ) in Paris, France.[1]

According to theIrish Digest,Harwood also studied filmmaking in England, then returned to Dublin to work in the Irish film industry.[2]She became acontinuity supervisoron films during the early to mid-1950s includingEverybody's Business(a.k.a.Gno Gach Einne);[nb 1][4]Return to Glennascaul(shot in Ireland), starringOrson Welles;[nb 2]The Flying Eye;Knave of Hearts(shot in London and France); and Orson Welles'sMr. Arkadin.[nb 3]She also did assistant continuity on theAlbert R. BroccoliproductionsThe Red BeretandHell Below Zero.

In an interview withIrish Digestmagazine, Harwood claims that the shortage of Irish film work reluctantly forced her to move to London where she worked for atalent agent.This, at least, gave her sufficient time to write. Among the publications she contributed to during the late 1950s and early 1960s wasPunch.[5]

At some point, the agency closed its London office andHarry Saltzmantook over. Harwood stayed on as his secretary and eventually hisreaderin the late 1950s.[2]She eventually persuaded him to let her write a film script. Saltzman phoned her one night with an idea for aBob Hopefilm and asked her to develop it into an outline.[2]Writing as "J. M. Harwood", she wrote a spoof 1959 James Bond short story calledSome Are Born Great.[6]

Between 1960 and 1961[7]Harwood and Saltzman adapted the playThe Marriage Game- originally byMel TolkinandLucille Kallen- a comedy about "six girls in search of husbands." The play opened at theKings Theatre, Southsea,on 25 September 1961.[8]According toPlays and Players,the comedy was scheduled to visit Liverpool, Eastbourne and Brighton "before coming into the West End." Anthony Sharp directed with sets byDisley Jones.[9]Broccoli and Saltzman subsequently hiredTerry Southernto write the script which was never filmed.[10][11]

According to the 1960British Film and Television Yearbook,she wrote two unfilmed screenplays for Harry Saltzman'sWoodfall Film Productions:City of Spadesbased on the 1957Colin MacInnesnovel to have been directed initially byTony Richardson,[nb 4]then byPeter Yates;[nb 5]andArticles of War;of this script Harry Saltzman said that it "is a war story with a tremendously different twist. I don't think that there haseverbeen a war story like this. It has no message and it isn't a documentary - it's pure entertainment. "[1][12]

Saltzman subsequently had her work on the first two James Bond filmsDr. NoandFrom Russia with Love,and the non-Bond Saltzman co-productionCall Me Bwana.

Bond co-producerAlbert R. Broccolihad originally hiredRichard Maibaumand his friendWolf Mankowitzto write theDr. Noscreenplay.[13]An initial draft of the screenplay was rejected because the scriptwriters had made the villain, Dr. No, a monkey.[14]Mankowitz left the movie, and Maibaum then undertook a second version, more closely in line with the novel. Mankowitz eventually had his name removed from the credits after viewing early rushes, as he feared it would be a disaster.[15]Johanna Harwood and thriller writerBerkely Matherthen worked on Maibaum's script.[16]The film's directorTerence Youngdescribed Harwood as ascript doctorwho helped put elements more in tune with a British character.[17]

Richard Maibaum felt "put out" that Harwood got an adaptation credit onFrom Russia with Lovefor which he thought she did not deserve. Maibaum conceded that she worked "some with the director, Terence Young, and made several good suggestions." He claimed her adaptation credit was due "studio politics."[18]

Harwood stated in an interview in aCinema Retrospecial on the making of the film that she had been a screenwriter of several of Harry Saltzman's projects, and noted both her screenplays forDr. Noand her screenplay forFrom Russia with Lovehad followed Fleming's novels closely.[6]

Harwood also made uncredited contributions to the screenplay of Saltzman'sThe Ipcress File(1965).[19]

Other work[edit]

Harwood told theIrish Digestmagazine in 1966 that she hoped to direct a film soon. "That's really what I want more than anything."[2]

Harwood co-wrote the French filmNe jouez pas avec les Martiens(1967). She also translated into English three novels by French authorNicole Vidal:The Goddess Queen(1961),Nefertiti(1965) andRing of Jade(1969). Harwood spent the next 20 years working for theReader's Digestin Paris condensing French novels.[6]

Harwood was married to the French film directorRené Clémentwhom she met on the set ofKnave of Hearts(a.k.a.Monsieur Ripois).[6]In 2007 she created the Fondation René Clement to commemorate her husband who died in 1996.[20]

Filmography[edit]

As writer only[edit]

As herself[edit]

  • Orson Welles in the Land of Don Quixote(2000)

Bibliography[edit]

  • Broccoli, Albert R.(1998).When the Snow Melts.London:Boxtree.ISBN978-0-7522-1162-6.
  • Helfenstein, Charles (2009).The Making ofOn Her Majesty's Secret Service.Frederick: Spies Publishing.ISBN978-0-9844126-0-0.
  • Hill, Lee (2010).A Grand Guy: The Art And Life of Terry Southern.HarperCollins.ISBN978-0380977864.
  • McGilligan, Patrick(1986).Backstory: Interviews with Screenwriters of Hollywood's Golden Age.University of California Press.ISBN978-0-520-05689-3.
  • Rockett, Kevin(1996).The Irish Filmography: Fiction Films, 1896-1996.Red Mountain Media.ISBN9780952669807.
  • Southern, Nile (2004).The Candy Men: The Rollicking Life and Times of the Notorious Novel Candy.Arcade Publishing.ISBN155970604X.
  • Williams, Melanie (2020). "Her Word Was Her Bond: Johanna Harwood, Bond's First Woman Screenwriter". In Gerrard, Steven (ed.).From Blofeld to Moneypenny: Gender in James Bond.Emerald Publishing.ISBN978-1-83867-163-1.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^Credited as Siobhan Harwood.
  2. ^The film misspells her name as "Johanna Horward".
  3. ^The film misspells her name as "Johanna Horward".
  4. ^Gavin Lambertre-wrote the script.
  5. ^Barry Reckorddid a new re-write.

References[edit]

  1. ^abcThe British Film and Television Yearbook.Vol. 10. 1960. p. 154.
  2. ^abcdeO'Shannon, Finuala (1966). "Johanna's Ambition".Irish Digest.85(3): 24.
  3. ^Profile,Sunday Independent,18 August 2019, p. 22.
  4. ^Rockett 1996,p. 18.
  5. ^Harwood, Johanna M. (November 1959). "For Women — Long Skis in Kitzbuhel".Punch.237:475.
  6. ^abcdField, Matthew (2012). "Johanna Harwood Interview".Movie Classics: A Cinema Retro Special Edition Magazine(4). Solo Publishing.
  7. ^"Finding Aid for Lucille Kallen papers, 1938-1999".New York Public Library for the Performing Arts#Billy Rose Theatre Division.December 2004.
  8. ^The Stage Year Book.London: Carson & Comerford. 1962. p. 71.
  9. ^"Flat for Six".Plays and Players.9–10:(23?). October 1961.
  10. ^Southern 2004,p. 194.
  11. ^Hill 2010.
  12. ^Saltzman, Harry. (1959) "Films and Filming".Also mentions upcoming production ofCasino Royal[sic].
  13. ^Broccoli 1998,p. 158.
  14. ^Broccoli 1998,p. 159.
  15. ^Inside Dr. No Documentary (DVD). Dr. No (Ultimate Edition, 2006): MGM Home Entertainment. 1999.
  16. ^McGilligan 1986,p. 286.
  17. ^Audio commentary (DVD). Dr. No (Ultimate Edition, 2006): MGM Home Entertainment. 1999.
  18. ^McGilligan 1986,p. 284.
  19. ^p. 79 Kremer, DanielSidney J. Furie: Life and Films University Press of Kentucky, 9 Oct 2015
  20. ^Sasportas, Valérie (7 June 2012)."Les Fauves de René Clément aux enchères".Le Figaro.

External links[edit]

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