Wendell Curran Mayes (July 21, 1919 – March 28, 1992) was an American screenwriter, best known for his skill in writing literary adaptations and his work with director Otto Preminger. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film Anatomy of a Murder (1959).
His other notable films included The Spirit of St. Louis (1957), The Enemy Below (also 1957), Advise and Consent (1962), In Harm's Way (1965), Hotel (1967), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Go Tell the Spartans (1978), and the original Death Wish (1974).
Early life Mayes was born on July 21, 1919, in Hayti, Missouri. His father, Von Mayes, was a lawyer, and his mother, Irene (née Haynes), was a teacher. Wendell attended primary school in Caruthersville, Missouri; Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee;The Democrat-Argus. Caruthersville, Missouri. Friday, March 25, 1932 - Page 4 and Central College in Fayette, Missouri.The Democrat-Argus. Caruthersville, Missouri. Tuesday, September 13, 1932 - Page 5 He had one year of law school at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Mayes moved to Washington, D.C., to work as a filing clerk in the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, then to New York, where he worked in the theater. Subsequently, he was an exterminator and gold prospector in Arizona, a truck driver in Texas. During World War II, he worked as a welder in a Baltimore shipyard, and joined the Navy as a petty officer shipbuilder. In 1945, he was discharged from the Navy and moved back to New York.From Bootheel to Hollywood via TV. Wendell Mayes, welder-turned-TV writer, now working on Spirit of St Louis film script. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) · Fri, Jun 17, 1955 · Page 45
Screenwriting career Mayes began as an actor, then turned to writing.John Crosby. Silence booms as video trend. Oakland Tribune. 28 Jan 1957 An episode that he wrote for Pond's Theater received a good review in a Los Angeles newspaper, and led Billy Wilder to hire him to work on the script to the film The Spirit of St. Louis.Wendell Mayes: The Jobs Poured over Me. Interview by Rui Nogueira. Backstory 3. UC Press E-Books Collection, 1982-2004
For Anatomy of a Murder, Mayes received a New York Film Critics Circle Award for best screenplay in 1959 and an Oscar nomination in 1960. It is claimed to be one of the best trial movies of all time.
His last script was Criminal Behavior which starred Farrah Fawcett.Tampa Bay Times 3 April 1992Wendell Mayes, 72, Film and TV Writer, New York Times 2 April 1992
Death Mayes died of cancer aged 72 on March 28, 1992, in Santa Monica, California.Author of Anatomy of a Murder screenplay. Chicago Tribune 5 April 1992
Filmography
Film Year Title Director Notes 1957 The Spirit of St. Louis Billy WilderCo-writer with Wilder and Charles LedererThe Enemy BelowDick PowellThe Way to the GoldRobert D. Webb1958From Hell to TexasHenry HathawayCo-writer with Robert BucknerThe HuntersDick Powell1959The Hanging TreeDelmer DavesCo-writer with Halsted WellesAnatomy of a MurderOtto Preminger1960North to AlaskaHenry HathawayUncredited1962Advise and ConsentOtto Preminger1965Von Ryan's ExpressMark RobsonCo-writer with Joseph LandonIn Harm's WayOtto Preminger1967HotelRichard QuineAlso producer1968The Stalking MoonRobert MulliganCo-writer with Alvin Sargent1972The RevengersDaniel MannThe Poseidon AdventureRonald NeameCo-writer with Stirling Silliphant1974Death WishMichael WinnerBank ShotGower Champion1978Go Tell the SpartansTed Post1979Love and BulletsStuart RosenbergCo-writer with John Melson1982MonsignorFrank PerryCo-writer with Abraham Polonsky
Television Year Title Notes 1951 Lux Video TheatreEpisode: "A Child is Born"1955Pond's Theater3 episodes1956-57Kraft Television Theatre5 episodes1960EncounterEpisode: "Death is a Spanish Dancer"1983Savage in the OrientTelevision film1992Criminal Behavior
Awards and nominations Institution Year CategoryWorkResultAcademy Award1960Best Adapted ScreenplayAnatomy of a MurderNew York Film Critics Circle1959Best ScreenplayWriters Guild of America1960Best Written Drama1979Best Drama Adapted from Another MediumGo Tell the Spartans
References
External links
Wendell Mayes biography