Jane Murfin, née Macklem (October 27, 1884 – August 10, 1955) was an American playwright, director and screenwriter. The author of several successful plays, she wrote some of them with actress Jane Cowl—most notably Smilin' Through (1919), which was adapted three times for motion pictures. In Hollywood Murfin became a popular screenwriter whose credits include What Price Hollywood? (1932), for which she received an Academy Award nomination. In the 1920s she lived with Laurence Trimble, writing and producing films for their dog Strongheart, the first major canine star.
Life and career
Jane Macklem was born October 27, 1884, in Quincy, Michigan. In 1907 she married attorney James Murfin, and retained his surname when the marriage ended fewer than five years later.
Murfin began her career with the play Lilac Time, which she co-wrote with actress Jane Cowl. The Broadway production opened February 6, 1917, and ran for 176 performances. Later that year the two women began collaborating, often under pseudonym Allan Langdon Martin, on a series of revivals of World War I melodramas. The pair later collaborated on Daybreak, followed by Information Please (1918) and Smilin' Through (1919).
In Hollywood, Murfin became a leading screenwriter, writing many romantic comedies and dramas by herself or in collaboration.
In 1920, director Laurence Trimble persuaded Murfin to purchase a German Shepherd dog—Strongheart—that became the first major canine film star. Strongheart starred in four films that Trimble directed from Murfin's screenplays: The Silent Call (1921), Brawn of the North (1922), The Love Master (1924) and White Fang (1925).
Murfin is credited with directing one film, Flapper Wives (1924), before the dissolution of her partnership with Trimble. Film historian Kevin Brownlow described this partnership as both professional and personal; although some sources describe Trimble and Murfin as a husband-and-wife filmmaking team, no marriage has been substantiated.
Murfin's later screenwriting credits include Way Back Home (1931), Our Betters (1933), The Little Minister (1934), Spitfire (1934), Roberta (1935), Alice Adams (1935), The Women (1939), Pride and Prejudice (1940), and Dragon Seed (1944).
Personal life Murfin was married first to lawyer James Murfin from 1907 to 1912.The Detroit Times June 4, 1914 LAST EDITION, Page 2..retrieved July 31, 2019 Her second marriage was to actor Donald Crisp, for whom she would write parts in her scripts; the marriage lasted from 1932 to 1944.
Accolades Murfin and Adela Rogers St. Johns were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Story for What Price Hollywood? (1932). Frances Marion received the award for The Champ.
Theatre credits Date Title Notes February 6 – July 1917 Lilac Time Theatre Republic, New York City; written with Jane CowlBasis for the 1928 film August 14 – October 1917 Daybreak Harris Theatre, New York City; written with Jane CowlBasis for the 1918 film October 2 – November 1918 Information Please Selwyn Theatre, New York CityBasis for the film A Temperamental Wife (1919) December 30, 1919 – May 1920 Smilin' Through Broadhurst Theatre, New York City; written with Jane Cowl, as Allan Langdon MartinBasis for film adaptations in 1922, 1932 and 1941 October 21 – November 1929 Stripped Ambassador Theatre, New York City
Select filmography Murfin is credited as a writer; additional production credits are noted.
Year Title Notes 1919 Marie, Ltd. 1919 1920 1921 The Silent Call 1922 Brawn of the North Also producer 1924 Also producer 1924 Flapper Wives Also producer, director 1925 White Fang 1925 1926 1926 Meet the Prince 1927 1927 1929 Street Girl 1929 Half Marriage 1929 Dance Hall 1929 Seven Keys to Baldpate 1930 1930 Lawful Larceny 1930 Leathernecking 1930 1931 Too Many Cooks 1931 Friends and Lovers 1931 Way Back Home 1932 Young Bride 1932 What Price Hollywood? 1932 Rockabye 1933 Our Betters 1933 1933 Double Harness 1933 Ann Vickers 1933 After Tonight 1933 Little Women 1934 Spitfire 1934 This Man Is Mine 1934 1934 1934 1934 1935 Romance in Manhattan 1935 Roberta 1935 Break of Hearts 1935 Alice Adams 1936 Come and Get It 1937 That Girl from Paris 1937 I'll Take Romance 1938 1939 Stand Up and Fight 1939 1940 Northwest Passage 1940 Pride and Prejudice 1941 Andy Hardy's Private Secretary 1943 Flight for Freedom 1944 Cry "Havoc" 1944 Dragon Seed
References
External links
Jane Murfin at the Women Film Pioneers Project Photo of Jane Cowl (sitting) and Jane Murfin