Gordon Wellesley: Difference between revisions

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By 1923 his short stories such as ''A Lesson in Cocktails'' were appearing in magazines.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article234291282 |title=A LESSON IN COCKTAILS |newspaper=[[Smith's Weekly]] |volume=V, |issue=5 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=24 March 1923 |accessdate=8 January 2019 |page=25 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref> A biography around this time called him "one of the best known commercial men in the Federated Malay states."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article234290097 |title=THE BAIT |newspaper=[[Smith's Weekly]] |volume=V, |issue=26 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=18 August 1923 |accessdate=8 January 2019 |page=21 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>
By 1923 his short stories such as ''A Lesson in Cocktails'' were appearing in magazines.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article234291282 |title=A LESSON IN COCKTAILS |newspaper=[[Smith's Weekly]] |volume=V, |issue=5 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=24 March 1923 |accessdate=8 January 2019 |page=25 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref> A biography around this time called him "one of the best known commercial men in the Federated Malay states."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article234290097 |title=THE BAIT |newspaper=[[Smith's Weekly]] |volume=V, |issue=26 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=18 August 1923 |accessdate=8 January 2019 |page=21 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>


In 1931 he was living in lived in Kuala Lumpur.<ref name="visit">Oriental Writer Here on Visit
In 1931 he was living in Kuala Lumpur.<ref name="visit">Oriental Writer Here on Visit
Los Angeles Times 19 Feb 1931: A5. </ref> (Another article says he was from Singapore.<ref>VISITOR STUDIES COURTS HERE: Singapore Barrister Occupies Bench
Los Angeles Times 19 Feb 1931: A5. </ref> (Another article says he was from Singapore.<ref>VISITOR STUDIES COURTS HERE: Singapore Barrister Occupies Bench Los Angeles Times 16 Sep 1932: A5.</ref>) He was reportedly "a business man as well as a traveler, writer, explorer and official film producer for the Malayan government."<ref name="wong"/> A 1931 profile said he was educated at the University of London and had directed a Malayan picture called ''Black Sands'' "which created a lot of excitement in Europe".<ref>SUGAR and SPICE
Los Angeles Times 16 Sep 1932: A5.</ref>) He was reportedly "a business man as well as a traveler, writer, explorer and official film producer for the Malayan government."<ref name="wong"/> A 1931 profile said he was educated at the University of London and had directed a Malayan picture called ''Black Sands'' "which created a lot of excitement in Europe".<ref>SUGAR and SPICE
Whitaker, Alma. Los Angeles Times 15 Mar 1931: B18</ref>
Whitaker, Alma. Los Angeles Times 15 Mar 1931: B18</ref>
===Hollywood===
===Hollywood===
He travelled to Hollywood in 1931.<ref name="visit"/> He sold the film rights to his novel, ''Pagan River'' to Universal. He also sold a story he wrote about the Sino-Japanese war called ''Shanghai Interlude'' which was going to be made by director John Ford and star [[Lew Ayres]].<ref name="wong"/>
He travelled to Hollywood in 1931, when he was 36 years old.<ref name="visit"/> He sold the film rights to his novel, ''Pagan River'' to Universal. He also sold a story he wrote about the Sino-Japanese war called ''Shanghai Interlude'' which was going to be made by director John Ford and star [[Lew Ayres]].<ref name="wong"/>


He was using the name "Wong Wellesley" around this time. He says he did this "because with a Chinese surname I might be expected to write nothing but Chinese stories."<ref name="wong"/>
He was using the name "Wong Wellesley" around this time. He says he did this "because with a Chinese surname I might be expected to write nothing but Chinese stories."<ref name="wong"/>
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He wrote ''No Limit'' for [[George Formby]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32882723 |title=BRITISH PRODUCTION NOTES |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |volume=51, |issue=15,298 |location=Western Australia |date=5 July 1935 |accessdate=8 January 2019 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>
He wrote ''No Limit'' for [[George Formby]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32882723 |title=BRITISH PRODUCTION NOTES |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |volume=51, |issue=15,298 |location=Western Australia |date=5 July 1935 |accessdate=8 January 2019 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>

He produced ''[[The High Command]]'' (1937) for director [[Thorold Dickinson]] and Fanfare Films.<ref>Films of the Day: A Light Mixture
Campbell, George. The Bystander; London Vol. 135, Iss. 1755, (Aug 4, 1937): 192. </ref>

In early 1939 a short story of his was published, ''Report on a Fugitive''.<ref>Report on a Fugitive: A Drama of the Secret Service
Gordon Wellesley. Britannia and Eve; London Vol. 18, Iss. 2, (Feb 1939): 49, 48, 50-51, 110, 112-114. </ref>

In 1941 a script was being prepared based on a story of his, ''Lisbon Clipper''.<ref> SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Joan Carroll Will Appear in 'Angel Face' at RKO -- 'Happy Ending' Bought by Studio NEW FILM DUE AT STRAND The Maltese Falcon' to Open Today -- 'A Yank in the R.A.F.' in Second Week
By DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]03 Oct 1941: 27. </ref>

In February 1942, Wellesley earned an Oscar nomination for his story for ''Night Train''. It was the only nomination given to a British film that year.<ref>CITATIONS LISTED FOR FILM AWARDS: Selection of l0 Best Pictures Among 50 Nominations Made by Academy PRESENTATIONS ON FEB. 26 Bette Davis Receives Mention Again -- Screen Writers and Directors Honored
New York Times 09 Feb 1942: 18. </ref>
===Director===
===Director===
Wellesley turned director with ''[[The Silver Fleet]]'' (1942), based on a suggestion of [[President Roosevelt]].<ref>"The Silver Fleet": The Film Roosevelt Suggested to Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands
⚫
Wellesley directed ''[[Rhythm Serenade]]'' with [[Vera Lynn]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26040849 |title=Authentic Basis For Home-Front Story |newspaper=[[The Mercury]] |volume=CLX, |issue=23,084 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=25 November 1944 |accessdate=8 January 2019 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>
The Tatler and Bystander; London Vol. 165, Iss. 2151, (Sep 16, 1942): 365. </ref>

⚫
He directed ''[[Rhythm Serenade]]'' with [[Vera Lynn]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26040849 |title=Authentic Basis For Home-Front Story |newspaper=[[The Mercury]] |volume=CLX, |issue=23,084 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=25 November 1944 |accessdate=8 January 2019 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>
===Later Career===
===Later Career===
In 1967 he was awarded a Writers Guild Award for distinguished service.<ref>https://writersguild.org.uk/writers-guild-awards-1967/</ref>
In 1967 he was awarded a Writers Guild Award for distinguished service.<ref>https://writersguild.org.uk/writers-guild-awards-1967/</ref>

Revision as of 01:46, 9 January 2019

Gordon Wong Wellesley (8 December 1894 – 1980) was an Australian-born screenwriter and writer of Chinese descent.[1] Born in Sydney in 1894[2] He wrote over thirty screenplays in the United States and Britain, often collaborating with the director Carol Reed.[3] He began his career in Hollywood in the early 1930s and worked in Britain beginning about 1935.[4] He was married to the scriptwriter Katherine Strueby.[5] He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, Original Story at the 1942 Oscars for Night Train to Munich, which was based on his novel, Report on a Fugitive.

He lived in Hammersmith Road, London and after World War II he worked on several television scripts.[4]

Biography

Gordon Wellesley Wong was born in Australia, of English and Chinese descent and was educated in London.[6][7]

By 1923 his short stories such as A Lesson in Cocktails were appearing in magazines.[8] A biography around this time called him "one of the best known commercial men in the Federated Malay states."[9]

In 1931 he was living in Kuala Lumpur.[10] (Another article says he was from Singapore.[11]) He was reportedly "a business man as well as a traveler, writer, explorer and official film producer for the Malayan government."[6] A 1931 profile said he was educated at the University of London and had directed a Malayan picture called Black Sands "which created a lot of excitement in Europe".[12]

Hollywood

He travelled to Hollywood in 1931, when he was 36 years old.[10] He sold the film rights to his novel, Pagan River to Universal. He also sold a story he wrote about the Sino-Japanese war called Shanghai Interlude which was going to be made by director John Ford and star Lew Ayres.[6]

He was using the name "Wong Wellesley" around this time. He says he did this "because with a Chinese surname I might be expected to write nothing but Chinese stories."[6]

Pagan River was filmed as Nagana (1933).[13][14]

Wellesley also wrote Shanghai Madness (1933) made with Spencer Tracy.[15] In July 1933 he left Los Angeles for London.[16]

Britain

He moved to Britain in 1934.[17]

He wrote No Limit for George Formby.[18]

He produced The High Command (1937) for director Thorold Dickinson and Fanfare Films.[19]

In early 1939 a short story of his was published, Report on a Fugitive.[20]

In 1941 a script was being prepared based on a story of his, Lisbon Clipper.[21]

In February 1942, Wellesley earned an Oscar nomination for his story for Night Train. It was the only nomination given to a British film that year.[22]

Director

Wellesley turned director with The Silver Fleet (1942), based on a suggestion of President Roosevelt.[23]

He directed Rhythm Serenade with Vera Lynn.[24]

Later Career

In 1967 he was awarded a Writers Guild Award for distinguished service.[25]

Selected filmography

Other Writing

  • A Lesson in Cocktails (1923) - magazine story[27]
  • The Bait (1923) - magazine serial[28]
  • Anything Might Happen (1923) - magazine story[29]
  • The Proper Thing (1923) - magazine story[30]
  • Pagan River (1931) - magazine serial
  • Report on a Fugitive: A Drama of the Secret Service (1939) - magazine story
  • Lisbon Clipper (1941) - magazine story.[31]
  • The silver fleet : the story of the film put into narrative (1943) - book

References

  1. ^ a b "The High Command". Colonial Film: Moving Pictures of the British Empire. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  2. ^ According to the researcher Steve Holland, he may have been born in China, the son of Florence Edith Wellesley and an unknown father named Wong. Holland suggests that Wellesley reversed his last name and middle name.
  3. ^ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919968/
  4. ^ a b Holland, Steve. "Paperback Cover Cavalcade 6". Bear Alley (blog). Blogspot. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  5. ^ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/19382
  6. ^ a b c d East Liverpoool Review. 22 June 1932. p. 12 https://newspaperarchive.com/east-liverpool-review-jun-22-1932-p-12/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ According to a 1952 article, Wellesley was born in Sydney in 1906 and lived there until 1933 when he moved to Malaya. "This Week's Films". Northern Standard. Vol. 7, , no. 332. Northern Territory, Australia. 31 October 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) However considering he was regularly publishing stories in the 1920s, it is more likely his birthdate was earlier.
  8. ^ "A LESSON IN COCKTAILS". Smith's Weekly. Vol. V, , no. 5. New South Wales, Australia. 24 March 1923. p. 25. Retrieved 8 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  9. ^ "THE BAIT". Smith's Weekly. Vol. V, , no. 26. New South Wales, Australia. 18 August 1923. p. 21. Retrieved 8 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  10. ^ a b Oriental Writer Here on Visit Los Angeles Times 19 Feb 1931: A5.
  11. ^ VISITOR STUDIES COURTS HERE: Singapore Barrister Occupies Bench Los Angeles Times 16 Sep 1932: A5.
  12. ^ SUGAR and SPICE Whitaker, Alma. Los Angeles Times 15 Mar 1931: B18
  13. ^ "ENTERTAINMENTS". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 18 March 1933. p. 11 (LATE CITY). Retrieved 8 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ FLASHES FROM STUDIOS New York Times 17 Apr 1932: X5.
  15. ^ "ENTERTAINMENTS". Queensland Times. Vol. LXXIV, , no. 14, 776. Queensland, Australia. 22 March 1934. p. 10 (DAILY.). Retrieved 8 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  16. ^ News and Reviews of the Stage, Screen and Music; Gossip of Studio and the Theater: PRODUCTION TO HAVE STAR CAST Many Notables Assigned for "Take a Chance" Film Marshall Will Try Comedy in "Solitaire Man" "Break of Hearts" Slated for Miss Hepburn Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 28 July 1933: 11.
  17. ^ LUNT (H.M. INSPECTOR OF TAXES) v WELLESLEY (1943-1947) 27 TC 78 https://library.croneri.co.uk/cch_uk/btc/27-tc-78
  18. ^ "BRITISH PRODUCTION NOTES". The West Australian. Vol. 51, , no. 15, 298. Western Australia. 5 July 1935. p. 2. Retrieved 8 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  19. ^ Films of the Day: A Light Mixture Campbell, George. The Bystander; London Vol. 135, Iss. 1755, (Aug 4, 1937): 192.
  20. ^ Report on a Fugitive: A Drama of the Secret Service Gordon Wellesley. Britannia and Eve; London Vol. 18, Iss. 2, (Feb 1939): 49, 48, 50-51, 110, 112-114.
  21. ^ SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Joan Carroll Will Appear in 'Angel Face' at RKO -- 'Happy Ending' Bought by Studio NEW FILM DUE AT STRAND The Maltese Falcon' to Open Today -- 'A Yank in the R.A.F.' in Second Week By DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]03 Oct 1941: 27.
  22. ^ CITATIONS LISTED FOR FILM AWARDS: Selection of l0 Best Pictures Among 50 Nominations Made by Academy PRESENTATIONS ON FEB. 26 Bette Davis Receives Mention Again -- Screen Writers and Directors Honored New York Times 09 Feb 1942: 18.
  23. ^ "The Silver Fleet": The Film Roosevelt Suggested to Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands The Tatler and Bystander; London Vol. 165, Iss. 2151, (Sep 16, 1942): 365.
  24. ^ "Authentic Basis For Home-Front Story". The Mercury. Vol. CLX, , no. 23, 084. Tasmania, Australia. 25 November 1944. p. 9. Retrieved 8 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  25. ^ https://writersguild.org.uk/writers-guild-awards-1967/
  26. ^ BRITISH Studio Gossip Nepean, Edith. Picture Show; London Vol. 47, Iss. 1209, (Apr 24, 1943): 4.
  27. ^ "A LESSON IN COCKTAILS". Smith's Weekly. Vol. V, , no. 5. New South Wales, Australia. 24 March 1923. p. 25. Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  28. ^ "THE BAIT". Smith's Weekly. Vol. V, , no. 26. New South Wales, Australia. 18 August 1923. p. 21. Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  29. ^ "ANYTHING MIGHT HAPPEN". Smith's Weekly. Vol. V, , no. 36. New South Wales, Australia. 27 October 1923. p. 23. Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  30. ^ "The PROPER THING". Smith's Weekly. Vol. V, , no. 42. New South Wales, Australia. 8 December 1923. p. 27. Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  31. ^ SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Joan Carroll Will Appear in 'Angel Face' at RKO -- 'Happy Ending' Bought by Studio NEW FILM DUE AT STRAND The Maltese Falcon' to Open Today -- 'A Yank in the R.A.F.' in Second Week New York Times (1923-Current file); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]03 Oct 1941: 27.

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