Former journalist who turned to screenwriting in the early 1930s and often worked in collaboration with Ben Hecht (e.g., "His Girl Friday" 1940, "Kiss of Death" 1947). Lederer's scripts were noted for their sharp wit, though his few directorial efforts proved somewhat lackluster. The son of theatre producer George W. Lederer and nephew of actress Marion Davies, Lederer married Orson Welles' former wife Virginia Nicholson in 1940, and actress Anne Shirley in 1949.
- Also Credited As:
Charles Davies Lederer
- Born:
December 31, 1910 in New York City, New York, USA
- Died:
March 5, 1976.
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Job Titles:
Screenwriter, Director, Journalist, Producer
Family
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Aunt: Marion Davies. maternal aunt
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Father: George W Lederer. directed Marion Davies s first film
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Mother: Reine Davies. sister of Marion Davies
Education
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University of California, Berkeley,, Berkeley, California
Milestones
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1931 Began as a screenwriter collaborating on the dialogue for Lewis Milestone s The Front Page
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1942 Directed the first of three features films, Fingers at the Window
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1953 Produced and co-wrote (with Luther Davis) the hit Broadway musical, Kismet