Robert Riskin

A prolific writer who transitioned to film following success on Broadway, Robert Riskin collaborated with Frank Capra on some of the director's most iconic films, eventually earning five Academy Award nominations along the way. Riskin first worked with Capra on the religious-themed drama "The Miracle Woman" (1931) and bleak comedy "The Platinum Blonde" (1931) before collaborating on their first truly great film, "Lad for a Day" (1933). But it was the classic screwball comedy "It Happened One Night" (1934) that helped define both their careers and lived on as one of the greatest examples of the genre. Of course, his work was not limited to Capra, and Riskin wrote for other luminaries of his day like John Ford and William Wellman. But it was with Capra that he did his finest work, as exemplified by "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" (1936), "Lost Horizon" (1937) and "You Can't Take it With You" (1938). Tired of Capra taking credit for his work, Riskin made his last film with the director, "Meet John Doe" (1941), before branching off on his own. Following his service in the war, he wrote "The Thin Man Goes Home" (1944), "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" (1946) and "Riding High" (1950). Riskin suffered a debilitating stroke in 1950, though he received credit for "Here Comes the Groom" (1951) and "Pocketful of Miracles" (1961), which were written before his illness. Though he died relatively young, Riskin's output - particularly with Capra - remained virtually unmatched.