Ben Hecht

Biography

Ben Hecht was born on February 28, 1894, in New York City and raised in Racine, Wisconsin. A child of Russian-Jewish immigrants, Hecht was a precocious and restless talent who left home at an early age to pursue a career in journalism. He would go on to become one of the most influential screenwriters and playwrights in American history.

Career in Journalism and Literature:

Hecht began his professional life as a reporter for the Chicago Daily News, where his sharp prose and nose for compelling human stories quickly earned him attention. His experiences in Chicago's gritty underworld informed much of his later work. In 1921, he published his first novel, Erik Dorn, to critical acclaim, establishing himself as a serious literary voice.

His short story collection The Little Stories of the Sinister Night and his novel Fantazius Mallare reflected his interest in surrealism and psychological complexity, pushing boundaries in both style and subject matter.

Hollywood and Screenwriting Success:

Ben Hecht transitioned to Hollywood in the mid-1920s and revolutionized screenwriting. His first screenplay, Underworld (1927), directed by Josef von Sternberg, is widely regarded as the first modern gangster film, and won Hecht the first Academy Award for Best Original Story. He quickly became one of the most sought-after writers in Hollywood.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Hecht penned or co-wrote scripts for some of cinema's most iconic films, including:

Scarface (1932)

Twentieth Century (1934)

The Front Page (1931, co-written with Charles MacArthur)

Notorious (1946, for Alfred Hitchcock)

Spellbound (1945, uncredited work for Hitchcock)

Gone with the Wind (1939, uncredited rewrites)

His dialogue was known for its wit, speed, and raw emotional intensity, and he often worked uncredited as a “script doctor” for major studios.

Political Activism and Later Life:

Hecht was also deeply involved in political causes, particularly in support of Jewish refugees during World War II. He used his talents to write plays, pamphlets, and even newspaper advertisements criticizing British policy in Palestine and calling for Jewish statehood.

In his later years, Hecht continued to write novels, plays, and essays. His autobiography, A Child of the Century (1954), offers a candid look into his colorful life and controversial views.

Legacy:

Ben Hecht passed away on April 18, 1964, in New York City. Over his career, he wrote more than 70 screenplays, many of which remain classics. Widely regarded as one of the first true screenwriters in Hollywood, Hecht's legacy lives on in the rapid-fire dialogue and complex antiheroes that populate film and television today.