Robert L. Buckner(1903-1961)
- Writer
Robert Latimer Buckner was born along the banks of the Arkansas River
at Pine Bluff on 16 March, 1903, to Walter D. and May Latimer Buckner.
He grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, where his father served as dean of
St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral.
After graduating from the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, Buckner attended acting classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Later he toured with the repertoire companies of Jane Cowl and Grace George before making his Broadway debut in the late 1920s.
In 1930 his play, "An Affair of State" failed at the box office, but the following year, "Portrait of a Lady", faired much better, as did several other plays he wrote during the 30s. His biggest success came in 1939 with "The Primrose Path" which was written with Walter Hart and was produced by George Abbott.
In 1939 Buckner sued Paramount Pictures and his former writing partner Charles Beahan over the release of the film Midnight (1934). Buckner claimed that Paramount got the idea for the film from a play entitled, "Dearly Beloved," that he and Beahan had written and later submitted to Paramount for their consideration. Buckner named Beahan in the action because he refused to join him as a plaintiff.
When the World War broke out Buckner joined the US Navy and served with the Seabees in the Pacific Theater. After the war he wrote scripts for a number of films and television shows.
On occasion the press would confuse Robert L. Buckner's name with that of Robert Buckner, a Hollywood screenwriter who was his contemporary.
Robert Latimer Buckner passed away on 24 January, 1961, at Veterans Hospital in New York after a lengthy illness. He was survived by his wife, Mary Jean Buckner, a son and two daughters. He is interned at the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.
After graduating from the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, Buckner attended acting classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Later he toured with the repertoire companies of Jane Cowl and Grace George before making his Broadway debut in the late 1920s.
In 1930 his play, "An Affair of State" failed at the box office, but the following year, "Portrait of a Lady", faired much better, as did several other plays he wrote during the 30s. His biggest success came in 1939 with "The Primrose Path" which was written with Walter Hart and was produced by George Abbott.
In 1939 Buckner sued Paramount Pictures and his former writing partner Charles Beahan over the release of the film Midnight (1934). Buckner claimed that Paramount got the idea for the film from a play entitled, "Dearly Beloved," that he and Beahan had written and later submitted to Paramount for their consideration. Buckner named Beahan in the action because he refused to join him as a plaintiff.
When the World War broke out Buckner joined the US Navy and served with the Seabees in the Pacific Theater. After the war he wrote scripts for a number of films and television shows.
On occasion the press would confuse Robert L. Buckner's name with that of Robert Buckner, a Hollywood screenwriter who was his contemporary.
Robert Latimer Buckner passed away on 24 January, 1961, at Veterans Hospital in New York after a lengthy illness. He was survived by his wife, Mary Jean Buckner, a son and two daughters. He is interned at the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.