Person
F. McGrew Willis
Writing · 1891–1957 · Pleasanton, Iowa, USA
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia F. McGrew Willis (August 18, 1891 – October 13, 1957) was an American screenwriter of the silent and early sound film eras. Born Frank McGrew Willis on August 18, 1891, in Pleasanton, Iowa, he broke into the film industry writing film shorts in 1914 and 1915 as a freelance screenwriter. His first feature credit came in 1915, with The Quest, the first of three features he would pen in 1915. Over the next fourteen years he would write the scripts or stories for 43 silent films, three of which, The Girl in the Pullman (1927), Annapolis (1928), and A Blonde for a Night (1928), he also produced for either De Mille Pictures and/or Pathé Exchange. He would also produce another three films in 1928. In 1929, and through the next 6 years of the blossoming talking picture era, he would write the screenplays or stories for another 18 films. In the late 1930s he would work in England, where he scripted 6 films during the remainder of the decade. His final screenwriting credit would come on 1941's Sis Hopkins, for which he wrote the story. Willis died on October 13, 1957, in Menlo Park, California, and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California.
Known for
Regeneration
Story

Madame Behave
Screenplay

Sis Hopkins
Story

Twin Beds
Screenplay

Kiss of Araby
Story

The Man Who Turned White
Story
The Road to Paradise
Scenario Writer

Almost a Lady
Writer

His Divorced Wife
Scenario Writer

Playthings
Scenario Writer
Filmography
- 1941Sis HopkinsStory
- 1939Murder in SohoWriter
- 1938PremiereWriter
- 1936The Man in the MirrorAdaptation
- 1934Keep 'Em RollingScreenplay
- 1933Secret SinnersStory
- 1933Midshipman JackScreenplay
- 1933Kiss of ArabyStory
- 1933When a Man Rides AloneStory
- 1932The Gambling SexScreenplay
- 1932The Forty-NinersWriter
- 1931Suicide FleetContinuity
- 1931The Big GambleScreenplay
- 1931Meet the WifeWriter
- 1930The Costello CaseDialogue
- 1929Twin BedsScreenplay
- 1929Two Weeks OffWriter
- 1928AnnapolisWriter
- 1928A Blonde for a NightDirector
- 1927Getting Gertie's GarterAdaptation
- 1926The WinnerStory
- 1926The Nervous WreckWriter
- 1926Almost a LadyWriter
- 1926Up in Mabel's RoomScreenplay
- 1925Madame BehaveScreenplay
- 1925The MidshipmanWriter
- 1925Welcome HomeWriter
- 1925The Million Dollar HandicapAdaptation
- 1925Charley's AuntAdaptation
- 1924Reckless RomanceWriter
- 1923Her Temporary HusbandWriter
- 1923The Light That FailedAdaptation
- 1921Everyman's PriceWriter
- 1921Oliver Twist, Jr.Story
- 1920The Common SinWriter
- 1920The Phantom MelodyWriter
- 1919His Divorced WifeScenario Writer
- 1919The Pagan GodWriter
- 1919The Man Who Turned WhiteStory
- 1919The End of the GameWriter
- 1918The Velvet HandWriter
- 1918Modern LoveScenario Writer
- 1918PlaythingsScenario Writer
- 1918A Burglar for a NightStory
- 1918The Empty CabWriter
- 1918$5,000 RewardScenario Writer
- 1918The Bride's AwakeningWriter
- 1917The Flame of YouthStory
- 1917American MethodsWriter
- 1917Even as You and IStory
- 1917High FinanceScenario Writer
- 1916The Devil's BondwomanStory
- 1916A Stranger from SomewhereWriter
- 1916The Whirlpool of DestinyStory
- 1916The Pool of FlameScenario Writer
- 1916The Beckoning TrailWriter
- 1916The Silent BattleScreenplay
- 1916The Way of the WorldScreenplay
- 1916The Iron HandWriter
- 1916The Gay Lord WaringScenario Writer
- 1915The Road to ParadiseScenario Writer
- 1915Business Is BusinessAdaptation
- 1915The Burden BearerWriter
- 1915The QuestScenario Writer
- 1914The Den of ThievesScenario Writer
- 1914RegenerationStory
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