James Curtis
Encyclopedia
James Curtis was a British
author who was best known for his novels, They Drive By Night and There Ain't No Justice, both of which were made in to feature films.
, Kent
on 4 July 1907.
He was privately educated in Kent and after leaving school he moved to London. In 1934, Curtis appeared in two films, Manhattan Melodrama and Fugitive Lady, in uncredited roles.
He later adopted the pseudonym of James Curtis and began a career as an author. In total he wrote 6 novels as well as, at least, one work of political observations.
Curtis was forced to stop writing when World War II broke out. He would go on to tour France and Burma and rose to the rank of Major. After the war, his marriage had failed and his literary momentum never recovered.
Eric Partridge
frequently cited Curtis as a source of new slang words in his A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English.
His debut novel The Gilt Kid
was published in 1936 by Penguin Books.
In 1937 he published two novels, You’re in the Racket Too and There Ain't No Justice.
You’re in the Racket Too is notable for being one of the earliest examples in print of the expression ”Gordon Bennett!”
1937 also saw the publication of his only non-fiction work, A Guide to British Liberties, featuring left-wing political observations.
In 1938 he published his fourth novel, They Drive By Night
followed in 1939 by his penultimate novel, What Immortal Hand.
After a 17 year absence he published his final published work in 1956, the novel Look Long Upon a Monkey.
In 2007, London Books republished his 1936 novel, The Gilt Kid to coincide with the 30th anniversary of his death. It featured an interview with his daughter, Nicolette Edwards. In 2008 a reissue of They Drive By Night followed as part of their London Classics series.
was released as a feature film with the screenplay provided by Curtis himself. It was directed by Arthur Woods and starred Emlyn Williams
and Ernest Thesiger
.
The following year his second novel was made into a film of the same name, There Ain't No Justice
(1939). The author again provided the screenplay with Pen Tennyson
acting as director.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
author who was best known for his novels, They Drive By Night and There Ain't No Justice, both of which were made in to feature films.
Life
James Curtis was born Geoffrey Basil Maiden, in SturrySturry
Sturry is a village on the Great Stour river three miles north-east of Canterbury in Kent. The large parish of Sturry Church incorporates the former mining village of Hersden and several hamlets.-Geography:...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
on 4 July 1907.
He was privately educated in Kent and after leaving school he moved to London. In 1934, Curtis appeared in two films, Manhattan Melodrama and Fugitive Lady, in uncredited roles.
He later adopted the pseudonym of James Curtis and began a career as an author. In total he wrote 6 novels as well as, at least, one work of political observations.
Curtis was forced to stop writing when World War II broke out. He would go on to tour France and Burma and rose to the rank of Major. After the war, his marriage had failed and his literary momentum never recovered.
Works
Curtis used his plots to highlight society's unfairness and the lack of opportunity that often led people to break the law in times of poverty. The lexicographerLexicography
Lexicography is divided into two related disciplines:*Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries....
Eric Partridge
Eric Partridge
Eric Honeywood Partridge was a New Zealand/British lexicographer of the English language, particularly of its slang. His writing career was interrupted only by his service in the Army Education Corps and the RAF correspondence department during World War II...
frequently cited Curtis as a source of new slang words in his A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English.
His debut novel The Gilt Kid
The Gilt Kid
The Gilt Kid is the debut novel by British author James Curtis published in 1936. It is a crime thriller set in 1930s London but also deals with working-class themes in a Social realism style.-Plot:...
was published in 1936 by Penguin Books.
In 1937 he published two novels, You’re in the Racket Too and There Ain't No Justice.
You’re in the Racket Too is notable for being one of the earliest examples in print of the expression ”Gordon Bennett!”
James Gordon Bennett, Jr.
James Gordon Bennett, Jr. was publisher of the New York Herald, founded by his father, James Gordon Bennett, Sr., who emigrated from Scotland. He was generally known as Gordon Bennett to distinguish him from his father....
1937 also saw the publication of his only non-fiction work, A Guide to British Liberties, featuring left-wing political observations.
In 1938 he published his fourth novel, They Drive By Night
They Drive by Night (novel)
They Drive By Night is the second novel by British author James Curtis published in 1938. It is a crime thriller set in 1930s London and the North of England dealing with working-class themes in a Social realism style.-Plot:...
followed in 1939 by his penultimate novel, What Immortal Hand.
After a 17 year absence he published his final published work in 1956, the novel Look Long Upon a Monkey.
In 2007, London Books republished his 1936 novel, The Gilt Kid to coincide with the 30th anniversary of his death. It featured an interview with his daughter, Nicolette Edwards. In 2008 a reissue of They Drive By Night followed as part of their London Classics series.
Adaptations
In 1938, They Drive By NightThey Drive by Night (1938 film)
They Drive by Night is a 1938 British black-and-white, crime thriller, directed by Arthur B. Woods starring Emlyn Williams as 'Shorty', an ex-con and Ronald Shiner as Charlie, the café proprietor. It was produced by Warner Brothers - First National Productions. The film is based on the novel of the...
was released as a feature film with the screenplay provided by Curtis himself. It was directed by Arthur Woods and starred Emlyn Williams
Emlyn Williams
George Emlyn Williams, CBE , known as Emlyn Williams, was a Welsh dramatist and actor.-Biography:He was born into a Welsh-speaking, working class family in Mostyn, Flintshire....
and Ernest Thesiger
Ernest Thesiger
Ernest Frederic Graham Thesiger CBE was an English stage and film actor. He is best known for his performance as Dr...
.
The following year his second novel was made into a film of the same name, There Ain't No Justice
There Ain't No Justice
There Ain't No Justice is a 1939 British black-and-white film based on the novel of the same name by James Curtis.-Plot summary:Tommy Mutch is a garage mechanic and small time boxer. With his family in financial difficulty he needs to find money in a hurry. As luck would have it he meets boxing...
(1939). The author again provided the screenplay with Pen Tennyson
Pen Tennyson
Frederick Penrose Tennyson was a British film director whose promising career was cut short when he was killed in a plane crash. Tennyson gained experience as an assistant director to Alfred Hitchcock in several of his British films during the 1930s...
acting as director.