American writer-producer, active between 1925 and 1930 as a journalist, publicist and stage manager. Moved to Hollywood, initially under contract at RKO (1934-37). During World War II, worked with Frank Capra as writer of the "Why We Fight" series for the Office of War Information. Producer and writer for United Artists (1951-52 and 1956-59). His best screenplays included the film noir classic
The Killers (1946) and the Toulouse-Lautrec biopic
Moulin Rouge (1952).