Arthur Wimperis
Arthur Harold Wimperis (3 December 1874 – 14 October 1953) was an English playwright, lyricist and screenwriter, who contributed lyrics and libretti to popular
Early in his career, Wimperis was an illustrator. For 25 years beginning in 1906, he became a lyricist and librettist for
Biography
Wimperis was born in London, the son of Edmund Morison Wimperis and Anne Harry Edmonds.[1] Educated at Dulwich College and University College London, he began a career as an illustrator on the Daily Graphic.[2][3] This was soon interrupted by service in the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902 with Paget's Horse.[2][4]
1906–1930: Theatre and songwriting years
Wimperis then began a theatre writing career as a lyricist and librettist for
He served in the Royal Artillery as a temporary second lieutenant during the First World War,[7] and then resumed playwriting and songwriting, including for My Lady Frayle (1916) and Pamela (1917). In 1925, he wrote the English-language adaptation of for the American production of Sigmund Romberg's Louie the Fourteenth, and the next year he had another hit with Princess Charming in London. His last London success was a vehicle for Binnie Hale in 1930 called Nippy. Wimperis also contributed lyrics and scenes to many other reviews and musicals in London and New York and created English-language adaptations of several French and German plays.[6]
1930–1953: Film years
Wimperis then wrote screenplays and additional dialogue for British films. His first major film was Harmony Heaven in 1930. His film career quickly began to flourish under the guidance of director and producer
Wimperis also wrote the lyrics for the songs heard in the
Wimperis died in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, at the age of 78.
Selected filmography
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Notes
- ^ "Edmund Walter Wimperis", Dictionary of Scottish Architects, accessed 24 September 2016; and Dodgson, Campbell. "Wimperis, Edmund Morison" in Sidney Lee, Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement, London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ^ a b c "Mr. Arthur Wimperis – Craftsmanin the Theatre", The Times Obituaries, 15 October 1953, issue 52753, p. 10, col. E
- ^ Biography for Arthur Wimperis at the IMDB database
- ^ AllMovieGuide, accessed 23 September 2016
- ^ "Apollo. The Dairymaids, The Times, Reviews, 16 April 1906, issue 37995, p. 10, col. A
- ^ a b Arthur Wimperis Archived 20 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine biography at the British Musical Theatre site of The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive (2004)
- ^ "No. 32571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 January 1922. p. 264.
- ^ a b Langman, pp. 152–53
- ^ a b "Arthur Wimperis (1874–1953)", Biography at Katz's Film Encyclopedia
- ISBN 9781401301507.
- ^ Awards page for Arthur Wimperis at the IMDB database
References
- Gänzl, Kurt. The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre
- Langman, Larry. Destination Hollywood: The Influence of Europeans on American Filmmaking, McFarland, 2000 ISBN 0-7864-0681-X
External links
- Arthur Wimperis at IMDb
- Arthur Wimperis at the Internet Broadway Database
- Arthur Wimperis Annotated filmography at Fandango.com