William Kelley (screenwriter)
William Kelley | |
---|---|
Born | New York City, U.S. | May 27, 1929
Died | February 3, 2003 Bishop, California, U.S. | (aged 73)
Occupation |
|
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Villanova University Brown University Harvard Grad School |
Notable awards | Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (1985) |
Spouse |
Cornelia Ann Chamberlin Kelley
(m. 1954) |
Children | 2 |
Parents | Thomas Edward Kelley Alethia Waldegrave |
William Kelley (May 27, 1929 – February 3, 2003) was an American screenwriter and producer for television and film who is best known for his work on the Peter Weir-directed film Witness (1985), which starred Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis, that earned him an Academy Award along with his co-writers Earl W. Wallace and Pamela Wallace.
Early life and education
Kelley was born on May 27, 1929, to Thomas Edward and Alethia (
Career
Kelley got his first writing credit in 1955, when he wrote an episode of the
While continuing to write novels such as The God Hunters in 1964,
Witness
Producer
Feldman liked the concept, but felt too much of the script was devoted to Amish traditions, diluting the thriller aspects of the story. He offered Kelley and Wallace $25,000 for a one-year option and one rewrite, and an additional $225,000 if the film actually were made. They submitted the revised screenplay in less than six weeks, and Feldman delivered it to Fox. Joe Wizan, the studio's head of production, rejected it with the statement that Fox did not make "rural movies".[6]
Feldman sent the screenplay to Harrison Ford's agent Phil Gersh, who contacted the producer four days later and advised him his client was willing to commit to the film. Certain the attachment of a major star would change Wizan's mind, Feldman approached him once again, but Wizan insisted that as much as the studio liked Ford, they still were not interested in making a "rural movie."[7]
Feldman sent the screenplay to numerous studios, and was rejected by all of them, until Paramount Pictures finally expressed interest. Feldman's first choice of director was Peter Weir, but he was involved in preproduction work for The Mosquito Coast and passed on the project. John Badham dismissed it as "just another cop movie", and others Feldman approached either were committed to other projects or had no interest. Then, as financial backing for The Mosquito Coast fell through, Weir became free to direct Witness, which was his first American film. Starting the film immediately was imperative, because a Directors Guild of America strike was looming.[8]
The film was eventually released in February of 1985 and would become both a critical and box-office success earning Wallace and Kelley a Writers Guild of America award and the 1986 original screenplay Oscar which was shared with Wallace’s wife Pamela.[1]
Personal life and death
Kelly married his wife Cornelia Ann "Nina" née Chamberlin Kelley in September of 1954 and they had two children.[citation needed] He died of cancer on February 3, 2003, in his home in Bishop, California, shortly after his final novel, A Servant of Slaves: The Life of Henriette Delille was published.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e "William Kelley". Variety. 4 February 2003. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Kelley, William 1929-2003". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ McGivern 2020, p. 2.
- ^ Feldman 2005, pp. 180–190.
- ^ Feldman 2005, p. 191.
- ^ Feldman 2005, pp. 190–191.
- ^ Feldman 2005, p. 188.
Sources
- ISBN 978-0-312-34801-4.
- McGivern, Alicia (March 2020). "Witness: A Study Guide" (PDF). IFI Education. Irish Film Institute. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 27, 2021.
External links
- William Kelley at IMDb