John L. Balderston

Writing

John L. Balderston

Born — Died

1889-10-22 — 1954-03-08

Known for

Writing

Credits

18 titles

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. John L. Balderston (October 22, 1889 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - March 8, 1954 Los Angeles, California) was an American playwright and screenwriter best known for his horror and fantasy scripts. Balderston began his career as a journalist. He worked as European war correspondent during World War I. He was the editor of Outlook magazine and a correspondent for the New York World. In 1927, he was retained by Horace Liveright to revise Hamilton Deane's stage adaptation of Dracula for its American production. His 1929 play Berkeley Square later formed the basis of the musical On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. His Dracula subsequently formed the bas…

Known for

The Mummy poster
6.7

An ancient Egyptian priest named Imhotep is revived when a British archaeological expedition finds his mummy and one of the researchers accidentally reads an ancient life-giving spell. Imhotep escapes from the field site and searches for the reincarnation of the soul of his lover.

The Mummy

1932

Gaslight poster
7.5

A newlywed fears she's going mad when strange things start happening at the family mansion.

Gaslight

1944

Mark of the Vampire poster
6.2

Sir Borotyn, a prominent Prague resident, is discovered murdered in his home, with all indications pointing to a vampiric assault. The victim's friend, Baron Otto, and the physician who analyzes the body, are certain that the vampire is either the mysterious Count Mora or his daughter. Receiving little help from the law, occult expert Professor Zelen is sought to assist with their investigation.

Mark of the Vampire

1935

The Prisoner of Zenda poster
6.9

A kingdom's ascending heir, marked for assassination, switches identities with a lookalike, who takes his place at the coronation. When the real king is kidnapped, his followers try to find him, while the stand-in falls in love with the king's intended bride, the beautiful Princess Flavia.

The Prisoner of Zenda

1952

The Prisoner of Zenda poster
7.5

A kingdom's ascending heir, marked for assassination, switches identities with a lookalike, who takes his place at the coronation. When the real king is kidnapped, his followers try to find him, while the stand-in falls in love with the king's intended bride, the beautiful Princess Flavia.

The Prisoner of Zenda

1937

Red Planet Mars poster
4.9

Husband-and-wife scientists pick up a pie-in-the-sky TV message supposedly from Mars.

Red Planet Mars

1952

Behind the camera

The Mummy poster
6.7

An ancient Egyptian priest named Imhotep is revived when a British archaeological expedition finds his mummy and one of the researchers accidentally reads an ancient life-giving spell. Imhotep escapes from the field site and searches for the reincarnation of the soul of his lover.

The Mummy

1932

Gaslight poster
7.5

A newlywed fears she's going mad when strange things start happening at the family mansion.

Gaslight

1944

Mark of the Vampire poster
6.2

Sir Borotyn, a prominent Prague resident, is discovered murdered in his home, with all indications pointing to a vampiric assault. The victim's friend, Baron Otto, and the physician who analyzes the body, are certain that the vampire is either the mysterious Count Mora or his daughter. Receiving little help from the law, occult expert Professor Zelen is sought to assist with their investigation.

Mark of the Vampire

1935

The Prisoner of Zenda poster
6.9

A kingdom's ascending heir, marked for assassination, switches identities with a lookalike, who takes his place at the coronation. When the real king is kidnapped, his followers try to find him, while the stand-in falls in love with the king's intended bride, the beautiful Princess Flavia.

The Prisoner of Zenda

1952

The Prisoner of Zenda poster
7.5

A kingdom's ascending heir, marked for assassination, switches identities with a lookalike, who takes his place at the coronation. When the real king is kidnapped, his followers try to find him, while the stand-in falls in love with the king's intended bride, the beautiful Princess Flavia.

The Prisoner of Zenda

1937

Red Planet Mars poster
4.9

Husband-and-wife scientists pick up a pie-in-the-sky TV message supposedly from Mars.

Red Planet Mars

1952

Mad Love poster
7.0

An insane surgeon's obsession with an actress leads him to replace her wounded pianist husband's hands with those of a knife-throwing murderer.

Mad Love

1935

Smilin' Through poster
6.3

John Carteret has long been depressed and lonely, because, at his wedding years ago, his bride, Moonyean, was murdered. He accepts into his house Kathleen, the 5-year-old orphaned niece of Moonyean, and she quickly grows up to look just like her aunt.

Smilin' Through

1941

Beloved Enemy poster
6.3

In 1921, British Lord Athleigh arrives in Dublin with his daughter, Helen, to engage in peace talks. As wanted Irish rebel leader Dennis Riordan is not recognized in public, he is able to move about freely and saves the Athleighs from an assassination attempt by a radical faction. Dennis and Helen meet again and, unaware of his position, Helen falls in love with him. Later when Dennis admits his identity, Helen must make a fateful decision.

Beloved Enemy

1936

The Lives of a Bengal Lancer poster
6.6

In the Northwest Frontier of India, the 41st Bengal Lancers led by the harsh Colonel Tom Stone are having trouble with the rebellious leader Mohammed Khan. Surly McGregor and wry, blue-blooded Forsythe are officers in charge of newcomer Lieutenant Stone, the commanding officer’s inexperienced son. Motivated by a grudge toward his father, Lt. Stone allows himself to be captured by the enemy.

The Lives of a Bengal Lancer

1935

Victory poster
9.0

A hermit's idyllic life on an island is disturbed by the arrival of a bunch of cutthroats.

Victory

1940

The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss poster
6.8

A bored millionaire wagers his doctor that he can support himself at a working class job for a year without touching his inheritance.

The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss

1936

The Man Who Changed His Mind poster
6.1

Dr. Laurence, a once-respectable scientist, begins to research the origin of the mind and the soul. The science community rejects him, and he risks losing everything for which he has worked. He begins to use his discoveries to save his research and further his own causes, thereby becoming ... a mad scientist, almost unstoppable.

The Man Who Changed His Mind

1936

Stand by for Action poster
7.0

U. S. Navy Lieutenant Gregg Masterman, of The Harvard and Boston Back Bay Mastermans, learned about the sea while winning silver cups sailing his yacht. He climbs swiftly in rank, and is now Junior Aide to Rear Admiral Stephen Thomas.

Stand by for Action

1942

The Mystery of Edwin Drood poster
5.9

A choirmaster addicted to opium and obsessed with a beautiful young woman will stop at nothing to possess her.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

1935

Tennessee Johnson poster
6.5

Follows the tumultuous presidency of the 19th President of the United States, Andrew Johnson, whose story begins with his boyhood and early life. During the Civil War, Johnson remains a staunch Unionist and, upon Lincoln's reelection in 1864, becomes his Vice President. After Lincoln is assassinated, Johnson becomes the first U.S. President ever to be impeached.

Tennessee Johnson

1942

Berkeley Square poster
5.9

A young American man is transported back to London in the time shortly after the American Revolution and meets his ancestors.

Berkeley Square

1933

Scotland Yard poster
7.0

Inspector Cork pursues a bank robber who serves in the army and receives facial injuries. After plastic surgery he shows up as a bank president planning an enormous robbery.

Scotland Yard

1941