Charles Bennett

Biography

Born just before the century turned, Charles Bennett made his writing debut as a child in 1911, fought in France during World War I while still a teen and resumed his acting career after the war's end. In 1926 he dropped acting to concentrate on being a playwright, later turning one of his most famous plays, "Blackmail," into a screenplay for production under the direction of Alfred Hitchcock. The affiliation with "Hitch" continued into the early 1940s, by which time both Bennett and the director were working in Hollywood. He wrote for producers ranging from Cecil B. DeMille to Irwin Allen to the penny-pinching folks at AIP. "If I couldn't write, I wouldn't want to live," commented Bennett, who had projects (including a remake of "Blackmail") going right up to the time of his death.

Known For

The 39 Steps

Acting

1915

John Halifax, Gentleman

as

John as a Child

1917

Hobbled Hearts

as

1935

The 39 Steps

as

Second Passerby Near the Bus (uncredited)

1917

The Rainbow Girl

as

Amos Divine

1986

A State of Emergency

as

Charlie

Production

Crew

1931

Two Way Street

as

Directing

1949

Madness of the Heart

as

1953

No Escape

as

1930

Painted Pictures

as

The Count of Monte Cristo

as

Cavalcade of America

as