Aeneas MacKenzie

Aeneas MacKenzie, or Æneas MacKenzie (August 15, 1889 in Stornoway, Scotland – June 2, 1962 in Los Angeles), was a Scottish-American screenwriter. MacKenzie wrote many notable Hollywood films, including: The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), They Died with Their Boots On (1941), Ivanhoe (1952), and The Ten Commandments (1956).

Career

Maackenzie came from England to work on a film of East Lynne.[1]

In January 1938, he was under contract to Warner Bros. to write what would become Juarez.[2] In February 1939, he was working on a biopic of John Paul Jones for James Cagney.[3] He also wrote a biopic of Disraeli for Claude Rains.[4] Neither were made, but by July 1940, he was working on a biopic of George Custer which became They Died with Their Boots On.[5] MacKenzie wrote The Widow of Devil's Island for Bette Davis.[6] In March 1942, he was working on a movie about "Sing Sing" prison.[7]

In October 1943, RKO announced they would make a film from his original story, The Spanish Main.[8]

In July 1946, he wrote a script of Ivanhoe for Paramount.[9] The project was postponed due to the Palestine Cris and instead MacKenzie was assigned to do a biopic on Ludwig II for producer Robert Fellows.[10] A year later, his Ivanhoe script was sold to RKO.[11] They sold it to MGM who filmed it several years later.

He worked on the script for The Black Book (1949).

In January 1950, he sold a script to Douglas Fairbanks Jr which became Against All Flags.[12] Several months later, MacKenzie sold this story to Universal, who hired him to write the script.[13] Also at Universal, he did The Prince Who Was a Thief.[14]

MacKenzie later headed the script team on The Ten Commandments.[15]

In July 1957, he was writing Peter and Catherine about Russia in the 18th century for Ross Hunter at Universal.[16]

In late 1958, MacKenzie was reported to be working on a biopic of William the Conqueror for Evyan Perfumes.[17][18]

Filmography
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References
  1. "Bobbing East Lynne". Variety. 30 July 1930. p. 3.
  2. "Maximilian Story is in Line for Muni". The New York Times. 18 January 1938.
  3. "Karloff Plays Sorcerer in 'Witches' Sabbath'". Los Angeles Times. 9 February 1939.
  4. "Screen News Here and in Hollywood". The New York Times. 24 March 1939.
  5. "Screen News Here and in Hollywood". The New York Times. 18 July 1940.
  6. "News From Hollywood". 4 February 1941.
  7. "Jean Arthur May Be Featured in 'Another Dawn". The New York Times. 19 March 1942.
  8. "Screen News Here and in Hollywood". The New York Times. 13 October 1943.
  9. "Paramount to Do Film on 'Ivanhoe'". The New York Times. 19 July 1946.
  10. "Few Changes Made in Tailoring 'Mourning Becomes Electra' For the Camera". The New York Times. 16 February 1947.
  11. "RANK-RKO to Film Scott's 'Ivanhoe'". The New York Times. 17 June 1947.
  12. "Drama: Pirate Picture Shapes for Fairbanks". Los Angeles Times. 20 January 1950.
  13. "Production Chief Quits Paramount". The New York Times. 6 July 1950.
  14. "U.-I. Will Do Film on Genghis Khan". The New York Times. 10 August 1950.
  15. "DeMille Scribes Scour History for Latest 'Commandments' By Aeneas MacKenzie". The New York Times. 31 July 1955.
  16. Thomas M. Pryor (22 July 1957). "Stage Director Signs Film Pact: Martin Ritt in Two-Picture Deal With Fox--Universal Reactivates 'Katrina' Pearl Buck to Visit Hollywood". The New York Times.
  17. "Evyan Perfumes Forms Movie Firm". The New York Times. 6 October 1958.
  18. "'Tanglewood' Pair Chosen by Ephron". Los Angeles Times. 22 August 1958.
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