T.E.B. Clarke
Birth Name:
Thomas Ernest Bennett Clarke
Birth Place:
Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Profession
Writer, Soundtrack, Music department, Script department
Fast Facts
- In 1952, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire
- Worked for a magazine in Australia, as a freelance journalist in London, in advertising, as a door-to-door salesman and as a member of the police force
- From 1943 to 1957, he was under contract with Ealing Studios, and spent the time writing eccentric British comedies
- His scripts usually begin with a slightly absurd premise that, through carefully laid steps, leads to a much more absurd conclusion
- The makers of the film "Saloon Bar" used his book about British Pubs, "What's Yours?" as a reference
- While writing "The Lavender Hill Mob," he slipped a bank teller a note that read "information required on means of stealing gold bullion" and soon had a number of bank employees helping him work out kinks in his plot
- Wrote ten novels and four books of non-fiction, including an autobiography
Awards
- 1950Oscar - Best Writing, Story and Screenplay:Nominated
- 1951International Award - Best Screenplay:Winner
- 1953Oscar - Best Writing, Story and Screenplay:Winner
- 1960NYFCC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
- 1961Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:Nominated
- 1961WGA Award (Screen) - Best Written American Drama:Nominated