Vernon Harris (26 February 1905 – February 1999) was a British screenwriter. He often worked with the film director Lewis Gilbert. Harris was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his script for film Oliver! (1968).
Harris was born in Folkestone. He worked extensively for radio at the BBC, notably on PC49 and Band Waggon. He died in Surrey.
Credits
Screenwriter
- Play Up the Band (1935)
- Joy Ride (1935) – also story
- The Improper Duchess (1936)
- Tropical Trouble (1936)
- Band Waggon (1940) – also devised by
- The Adventures of PC 49 (1949) – based on radio series
- A Case for PC 49 (1951) – also based on radio series
- Emergency Call (1952) aka The Hundred Hour Hunt
- There Was a Young Lady (1953) – original story
- Cosh Boy (1953) aka The Slasher
- Albert R.N. (1953) aka Break to Freedom
- The Good Die Young (1954)
- The Sea Shall Not Have Them (1954)
- Reach for the Sky (1956) – additional scenes
- Three Men in a Boat (1956, joint nomination with Hubert Gregg for BAFTA Award for Best British Screenplay)
- The Admirable Crichton (1957) aka Paradise Lagoon
- Carve Her Name with Pride (1958)
- A Cry from the Streets (1958) (nomination for BAFTA Award for Best British Screenplay)
- Ferry to Hong Kong (1959)
- Light Up the Sky! (1960)
- Almost Angels (1962)
- Emergency (1962)
- Oliver! (1968 – 1969 nominee for Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay)
- Friends (1971)
- Paul and Michelle (1974)
As script editor
- The Adventurers (1970)
- Seven Nights in Japan (1976)
- The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
- Moonraker (1979)
- Educating Rita (1983)
Storyboard artist
- Shirley Valentine (1989)
Actor
- Joy Ride (1935)
- Show Flat (1936)
- Tropical Trouble (1936)
- Farewell Again (1937)
- The Claydon Treasure Mystery (1938)
- The Last Barricade (1938)
- The Gables Mystery (1938)
Radio Writer
- Band Waggon (1938–40)
- The Adventures of PC 49
References
- "Lewis Gilbert obituary: director who entertained Britain for decades | Sight & Sound". British Film Institute.
- 'Friends' Together Again Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 7 Aug 1974: f16.
- CRIME DOES PAY: --for Alan Stranks, the writer who created radio's famous characters P.-c. 49 and Flint of the Flying Squad Shirley Long, H W. Answers; London Vol. 122, Iss. 3164, (Dec 20, 1952): 6.
- "Vernon Gilbert Harris | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos". AllMovie.
- "Film in 1959 | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org.