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- Pierre Boulle was a French novelist best known for two works, The Bridge over the River Kwai (1952) and Planet of the Apes (1963), that were both made into award-winning films.
He was an engineer serving as a secret agent with the Free French in Singapore, when he was captured and subjected to two years' forced labor. He used these experiences in The Bridge over the River Kwai, about the notorious Death Railway, which became an international bestseller. David Lean made the book into a motion picture that won seven 1957 Oscars, including the Best Picture, and Best Actor for Alec Guinness. Boulle himself won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay despite not having written the screenplay and, by his own admission, not even speaking English. Boulle had been credited with the screenplay because the film's actual screenwriters, Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson, had been blacklisted as communist sympathizers. The Motion Picture Academy added Foreman's and Wilson's names to the award in 1984.
In 1963, following several other reasonably successful novels, Boulle published his other famous novel, Planet of the Apes. In 1968 the book was made into an Oscar-winning film, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring Charlton Heston. The screenplay, originally written by Rod Serling, focused more on action and deviated in many ways from the novel, including the addition of its own classic twist ending that was different from the novel's. It inspired four sequels, a television series, an animated series, a 2001 remake of the original title by Tim Burton, a 2011 reboot, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, followed by the sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017).
Boulle died in Paris, France on 30 January 1994, at age 81. - Laura Nucci was born on 26 February 1913 in Carrara, Tuscany, Italy. She was an actress, known for Pride and Prejudice (1957), Warrior of the Lost World (1983) and La bella Lola (1962). She died on 30 January 1994 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.
- A ruggedly handsome actor, Nathan was also a producer, and a theater owner. Teamed with his wife, Ruth Hale, he founded community theaters in California and Utah. His children and grandchildren continue in this family legacy of the stage to this day, and some grandsons have become successful film directors.
Soon after Nathan met and married Ruth, they were asked to serve as drama leaders in their ward (Mormon church congregation). They began writing their own plays to avoid paying royalties, with Ruth doing most of the writing, and for 8 years they staged their productions around the Salt Lake Valley. Already having four children, Nathan was not eligible for the draft, but he also was not happy with his job at Utah Copper, with the dust and grime of the mining operation. After reading in the paper about a lack of leading men in Hollywood due to WW II military service, Ruth mentioned that he might make a go at professional acting. Nathan replied that she had a better chance with her acting and plays. Despite the negative reaction from family and friends, they decided to move to southern California in 1943. Nathan took a job as a milkman leaving days and evenings available for acting work. He had some roles with the Altadena Players at the Pasadena Playhouse, but film work remained elusive. However, the Hales did participate in the production of two films in 1946 about the Mormon welfare program, made in spare time by a team of Mormons in the film industry assembled by Disney animator Judge Whitaker. This was the start of film production within the Mormon Church.
With film careers not materializing, they opened the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, Ca. in 1947 (125 seats) to provide a venue for their acting. Their success soon led to a move and expansion. They staged plays that were free of profanity and illicit love affairs, leading to bookings of entire performances by church groups of various denominations. Ruth drew from her personal experiences in writing, and Nathan's favorite role was playing his own feisty English father-in-law in "Thank You Papa" penned by Ruth. Several actors would get their start at the Hale's theater including Gordon Jump, Mike Farrell, Connie Stevens, Richard Hatch, and Melissa Gilbert.
The Hales did initiate some film work of their own, independently producing three Mormon-themed films from 1955 to 1957 assisted by their nephew William Hale, and many members of the Glendale West Ward. "Choice Land" was a 20 minute film about America, including Book of Mormon scenes such as Lehi leaving Jerusalem (shot in the desert) and one with Jaredites. The earthquake leveling Zarahemla at the time of Christ's crucifixion was shot using a model of the city on a ping pong table. The Pilgrims were shot wading knee deep in snow at Mr. Wilson. "Oliver Cowdery" was filmed for $2,500 with a ten minute court scene rehearsed and shot in one evening. A third film was entitled "Is Fast Day a Headache ?"
Nathan and his children would all later appear in one or more films produced for use by The Mormon Church. Nathan was well-cast as a leader of a Mormon colony in Mexico facing a threat from Pancho Villa in the film And Should We Die (1966), and as the grandfather in the 1986 re-make of Man's Search for Happiness (1964).
In 1983 the Hales retired to Utah, leaving their daughter Sandra and her husband running the Glendale theater. Soon bored, they decided to open the Salt Lake Hale Center Theatre with other family members. Hale Center theaters have continued to be opened elsewhere after Nathan's death. Grandsons Kurt Hale and Will Swenson have entered the ranks of directors in LDS Cinema with The Singles Ward (2002) and Sons of Provo (2004). - Vesna Krajina was born on 8 May 1936 in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia. She was an actress, known for Uka i Bjeshkëve të nemura (1968), Noz (1967) and Medaljon sa tri srca (1962). She died on 30 January 1994 in Zagreb, Croatia.
- Production Manager
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Steve Bono was born on 10 August 1923 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a production manager and producer, known for The Undertaker (1988), The One Man Jury (1978) and A Knife for the Ladies (1974). He died on 30 January 1994 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.- Actor
- Music Department
Rudolf Schwarz was born on 29 April 1905 in Vienna, Austria. He was an actor, known for This Is the BBC (1959), Eine Firma für die Ewigkeit (1983) and Monique, mein heißer Schoß (1978). He died on 30 January 1994 in London, England, UK.- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Leif Söderström was born on 4 May 1938 in Stockholm, Sweden. He was an assistant director, known for Tre önskningar (1960). He died on 30 January 1994 in Stockholm, Sweden.- Luisa Conte was born on 27 April 1925 in Naples, Campania, Italy. She was an actress, known for Ti ho sempre amato! (1953), L'uomo dai calzoni corti (1958) and La Grande Magia (1964). She was married to Nino Veglia. She died on 30 January 1994 in Naples, Campania, Italy.
- Ott Devine was born on 1 May 1910 in Gadsden, Alabama, USA. He was an actor, known for Nashville Rebel (1966) and The Jimmy Dean Show (1963). He died on 30 January 1994 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
- Jakub Rotbaum was born on 11 July 1901 in Zelechów, Poland, Russian Empire [now Zelechów, Mazowieckie, Poland]. He was a writer and actor, known for It Will Never Happen Again (1951), Der Veg tsum Gezunt (1947) and Der yidisher Yeshuv in Nidershlezien (1947). He died on 30 January 1994 in Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie, Poland.
- Rodney Alan McGuire was born on 2 August 1959 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Rodney Alan died on 30 January 1994 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Emanuele Cassuto was born on 5 May 1916 in Greece. He was a producer and director, known for La ragazza in vetrina (1961), La Notte (1961) and Young Husbands (1958). He died on 30 January 1994 in Paris, France.