Richard Brooks

Richard Brooks (1912–1992) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended Temple University. A novelist, director, screenwriter, and producer, he was known for hard-hitting dramatic films that addressed social themes and for his skillful adaptation of literary material for the screen. His celebrated films include The Blackboard Jungle, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Elmer Gantry, and Looking for Mr. Goodbar. After serving in the Marine Corps during World War II, Brooks wrote The Brick Foxhole (1945), The Boiling Point (1948), and The Producer (1951) before turning full-time to movies.