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).

Biography

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 successfully 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 as working on a biopic of William the Conqueror for Evyan Perfumes.[17][18]

Filmography

References
  1. "Bobbing East Lynne". Variety. 30 July 1930. p. 3.
  2. MAXIMILIAN STORY IS IN LINE FOR MUNI New York Times 18 Jan 1938: 27.
  3. Karloff Plays Sorcerer in 'Witches' Sabbath': Los Angeles Times 9 Feb 1939: A18.
  4. SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD New York Times]24 Mar 1939: 27.
  5. SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD New York Times 18 July 1940: 26.
  6. News From Hollywood Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 4 Feb 1941: 19.
  7. Jean Arthur May Be Featured in 'Another Dawn New York Times 19 Mar 1942: 29.
  8. SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD New York Times 13 Oct 1943: 29.
  9. PARAMOUNT TO DO FILM ON 'IVANHOE' New York Times 19 July 1946: 13.
  10. Few Changes Made in Tailoring 'Mourning Becomes Electra' For the Camera New York Times 16 Feb 1947: X5.
  11. RANK-RKO TO FILM SCOTT'S 'IVANHOE' New York Times 17 June 1947: 30.
  12. Drama: Pirate Picture Shapes for Fairbanks Los Angeles Times 20 Jan 1950: 23.
  13. PRODUCTION CHIEF QUITS PARAMOUNT. New York Times 6 July 1950: 31.
  14. U.-I. WILL DO FILM ON GENGHIS KHAN New York Times 10 Aug 1950: 21.
  15. DeMille Scribes Scour History for Latest 'Commandments' By AENEAS MacKENZIE. New York Times 31 July 1955: X5.
  16. STAGE DIRECTOR SIGNS FILM PACT: Martin Ritt in Two-Picture Deal With Fox--Universal Reactivates 'Katrina' Pearl Buck to Visit Hollywood By THOMAS M. PRYOR Special to The New York Times. 22 July 1957: 15.
  17. EVYAN PERFUMES FORMS MOVIE FIRM New York Times 6 Oct 1958: 38.
  18. 'Tanglewood' Pair Chosen by Ephron: Los Angeles Times 22 Aug 1958: A9.


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