Melvin Frank, a renowned screenwriter, was half of a formidable partnership with Norman Panama. The two individuals became close friends while attending the University of Chicago, where Frank initially pursued a degree in engineering but was persuaded by Panama to switch to English instead.
In 1938, Frank and Panama relocated to Hollywood, embarking on a career writing radio scripts and gags for notable comedians Bob Hope and Milton Berle. They specialized in light comedy, crafting the original storyline for Hope's My Favorite Blonde (1942),which served as a springboard for their joint screenwriting contract with Paramount (1941-46).
Their prolific work together garnered an Oscar nomination for the popular Bob Hope-Bing Crosby vehicle, Road to Utopia (1945). The duo's subsequent collaborations included the Cary Grant-Myrna Loy box-office hit, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948),adapted from a satirical novel by Eric Hodgins, as well as the highly entertaining medieval adventures spoof, The Court Jester (1955),starring Danny Kaye.
Frank and Panama also produced an award-winning Broadway play, "Li'l Abner", based on a comic strip by Al Capp, which premiered in November 1956 and ran for 653 performances over 87 weeks before closing in July 1958. The successful partnership culminated in the final installment of the Hope-Crosby "road pictures", The Road to Hong Kong (1962),after which Frank and Panama amiably parted ways.
Frank went on to become a solo director and producer, continuing to write comedy scripts in conjunction with others. Over the next two decades, his career was marked by notable achievements, including the bittersweet adaptation of a play by Neil Simon, The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975),and the popular sex comedy, A Touch of Class (1973),nominated for an Academy Award as Best Picture.
