A Marxist in Hollywood: The Screenwriting Career of Michael Wilson (1914–1978)

Abstract

Michael Wilson was perhaps the most accomplished screenwriter of his generation, lauded by his fellow writers and many of Hollywood’s greatest directors. He brought to his writing a brilliant mind, his Marxist ideas, and an unsurpassed skill in script construction. His work also received the recognition of his peers, who awarded his work both in the United States and the United Kingdom. Among his best scripts were A Place in the Sun, Five Fingers, The Bridge on the River Kwai, and Lawrence of Arabia. His most notable achievement, however, was the story and script he created for Salt of the Earth. This article examines Wilson’s background and writing theories, and describes how he approached a select number of the script assignments he worked on.