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Paul Osborn

PAUL OSBORN

  (1901 - 1988)
Nationality:    USA
email:    n/a     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    n/a

Paul Osborn (September 4, 1901  May 12, 1988) was an American playwright and screenwriter best known for writing the screen adaptation of East of Eden as well as South Pacific, The Yearling, The World of Suzie Wong and Sayonara. Born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, Osborn went on to graduate from the University of Michigan and later to study at Yale University. He made his debut in 1928 with the play Hotbed. In 1930, he found success on Broadway with The Vinegar Tree. His 1939 original comedic play, Morning's at Seven, became one of Osborn's most enduring original works. It has been presented on television but never filmed. Revived in 1980, it would be hailed by Harold Clurman as "one of the best American comedies." - Wiki

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below is a list of Paul Osborn's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Bell For Adano, A         Hotbed         La Contessa         Morning's At Seven         On Borrowed Time         Point Of No Return         Tomorrow's Monday         Vinegar Tree, The         Widow and the Colonel, The         World Of Suzie Wong, The
Bell For Adano, A

Synopsis:
Major Joppolo, coming into a Sicilian town just after its liberation, attempts to put his ideals on democracy. In spite of local difficulties, he manages to restore order. But what is needed is more than efficiency: the bell, which for centuries symbolized the town's moral well-being, has been carried off and a new one must be found. the Major realizes there are human elements that are not in his orders, and his ability to understand these makes his work a success. Success, however, does not come without a struggle, and his disobeying a certain order given by his superior results in a personal setback for him. Even though he will doubtless be broken for his offense, the new bell is at last installed.

Notes:
from the novel by John Hersey

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY,    

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
adaptation

Parts:
Male:  22            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Hotbed

Synopsis:
set on a college campus

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-     1928

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
play

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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La Contessa

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
from Film of Memory by Maurice Druon

1st Produced:
Newcastle On Tyne     1965

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Adaptation

Parts:
Male:  7            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Morning's At Seven

Synopsis:
portrait of small American town where each of four sisters know intimately the lives of the others

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Longacre, NY     30 Nov 1939

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, NY,    

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
3 act Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
Wearing - the London Stage 55.245

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On Borrowed Time

Synopsis:
Gramps is idolized by his young grandson, Pud, who models his every action after the old man. But Gramps's salty expressions and rough behavior are frowned upon by both the strait-laced Aunt Demetria and Granny, so Aunt Demetria comes to live with them, hoping she can steer the boy in the right direction. Death, in the form of Mr. Brink, comes to claim Gramps, but is forcibly sent about his business. Still, he manages to take Granny instead and later returns for Gramps, who outwits Brink by trapping him up an apple tree, thus suspending Death throughout the universe. Aunt Demetria, who can't see Mr. Brink in the tree, tries to prove that Gramps is insane in order to get legal possession of Pud. Matters come to a climax when one of the townspeople tries to take Gramps to an institution and is shot. But the victim refuses to die, and the others plead with Gramps to release Brink so that the world can resume its normal cycle. At this moment, Brink tricks Pud into climbing the tree, and the boy falls, fatally injuring himself. In order not to be separated from Pud, Gramps allows Brink to come down from the tree and willingly goes with him to the gates of Eternity where he is greeted by his beloved Granny, scolding him as usual.

Notes:
from the novel by L.E. Watkin made into an MGM film starring Lionel Barrymore, Cedric Hardwicke and Bobs Watson.

1st Produced:
-     1938

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY,    

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Fantasy

Parts:
Male:  11            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Point Of No Return

Synopsis:
A junior bank clerk just wants to get to the top. He works his way up the ladder and is about to be made Vice President. He suddenly realises this is not what he wanted after all

Notes:
based on the novel by John P marquand

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Contained in: "Best Plays of 1951 -1952" published byDodd Mead 1952   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
adaptation

Parts:
Male:  14            Female:  7            Other:  2 boys

Further Reference:
-

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Tomorrow's Monday

Synopsis:
Richard is from the Mid-West. He marries a sophisticated New York woman and does very well. Richard and his wife rush to his Mother when they hear she is dangerously ill. It is a false alarm but they stay on. The wife starts meddling with the lives of family members. She is especially concerned about sophomore John and wants to take him with her back to New York

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-     1936

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, NY,    

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy/Drama Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Vinegar Tree, The

Synopsis:
A young woman throws herself at an older man. He is an artist and she thinks he is sophisticated. She is unaware that her aunt is his mistress and her mother plans to run away with him

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Broadway     1930

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, NY,    

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
comedic play

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Widow and the Colonel, The

Synopsis:
Is concerned with the courtship of the tall, young frontier colonel George Washington, and the young widow Martha Custis. the action begins at a musical event attended by Martha Custis and her friend Mrs. Chamberlayne, at which the dashing Colonel Washington appears to pay too close attention to the bewitching Sally Fairfax, the wife of one of his oldest friends. But, aided by Mrs. Chamberlayne, the two young people come together in a series of amusing and sensitive encounters which reveal the yearnings and contradictions that beset them both. And, in the end, the depth of their feelings for each other is made real and plans are begun for the joyous occasion of their wedding.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY,    

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy Drama One Act

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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World Of Suzie Wong, The

Synopsis:
Young British artist Robert Lomax is in Hong Kong. He meets prostitute Suzie Wong

Notes:
based on Richard Mason's Novel

1st Produced:
Broadhurst, NY     14 Oct 1958

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Adaptation

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  large cast

Further Reference:
Wearing - the London Stage 59.249

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