History Creator / ValLewton

* AnAesop: One of the censors at UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode needled Lewton the wrong way when they cleared his film ''Isle of the Dead'' for general release by saying that it was a harmless movie with no message. Lewton who did care a great deal for his films, huffily sent a telegram:
--> '''Val Lewton''': My movie does have a message. It says "Death is Good".

Val Lewton (born Vladimir Ivanovich Leventon, Russian: Владимир Иванович Левентон, May 7, 1904 – March 14, 1951) was a Hollywood producer and screenwriter for MGM and RKO. He worked as a radio writer, pulp novelist and studio publicist before coming to MGM. At MGM, he worked with David O. Selznick on ''Film/{{A Tale of Two Cities|1935}}'' and ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'', variously as a script doctor, second unit director and personal assistant. At the beginning of his writning career, he semi-frequently wrote under the pseudonym of "Carlos Keith" and was credited as such.

Val Lewton (born Vladimir Ivanovich Leventon, Russian: Владимир Иванович Левентон, May 7, 1904 – March 14, 1951)) was a Hollywood producer and screenwriter for MGM and RKO. He worked as a radio writer, pulp novelist and studio publicist before coming to MGM. At MGM, he worked with David O. Selznick on ''Film/{{A Tale of Two Cities|1935}}'' and ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'', variously as a script doctor, second unit director and personal assistant. At the beginning of his writning career, he semi-frequently wrote under the pseudonym of "Carlos Keith" and was credited as such.

Val Lewton (born Vladimir Ivanovich Leventon, Russian: Владимир Иванович Левентон, May 7, 1904 – March 14, 1951)) was a Hollywood producer and screenwriter for MGM and RKO. He worked as a radio writer, pulp novelist and studio publicist before coming to MGM. At MGM, he worked with David O. Selznick on ''Literature/ATaleOfTwoCities'' and ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'', variously as a script doctor, second unit director and personal assistant. At the beginning of his writning career, he semi-frequently wrote under the pseudonym of "Carlos Keith" and was credited as such.

** ''The Seventh Victim'' played this the straightest. Lewton's original version was significantly longer and did more to flesh out its [[LotsAndLotsOfCharacters rather large cast]], but RKO didn't like it and cut a lot of material not related to the main storyline. This perhaps accounts for the film's tepid reception during its initial release.

* ''The Ghost Ship'' (1943) -- New crewmember suspects his captain is crazy; the rest of the crew believe the ship is haunted.

Val Lewton (born Vladimir Ivanovich Leventon, Russian: Владимир Иванович Левентон, May 7, 1904 – March 14, 1951)) was a Hollywood producer and screenwriter for MGM and RKO. He worked as a radio writer, pulp novelist and studio publicist before coming to MGM. At MGM, he worked with David O. Selznick on ''Literature/ATaleOfTwoCities'' and ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'', variously as a script doctor, second unit director and personal assistant. At the beginning of his writning career, he semi-frequently wrote and was credited under the pseudonym of "Carlos Keith".

Val Lewton (born Vladimir Ivanovich Leventon, Russian: Владимир Иванович Левентон, May 7, 1904 – March 14, 1951)) was a Hollywood producer and screenwriter for MGM and RKO. He worked as a radio writer, pulp novelist and studio publicist before coming to MGM. At MGM, he worked with David O. Selznick on ''Literature/ATaleOfTwoCities'' and ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'', variously as a script doctor, second unit director and personal assistant.

* ''The Seventh Victim'' (1943) -- A woman searching for her sister discovers a Satanist cult.

* SuspiciouslyAproposMusic: "Ah woe, ah me" in ''I Walked with a Zombie''.