Leigh Brackett

Leigh Brackett

  • Birthday: 1915-12-07
  • Deathday: 1978-03-18
  • Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, USA

Biography

Leigh Brackett was a Hollywood writer and a noted science fiction and fantasy author who was a regular contributor to various science fiction pulps in the 1940's. She was also a mentor and collaborator of Ray Bradbury. She was married to fellow science fiction pulp writer Edmond Hamilton for 31 years (until his death in 1977). In Hollywood, she wrote such films as The Long Goodbye, Hatari! and Rio Bravo. She also wrote the first draft of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. Shortly after she completed the draft, she died after a battle with cancer. After her death, George Lucas decided that he did not prefer the direction Brackett's draft was going in. Lucas discarded it and wrote two new drafts with Lawrence Kasdan finishing the script. Brackett's original draft was not mentioned or referenced in the new drafts. However, Lucas felt that her name should be in the credits as a reward for her effort. To ensure Writers Guild of America (which determines screenwriting credit for the film) would award her the credit, Lucas intentionally did not submit his drafts.

Production

Rio Bravo

1959

As Screenplay

The Big Sleep

1946

As Screenplay

The Long Goodbye

1973

As Screenplay

The Empire Strikes Back

1980

As Screenplay

Hatari!

1962

As Screenplay

El Dorado

1966

As Screenplay

Rio Lobo

1970

As Screenplay

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

1946

As Screenplay

The Unholy Four

1954

As Novel

13 West Street

1962

As Novel

The Vampire's Ghost

1945

As Screenplay

The Vampire's Ghost

1945

As Story

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