Clifford
Odets, the son of Jewish immigrants, was
born in Philadelphia, on 18th July, 1906. He left school at the age
of 17 to become an actor. After a series of small parts working in
the theatre and on radio, Odets helped form the Group
Theatre in New York. Members held left-wing political views and
wanted to produce plays that dealt with important social issues.
Odets, who joined the American Communist
Party in 1934, had his first play produced, Waiting
for Lefty,
in 1935. The play that dealt with trade union
corruption, was an immediate success. With his next two plays, Awake
and Sing!
and Till
the Day I Die,
Odets established himself as a champion of the underpriviledged.
After the production of Paradise
Lost
(1935), Odets accepted a lucrative offer to become a film screenwriter
and while in Hollywood met and married the actress, Luise
Rainer. However, he continued to write plays and with Golden
Boy
(1937) he had his greatest commercial success. This was followed by
Rocket
to the Moon
(1938), Night
Music
(1940), Clash
By Night
(1941), The
Big Knife
(1949), and The
Country Girl
(1950).
Investigated by Joseph McCarthy and
the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1953, Odets argued that
he had never been under the infuence of the American
Communist Party and his work had been based on his deep sympathy
for the working classes. Unlike many writers and actors who had been
members of the party, Odets was not blacklisted and continued to work
in Hollywood. This included the screenplay for the acclaimed,
Sweet
Smell of Success
(1957). Clifford
Odets
died on 18th August, 1963.
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