American screenwriter of B-movies, usually action films, mysteries and comedies. Started at Fox (1935-41), subsequently with Monogram (1942), Columbia (1943), RKO and Universal (on-and-off, between 1944 and 54). Among his best films were cheerful Technicolor swashbucklers, such as
Buccaneer's Girl (1950) and
Against All Flags (1952).