KRASNA, NORMAN

KRASNA, NORMAN (1909–1984), U.S. film producer and playwright. Born in Queens, New York, Krasna attended New York University, Columbia University, and Brooklyn Law   School. He started as a clerk, worked as a film and theater critic in New York, and ultimately rose to earn $100,000 for writing and directing a single motion picture in Hollywood. Among his Broadway plays were Louder, Please (1931), Small Miracle (1934), Dear Ruth (1944), John Loves Mary (1947), Time for Elizabeth (1948, which he co-wrote with Groucho Marx), Kind Sir (1953), Who Was That Lady I Saw with You? (1958), Sunday in New York (1961), Love in E Flat (1967), and We Interrupt This Program (1975). In the film industry, Krasna was known as the master of the wisecrack, peppering his comedies with crisp dialogue and sharp one-liners. His dramatic films were very well scripted as well. The many screenplays that Krasna wrote – or contributed to – include Hollywood Speaks (1932); That's My Boy (1932); Bombshell (1933); The Richest Girl in the World (Oscar nomination for Best Story, 1934); Four Hours to Kill (1935); Hands Across the Table (1935); Wife vs. Secretary (1936); Fury (Oscar nomination for Best Story, 1936); The King and the Chorus Girl (1937); Bachelor Mother (1939); It's a Date (1940); Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941); It Started with Eve (1941); The Devil and Miss Jones (Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay, 1941), which he also directed; Practically Yours (1944); White Christmas (1954); Princess O'Rourke (Academy Award for Best Screenplay, 1943), which he also directed; Bundle of Joy (1956); The Ambassador's Daughter (1956), which he also directed; Indiscreet (1958); Who Was That Lady? (1960); Let's Make Love (1960); Sunday in New York (1961); My Geisha (1962); and I'd Rather Be Rich (1964). In 1960, Krasna received the Laurel Award from the Writers Guild of America for Writing Achievement. (Ruth Beloff (2nd ed.)