Mark Hanna (screenwriter)

Mark Hanna (January 1, 1917 – October 16, 2003) was an American screenwriter and actor. He was known for writing the screenplays for many science fiction B movies in the 1950s, particularly Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.

Hanna's family first moved to Palm Beach County when he was one year old. He attended Palm Beach High School, worked in his father's produce store, and served in the US Navy during World War Two. Hanna then decided to go to Hollywood and changed his name from "Emil" to "Mark".^[1]

Hanna worked as an actor for several years before trying screenwriting after breaking his leg before he was to appear in the Western Backlash.^[1] His first script was Requiem for an Outlaw based on the Florida Ashley gang.^[2]

Hanna's first major screenplay was Gunslinger in 1956. This was the first of five scripts on which Hanna is credited with Charles B. Griffith, although Griffith later claimed that he did most of the writing while Hanna did the selling.^[3] Hanna continued to be prolific through the mid-1960s, after which his film credits become sporadic. His last screenplay was for Star Portal in 1998, five years before his death from stroke complications.^[4]^[2]

Writing credits

Gunslinger (1956) – with Charles B. Griffith
Not of This Earth (1956) – with Charles B. Griffith
Flesh and the Spur (1956) – Charles B. Griffith
The Undead (1956) – with Charles B. Griffith
Naked Paradise (1957) – with Charles B. Griffith
The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) - with Bert I. Gordon and George Worthing Yates
Jet Attack (1958) - story, associate producer
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958)
Raymie (1960)
Tales of Wells Fargo - episodes "The Kinfolk" and "A Study in Petticoats" (1960)
Rebellion in Cuba (1961)
Thriller - episode "A Third for Pinochle" (1961)
Blood on the Arrow (1964) - story
The Gatling Gun (1971) - with Joseph Van Winkle
Slaughter (1972) - with Don Williams
Star Portal (1997)

References

^ ^a ^b "Break from a break, that's the key to Hanna's success". The Palm Beach Post. 23 May 1957. p. 9.
^ ^a ^b McCabe, Scott (23 October 2003). "Mark Hanna, actor and screenwriter". The Palm Beach Post. p. 6B.
^ Aaron W. Graham (April 15, 2005). "Little Shop of Genres: An interview with Charles B. Griffith". Senses of Cinema. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
^ Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2003: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. 2004-04-20. ISBN 9780786417568.