Ben Hecht

Ben Hecht won the very first Academy Award for Best Original Story for his work on the 1927 gangster film *Underworld*. The movie, directed by Josef von Sternberg, is considered a foundational work of the gangster genre. This prestigious win cemented Hecht's status as one of Hollywood's top writers.

Ben Hecht had a hand in writing or co-writing an astonishing number of classic films, including *Scarface* (1932), *His Girl Friday* (1940), and *Notorious* (1946). He was also an uncredited script doctor on the classic film *Casablanca*. His fast-paced, witty dialogue became a major hallmark of his style.

Yes, Hecht was a fervent Zionist activist who used his Hollywood influence to advocate for the creation of a Jewish state. He wrote and produced the 1946 play *A Flag is Born* to raise funds and awareness for Jewish refugees. His work actively supported the Irgun paramilitary group during the British Mandate in Palestine.

Over his prolific career in Hollywood's Golden Age, Ben Hecht received credit on over 70 screenplays, though he worked uncredited on hundreds more. He was famously known for his ability to write a script in a matter of days. By the time of his death in 1964, he was one of the highest-paid writers in the industry.