Garrett Fort was a renowned American playwright, screenwriter, and short story writer, hailing from the vibrant city of New York. Spanning nearly two decades, from the early 1920s to his untimely passing in the mid-1940s, Fort's illustrious writing career left an indelible mark on the world of cinema.
Fort is most notably recognized for penning the scripts for three iconic horror films: "Dracula" (1931),"Frankenstein" (1931),and "Dracula's Daughter" (1936). Additionally, he wrote the screenplay for the celebrated Western "The Mark of Zorro" (1940).
In 1934, Fort's life took an extraordinary turn when he was introduced to the Indian spiritual master Meher Baba (1894-1969). Under Baba's guidance, Fort delved into the realm of mysticism, influenced by Sufism and Universalism. Fort's fascination with Baba's philosophy led him to devote several years to crafting a screenplay adaptation. In 1937, he embarked on a journey to India in search of inspiration, only to return to the United States without securing funding for his project.
Despite facing financial struggles and often being underpaid, Fort continued to work as a screenwriter throughout the 1940s. Tragically, his life came to a premature end in October 1945, when he succumbed to an overdose of sleeping pills in a Los Angeles hotel room. His final film project was the war drama "Blood on the Sun" (1945),which chronicled the events surrounding the strategic document "Tanaka Memorial" (1927) and the Japanese war plans it described.
Following Fort's passing, several of his screenplays were adapted into films. He was also credited as a co-writer on the horror film "The Mad Room" (1969),a remake of one of his films that reused elements from his original script. A number of Fort's films have been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry and continue to maintain a devoted cult following to this day.
