George Oppenheimer embarked on a remarkable career as a playwright, screenwriter, and drama critic, with his professional journey commencing as the advertising publicity manager for esteemed publisher Alfred A. Knopf. As the son of a jeweller, Oppenheimer relocated to Hollywood in 1933, where he was contracted by the renowned writing duo of George S. Kaufman and Robert E. Sherwood to complete the screenplay for Samuel Goldwyn's comedic masterpiece Roman Scandals (1933).
Initially, Kaufman and Sherwood had conceived the original story, but due to Eddie Cantor's meticulous micromanagement of their script, they decided to leave the project. Oppenheimer continued to work at MGM for the remainder of the decade, frequently serving as a script doctor, refining the work of his colleagues and smoothing out any inconsistencies.
Throughout the decade, Oppenheimer contributed to numerous box-office hits, including Libeled Lady (1936),A Day at the Races (1937),and A Yank at Oxford (1938).