Person Biography:
Harry Craig, known professionally as H.A.L., was born in 1921 in County Cork, Ireland, to a family of twin brothers, including his identical twin, Dick. Growing up in their father's vicarage, Clonlara, near the Shannon River in Limerick, Ireland, Harry and his brother developed a strong foundation in literature and the arts.
Harry's early career was marked by his work as an editor, alongside Sean O'Faolain, of the influential literary journal "The Bell" during the 1940s and early 1950s. In the mid-1950s, he relocated to London, where he wrote numerous radio plays for the BBC's "Third Programme." He also moderated a television show discussing current events and penned the Queen's Christmas radio address to the Commonwealth in 1958.
As a long-time theater critic for "The New Statesman," Harry demonstrated his expertise in the realm of theater and literature. In 1968, he relocated to Rome with his wife, Peggy, and their three children, marking the beginning of his successful career as a screenwriter.
Throughout his film career, Harry collaborated with renowned producers and directors, including Dino DeLaurentis, Sergei Bondarchuk, and Moustafa Akkad. Some of his notable film credits include "Waterloo," "Anzio," "Fraulein Doktor," "The Message," and "Lion of the Desert," starring Anthony Quinn.
Despite his success in the film industry, Harry remained deeply passionate about poetry, particularly the works of W.B. Yeats. He passed away in October 1978, succumbing to lung cancer in Rome.
