Leigh Brackett

Leigh Brackett

Deceased · Born: Dec 7, 1915 · Died: Mar 18, 1978

Personal Details

BornDec 7, 1915 Los Angeles, California, USA

Biography

Leigh Brackett, a luminary figure in the realm of Hollywood screenwriting and celebrated author of science fiction and fantasy, made significant contributions to various science fiction pulps throughout the 1940s, showcasing her remarkable talent and dedication to the craft.

Notably, Brackett played a vital role as a mentor and collaborator to the esteemed Ray Bradbury, whose work she greatly influenced, leaving an indelible mark on the literary world.

Through her collaborative efforts with Bradbury, Brackett's impact extended far beyond her own writing, as she helped shape the course of science fiction and fantasy, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and captivate audiences to this day.

Notable personal aspect of Brackett's life was her marriage to renowned science fiction pulp writer Edmond Hamilton, a union that lasted an extraordinary 31 years until his untimely passing in the year 1977.

Notable screenwriter Brackett, a prominent figure in the Hollywood film industry, has made a lasting impact with her diverse and accomplished body of work. Among her most notable credits are the films "The Long Goodbye", "Hatari!", and "Rio Bravo", which serve as a testament to her remarkable versatility and exceptional skill as a screenwriter.

Notably, Leigh Brackett, a renowned screenwriter, made a profound impact on the Star Wars saga by crafting the initial draft of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, a landmark moment in the beloved franchise's history.

However, fate was cruel, and Brackett's life was tragically cut short due to the relentless progression of cancer, leaving behind an incomplete work, a testament to her untimely passing.

As a poignant tribute to her legacy, Brackett's inaugural draft, penned with meticulous care, underwent a transformative metamorphosis following her untimely departure from the project. George Lucas, the visionary mastermind behind the iconic franchise, found himself at odds with the narrative trajectory outlined in Brackett's draft, ultimately choosing to forgo its creative potential and embark on a new creative journey.

In a bold move, Lucas joined forces with Lawrence Kasdan, a seasoned screenwriter and collaborator, to craft two novel drafts that would ultimately shape the destiny of the beloved film. Interestingly, Brackett's original draft, a testament to her innovative storytelling prowess, was deliberately omitted from the subsequent scripts, its existence relegated to the annals of cinematic history.

Lucas's stance on Brackett's involvement in the film's narrative was one of profound appreciation, and he was determined to ensure that the Writers Guild of America formally acknowledged her significant contribution to the project's development.

Career

{"id":519,"title":"Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back","year":"1980","job":"Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/star-wars-episode-v-the-empire-strikes-back","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/57k7rhdee8d0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/57k7rhdee8d0.jpg"},"released":1}
1980
{"id":12281,"title":"The Long Goodbye","year":"1973","job":"Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-long-goodbye","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/50litrmp41s0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/50litrmp41s0.jpg"},"released":1}
1973
The Long Goodbye
The Long Goodbye as Screenplay
{"id":65033,"title":"Rio Lobo","year":"1970","job":"Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/rio-lobo","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_65033.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_65033.jpg"},"released":1}
1970
Rio Lobo
Rio Lobo as Screenplay
{"id":2141,"title":"El Dorado","year":"1966","job":"Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/el-dorado","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/6tvg4gt9q1a0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/6tvg4gt9q1a0.jpg"},"released":1}
1966
El Dorado
El Dorado as Screenplay
{"id":14432,"title":"Hatari!","year":"1962","job":"Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/hatari","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/6577d2kmk1b0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/6577d2kmk1b0.jpg"},"released":1}
1962
Hatari!
Hatari! as Screenplay
{"id":66035,"title":"13 West Street","year":"1962","job":"Novel","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/13-west-street","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_66035.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_66035.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":66123,"title":"Gold of the Seven Saints","year":"1961","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/gold-of-the-seven-saints","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_66123.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_66123.jpg"},"released":1}
1961
{"id":23324,"title":"Rio Bravo","year":"1959","job":"Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/rio-bravo","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/32ng5ho9bhag.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/32ng5ho9bhag.jpg"},"released":1}
1959
Rio Bravo
Rio Bravo as Screenplay
{"id":67362,"title":"The Unholy Four","year":"1954","job":"Novel","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-unholy-four","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67362.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67362.jpg"},"released":1}
1954
{"id":22419,"title":"The Big Sleep","year":"1946","job":"Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-big-sleep","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2rr25kv8chvg.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2rr25kv8chvg.jpg"},"released":1}
1946
The Big Sleep
The Big Sleep as Screenplay
{"id":70009,"title":"Crime Doctor's Man Hunt","year":"1946","job":"Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/crime-doctors-man-hunt-1946","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70009.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70009.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":70281,"title":"The Vampire's Ghost","year":"1945","job":"Story, Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-vampires-ghost-1945","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70281.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70281.jpg"},"released":1}
1945
The Vampire's Ghost
The Vampire's Ghost as Story, Screenplay