Jo Swerling

December 2023

JO SWERLING was an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and playwright. His work includes the comedy STREET CINDERELLA for the Marx Brothers, for whom he wrote their first movie, the unreleased silent comedy HUMOR RISK. Jo scored success by writing the book and lyrics for the musical revue THE NEW YORKERS and the play THE KIBITZER, before moving to Hollywood to write the screenplay for the Frank Capra picture LADIES OF LEISURE, the first of several collaborations with the director. His screenplays also include IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, PLATINUM BLONDE, BEHIND THE MASK, PRIDE OF THE YANKEES, LIFEBOAT, and LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN. He provided some uncredited writing for the GONE WITH THE WIND screenplay.