Biography
Herbert Fields (July 26, 1897 – March 24, 1958) was an American librettist and screenwriter. Born in New York City, Fields began his career as an actor, then graduated to choreography and stage direction before turning to writing. From 1925 until his death, he contributed to the libretti of many Broadway musicals. He wrote the book for most of the Rodgers and Hart musicals of the 1930s and later collaborated with his sister Dorothy on several musicals, including Annie Get Your Gun, Something for the Boys, Up in Central Park, and Arms and the Girl. He won the 1959 Tony Award for Best Musical for Redhead.
Fields wrote the screenplays for a string of mostly B-movies, including Let's Fall in Love (1933), Hands Across the Table (1935), Love Before Breakfast (1936), Fools for Scandal (1938), Honolulu (1939), and Father Takes a Wife (1941). He was also one of several writers who worked on The Wizard of Oz, although he did not receive a screen credit for his contribution.
Herbert Fields was the son of Lew Fields and brother of Dorothy and Joseph Fields. He attended Columbia University, where he participated in two Varsity Shows, including Fly With Me (1920), written by Rodgers and Hart. Herbert is a member of the American Theater Hall of Fame.He never married and seems to have lived comfortably as an openly gay man, at least within the worlds of Broadway and Hollywood. George Gershwin once wrote a letter to his brother Ira in which he mentions that he attended a party in NY and that “Herbie Fields was there with his (male) sweetheart”. And author Frederick Nolan tells us that, “Herb was part of the gay scene, but also always maintained the fiction of straightness. He had a string of statuesque chorus girls for whom he bought immensely ostentatious mink coats.”
Filmography
all 38
Movies 38
Writer 38
Annie Get Your Gun (1967)
Annie Get Your Gun (1965)
Annie Get Your Gun (1957)
Dearest Enemy (1955)
A Connecticut Yankee (1955)
Hit the Deck (1955)
Annie Get Your Gun (1950)
Slightly French (1949)
Mexican Hayride (1948)
Up in Central Park (1948)
Something for the Boys (1944)
Du Barry was a Lady (1943)
Let's Face It (1943)
Panama Hattie (1942)
Father Takes a Wife (1941)
Strike Up the Band (1940)
Dancing Co-Ed (1939)
Honolulu (1939)
Joy of Living (1938)
Fools for Scandal (1938)
Hollywood Party (1937)
The Luckiest Girl in the World (1936)
Love Before Breakfast (1936)
Sweet Surrender (1935)
Ship Cafe (1935)
Hands Across the Table (1935)
The Virginia Judge (1935)
Accent on Youth (1935)
People Will Talk (1935)
Mississippi (1935)
Paree, Paree (1934)
Down to Their Last Yacht (1934)
Let's Fall in Love (1933)
The Hot Heiress (1931)
50 Million Frenchmen (1931)
Leathernecking (1930)
The Melody Man (1930)
Hit the Deck (1929)
Ratings
Information
Known ForWriting
GenderMale
Birthday1897-07-26
Deathday1958-03-24 (60 years old)
Birth PlaceNew York City, United States of America
FatherLew Fields
SiblingsJoseph Fields, Dorothy Fields
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
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