William Bowers
Writing

William Bowers

Born 17 January 1916 · Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA · Died 27 March 1987

William Bowers (Las Cruces, 1916 - Woodland Hills, California, 1987) was a reporter in Long Beach, California before becoming a screenwriter and specializing in writing comedy westerns and also turned out several thrillers. His first credited screenplay was My Favorite Spy in 1942. His career noticeably picked up after his Oscar nomination for the gritty Gregory Peck Western The Gunfighter in 1950, leading to such assignments as the remake of My Man Godfrey in 1957 and The Sheepman in 1958 (a second Oscar nomination). Bowers produced the last film that he wrote, the superior Western parody Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969). He also had a bit part as an actor in The Godfather Part II (1974).

Known for

The Godfather Part II
The Gunfighter
Support Your Local Sheriff!
Criss Cross
Pitfall
The Sheepman
The Law and Jake Wade
Cry Danger
The Mob
The Web
5 Against the House
Night and Day
The Wild Wild West Revisited
Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid
Mobile Two
The Godfather Part II
Sidekicks
Support Your Local Sheriff!
The Ride to Hangman's Tree
Way... Way Out
Advance to the Rear
The Last Time I Saw Archie
-30-
Alias Jesse James
The Law and Jake Wade
Imitation General
The Sheepman
My Man Godfrey
The Best Things in Life Are Free
5 Against the House
Tight Spot
She Couldn't Say No
Split Second
Assignment: Paris
The San Francisco Story
Cry Danger
The Mob
Convicted
The Gunfighter
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
The Gal Who Took the West
Criss Cross
River Lady
Jungle Patrol
Larceny
Black Bart
The Countess of Monte Cristo
Pitfall
The Web
Something in the Wind
Ladies' Man
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap
Night and Day
The Notorious Lone Wolf
The Fabulous Suzanne
Sing Your Way Home
The Adventures of a Rookie
Seven Days' Leave
William Bowers · Midrow