Melville Baker

Melville Baker (April 24, 1901 – April 10, 1958) was an American screenwriter. Melville, the Youngest Baker by Patti Bender Like his father, Mel was a writer, first for the stage and then film. He left the past behind–including his first wife–and moved to Los Angeles. In June of the same year, 1929, Adolphe Menjou’s first talking movie, “Fashions In Love,” was released, adaptation and dialogue by Robert’s son, Melville Baker. In July, Lillian Gish’s first talking movie was announced, “One Romantic Night,” an adaptation by Melville Baker of his translated play for the stage, “The Swan.” (Incidentally, if you’ve never seen the 1956 remake of “The Swan,” do yourself a favor and watch it. It’s an all-time favorite among favorites!) Mel married Humphrey Bogart’s agent, Mary Huntoon, and they built a home in Stone Canyon. The house is on tourist maps now, because Bogie’s third marriage, to Mayo Methot, took place there. Mel was Bogie’s best man. Melville Baker’s next movies included the mystery “Darkened Rooms,” “His Woman” with Gary Cooper and Claudette Colbert, and “Next Time We Love,” starring a newcomer, Jimmy Stewart. Careers in Hollywood can flare brightly and die quickly away, but Mel Baker wrote stories and screenplays for nearly twenty years. His twenty, big-screen projects included: “Zoo in Budapest” with Loretta Young, “Now and Forever” with Shirley Temple, Gary Cooper, and Carole Lombard; and “The Last Days of Pompeii.” He played cards with F. Scott Fitzgerald an…