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Robert Riskin

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description Robert Riskin Overview

Robert Riskin (1897-1955) was an American screenwriter best known for his collaborations with director Frank Capra during the 1930s and 1940s. His screenplay for It Happened One Night (1934) was instrumental in the film winning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Riskin also wrote Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Lost Horizon (1937), and You Can't Take It With You (1938) for Capra.

Riskin and Capra eventually ended their professional partnership amid creative differences. Riskin's writing style helped define the populist, optimistic tone associated with Capra's most enduring films.

help Robert Riskin FAQ

Which Frank Capra films did Robert Riskin write?

Their major collaborations included Lady for a Day, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, You Can't Take It with You, and Meet John Doe. Riskin also adapted It Happened One Night, the 1934 romantic comedy starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.

Did Robert Riskin win an Oscar for It Happened One Night?

Yes, Riskin won the Academy Award for the film's adapted screenplay. It Happened One Night also won Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Actress, sweeping the five leading Oscar categories.

Was the famous hitchhiking scene in Riskin's screenplay?

The scene belongs to Riskin's adaptation of Samuel Hopkins Adams's story "Night Bus." Peter unsuccessfully demonstrates hitchhiking techniques before Ellie stops a car simply by lifting her skirt and showing her leg.

Did Robert Riskin work only with Frank Capra?

No, although the Capra films define his reputation, Riskin also wrote or produced work for other filmmakers. His later credits include The Thin Man Goes Home, released in 1945 with William Powell and Myrna Loy.