Background
Hornblow was the son of Arthur Hornblow, Senior (1865–1942), a writer and editor who produced the Theatre magazine in New York City.
film producer children"s writer
Hornblow was the son of Arthur Hornblow, Senior (1865–1942), a writer and editor who produced the Theatre magazine in New York City.
Hornblow graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School, New York City, in 1911, before studying at Dartmouth College and New York Law School, and was a member of the fraternity Theta Delta Chirurgical
He allowed a version of his last name be used by C South Forester for the fictional sea captain Horatio Hornblower after meeting writer Forester at a New York cocktail party) He served in counter-intelligence during World War I, and then tried his hand at playwriting. He was then hired as a production supervisor by Sam Goldwyn at Paramount in 1927. On their divorce in 1942 they threw a lavish party at the Mocambo club
Initially, he specialized in the popular screwball comedies, eventually giving Billy Wilder his first directing job, and producing several films starring Bob Hope.
These included, and Nothing But the Truth (1941). In 1942 he moved to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer where he produced several film noir.
In the 1950s, now an independent producer rather that a studio employee, he worked on musicals and other films including Oklahoma, Ruggles of Red Gap and Gaslight. He gave aspiring actress Marie Windsor her first screen test, and Constance Ockelman her new name, Veronica Lake.
Ruggles of Red Gap, comedy-western with Charles Laughton.
Hold Back the Dawn (1941), romantic-comedy with Charles Boyer and Olivia de Havilland., thriller with Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer and Joseph Cotten. Witness for the Prosecution (1957), courtroom drama with Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, and Elsa Lanchester.
Served as 1st. Lieutenant United States Army attched to counter-espionage section of Intelligence Corps, 1918-1919. Decorated: Etoile Noire de la Chevalier de la Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur’Honneur’Honneur (France). Clubs: Dartmouth (New York City).
Married Leonora Schinasi, November 4, 1945.