James Kevin McGuinness

James Kevin McGuinness (December 20, 1894 – December 4, 1950) was an American screenwriter and film producer. He provided testimony to the House Un-American Activities Committee which led to the Hollywood blacklist in 1947.

James Kevin McGuinness
Born	(1894-12-20)December 20, 1894 Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland
Died	December 4, 1950(1950-12-04) (aged 56) New York City, New York, U.S.A.
Years active	1927–1950

Early life

McGuinness was born on December 20, 1894, in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland,^[1] and immigrated to New York in 1904.^{[citation needed]}

Career

McGuinness was one of the earliest editors and contributors at The New Yorker magazine; in the March 14, 1925, issue, he profiled the boxer Jack Dempsey and continued to contribute pieces (nonfiction, fiction, and poetry) until 1927.^[2] He relocated to Los Angeles in the late 1920s, at the dawn of the "talkies" era, and thereafter worked in the film industry as a writer and producer.^{[citation needed]} He wrote for 36 films between 1927 and 1950.^{[citation needed]} He eventually became chief supervisor and executive producer at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.^{[citation needed]}

Other activities

In 1947, along with fellow screenwriter Jack Moffitt, he testified against others suspected of Communist leanings in Hollywood for hearings associated with the House Un-American Activities Committee, which led to the Hollywood blacklist.^[3][1]

Death

McGuiness died in New York on December 4, 1950, from a heart attack.^{[citation needed]}

Selected filmography

• Slaves of Beauty (1927)
• A Girl in Every Port (1928)
• Woman Wise (1928)
• Strong Boy (1929)
• The Woman from Hell (1929)
• The Black Watch (1929)
• Born Reckless (1930)
• Men Without Women (1930)
• Under Suspicion (1930)
• West of Broadway (1931)
• Attorney for the Defense (1932)
• This Sporting Age (1932)
• When Strangers Marry (1933)
• Viva Villa! (1934)
• A Night at the Opera (1935)
• Madame X (1937)
• The Battle of Midway (1942)
• Rio Grande (1950)

Bibliography

Articles

• J. M. (February 28, 1925). "A slogan haunts the bishop". Behind the News. The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 2. p. 4.
• McGuinness, James Kevin (February 28, 1925). "Beginning at the bottom". Behind the News. The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 2. p. 5.
• — (February 28, 1925). "The laud will provide". The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 2. p. 22.
• J. M. (March 7, 1925). "Call 'Beekman 2,000'". Behind the News. The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 3. pp. 2–3.
• McGuinness, James Kevin (March 14, 1925). "A symbol in pugilism". Profiles. The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 4. pp. 15–16. Jack Dempsey.
• — (April 18, 1925). "Modom". The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 9. pp. 7–8.
• — (April 25, 1925). "A process of law". The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 10. p. 7.

List of poems

Title	Year	First published	Reprinted/collected
A Bob ballad : modes	1925	McGuinness, James Kevin (March 7, 1925). "A Bob ballad : modes". The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 3. p. 18.
Supper club lights	1925	McGuinness, James Kevin (May 23, 1925). "Supper club lights". The New Yorker. Vol. 1, no. 14. p. 6.