Arthur DeWitt Ripley (January 12, 1897 – February 13, 1961) was an American film screenwriter, editor, producer and director.In 1923, he joined the Mack Sennett studio as a comedy writer. In the 1920s, he worked closely with Frank Capra churning out screenplays for many movies. After breaking with Capra and the Sennett studio, Ripley again returned to being a gag-writer, screenwriter, and occasional director, making short films with such comedians as W. C. Fields and Edgar Kennedy. His directorial work in the 1940s, Voice in the Wind (1944) and The Chase (1946), were both critical successes, but neither film were boxoffice hits.Ripley entered the world of academia, helping to establish the Film Center at U.C.L.A. while also working occasionally on TV. Ripley returned to directing one more time, at the request of Robert Mitchum, for Thunder Road (1958) before returning to U.C.L.A. and working until his death in 1961.
When Ripley retired from fims, he was asked by The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) to become its first Professor of Cinema Arts. In that capacity he founded the UCLA Film Center, and was responsible for it becoming the world-famous film school that it is today.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
1958
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Cavalcade of America
TV Series teleplay - 3 episodes, 1952 - 1954 writer - 1 episode, 1956 story - 1 episode, 1953
General Electric Theater
1953
TV Series teleplay - 1 episode
Voice in the Wind
1944
original story
Hold Your Temper
1943
Short screen play
Prisoner of Japan
1942
screenplay
Wedded Blitz
1942
Short
Three Blonde Mice
1942
Short story
Waterfront
1939
screenplay
Am I Having Fun!
1936
Short story and screen play
The Leather Necker
1935
Short story
South Seasickness
1935
Short story
Shivers
1934
Short
In the Dog House
1934
Short story and screen play
Caravan
1934
contributor to dialogue - uncredited
Love on a Ladder
1934
Short story
Elmer Steps Out
1934
Short story and screenplay
A Wrestler's Bride
1933
Short writer
Hypnotized
1932
Courting Trouble
1932
Short
Speed
1931
Short uncredited
Monkey Business in Africa
1931
Short uncredited
Hold 'er Sheriff
1931
Short
In Conference
1931
Short uncredited
Just a Bear
1931
Short uncredited
The Dog Doctor
1931
Short
The Bride's Mistake
1931
Short uncredited
The College Vamp
1931
Short story and scenario
Dance Hall Marge
1931
Short
A Hollywood Theme Song
1930
Short story and scenario
The Bluffer
1930
Short dialogue / story
Hide-Out
1930
screenplay / story
Captain of the Guard
1930
adaptation and scenario
Barnum Was Right
1929
adaptation
Heart Trouble
1928/I
story
The Chaser
1928
story
Fiddlesticks
1927/I
Short story
Three's a Crowd
1927
story
His First Flame
1927
story
Smith's Surprise
1927
Short story
Long Pants
1927
story
The Jolly Jilter
1927
Short
Smith's Uncle
1926
Short
The Strong Man
1926
story
A Yankee Doodle Duke
1926
Short story
Soldier Man
1926
Short
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp
1926
story - uncredited
Saturday Afternoon
1926
Short story and scenario
Lucky Stars
1925
Short
Remember When?
1925
Short
Plain Clothes
1925
Short
Boobs in the Wood
1925
Short
His Marriage Wow
1925
Short
All Night Long
1924
Short story
The Reel Virginian
1924
Short
Wandering Waistlines
1924
Short
A Lady of Quality
1924
adaptation
Life's Darn Funny
1921
The Third Generation
1920
His Busted Trust
1916
Short unconfirmed - unconfirmed
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Thunder Road
1958
producer
Cavalcade of America
1953-1954
TV Series producer - 11 episodes
General Electric Theater
TV Series producer - 11 episodes, 1953 co-producer - 1 episode, 1953