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Abraham Polonsky

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Screenwriter

The Resume

    (December 5, 1910-October 26, 1999)
    Born in New York City, New York
    Wrote the screenplays for 'Body and Soul' (1947), 'I Can Get It For You Wholesale' (1951), 'Madigan' (1968), 'Avalanche Express' (1979), 'Monsignor' (1982) and 'Guilty by Suspicion' (1991)
    Wrote and directed 'Force of Evil' (1948) and 'Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here' (1969)

Why he might be annoying:

    He joined the Communist party.
    Even after leaving the Communist party, he remained a Marxist, saying 'I thought Marxism offered the best analysis of history and I still believe that.'
    He demanded that his name be removed from the credits for 'Guilty by Suspicion,' a film about the Hollywood blacklist, after his script was revised by director Irwin Winkler to change the lead character from a Communist to a mere liberal.
    When Elia Kazan, who had named names before the House Unamerican Activities Committee, received an honorary Oscar (1999), he said, 'I'll be watching, hoping someone shoots him. It would no doubt be a thrill in an otherwise dull evening.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was an intelligence agent for the Office of Strategic Services during World War II.
    His directorial debut, 'Force of Evil,' has been hailed as one of the classics of film noir.
    He was blacklisted after refusing to testify before HUAC.
    Critic Andrew Sarris wrote, 'Polonsky, along with Chaplin and Losey, remains one of the great casualties of the anti-Communist hysteria of the fifties.'
    He was married to Sylvia Marrow for 56 years until her death.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 133 Votes: 64.66% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 150 Votes: 61.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 52 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 17 Votes: 94.12% Annoying