Melvin Frank

Began his career, with partner Norman Panama, as a writer for the Bob Hope radio show. The pair graduated to feature film writing in 1942, subsequently collaborating on the Hope/Bing Crosby/Dorothy Lamour "Road" movies as well as a number of noted romantic comedies including "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" (1948), which they also produced. From 1949 onward Frank and Panama alternated directing and producing duties on several films, including the Danny Kaye vehicles "Knock on Wood" (1954) and the especially good "The Court Jester" (1956), before amicably dissolving the partnership in 1960. Each subsequently pursued a successful solo career. Frank's credits gradually became more intermittent but he still helmed some enjoyable comedies, the best of which were probably "Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell" (1968) and "A Touch of Class" (1973).