William Bowers

Writing

William Bowers (Las Cruces, 1916 - Woodland Hills, California, 1987) was a reporter in Long Beach, California before becoming a screenwriter and specializing in writing comedy westerns and also turned out several thrillers. His first credited screenplay was My Favorite Spy in 1942. His career noticeably picked up after his Oscar nomination for the gritty Gregory Peck Western The Gunfighter in 1950, leading to such assignments as the remake of My Man Godfrey in 1957 and The Sheepman in 1958 (a second Oscar nomination). Bowers produced the last film that he wrote, the superior Western parody Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969). He also had a bit part as an actor in The Godfather Part II (1974).

Ratings

Screenwriting: —0 ratings
Producing: —0 ratings

Filmography

Screenwriting

4 titles

Support Your Local Sheriff!

Movie1969

In the old west, a man becomes a Sheriff just for the pay, figuring he can decamp if things get tough.

The Law and Jake Wade

Movie1958

Jake Wade breaks Clint Hollister out of jail to pay off an old debt, though it's clear there is some pretty deep hostility between them. They part, and Jake returns to his small-town marshal's job and his fiancée only to find he has been tracked there by Hollister. It seems they were once in a gang together and Jake knows where the proceeds of a bank hold-up are hidden. Hollister and his sidekicks make off into the hills, taking along the trussed-up marshal and his kidnapped bride-to-be to force the lawman to show them where the loot is.

The Gunfighter

Movie1950

The fastest gun in the West tries to escape his reputation.

Criss Cross

Movie1949

An armored-car guard must join a robbery after being caught with his ex-wife by her gangster husband.

Producing

1 title

Support Your Local Sheriff!

Movie1969

In the old west, a man becomes a Sheriff just for the pay, figuring he can decamp if things get tough.

Miscellaneous Crew

5 titles

The Godfather Part II

Movie1974

In the continuing saga of the Corleone crime family, a young Vito Corleone grows up in Sicily and in 1910s New York. In the 1950s, Michael Corleone attempts to expand the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba.