Maurice Rapf, 88, Screenwriter and Film Professor -- Rest in Peace

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Subject: Maurice Rapf, 88, Screenwriter and Film Professor

Author:
New Hampshire

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Date Posted: April 19, 2003 2:08:43 EDT

Maurice Rapf, a screenwriter, a founder of the Writers Guild of America and a professor emeritus of the film studies department at Dartmouth, died on Tuesday. He was 88.

Mr. Rapf was the son of Harry Rapf, a pioneering executive at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and he recalled having a brief career as a child actor, portraying orphans, street urchins and assorted brats.

"Making movies was the family business, and with parental help it became mine as well," he wrote in 1990 for the Dartmouth alumni magazine.

After graduating from Dartmouth in 1935 he returned to Hollywood and worked as a screenwriter at several major studios and helped found the Screenwriters Guild, later renamed the Writers Guild of America.

His film credits include "Song of the South" (1946), "Winter Carnival" (1939) and "So Dear to My Heart" (1949). He also wrote "All About the Movies: A Handbook for the Moving-Loving Layman" and "Back Lot: Growing Up With the Movies," an autobiography.

Blacklisted in 1947 because of his support for the Communist Party and his union work, Mr. Rapf moved East with his family, settled in Norwich, Vt., and helped establish the Dartmouth Film Society.

He later worked in New York as a writer, director and producer of more than 60 commercial and industrial films and reviewed films for Life and Family Circle magazines.

He returned to Dartmouth in 1967 and began a long career as a film professor there.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Louise Seidel Rapf; his brother, Matthew; two daughters, Joanna Rapf and Geraldine Van Dusen; a son, William Rapf; and four grandchildren.

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
Re: Maurice Rapf, 88, Screenwriter and Film Professor	Kevin Rapf	April 22, 2003 8:54:03 EDT