In 1927, he was hired as a production supervisor by Samuel Goldwyn. He learned the tricks of his trade for the next six years. By the time he joined Paramount, it was as producer of popular entertainments, such as Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) and the Bing Crosby-W.C. Fields vehicle Mississippi (1935). He also helped elevate Bob Hope from comedic support to romantic lead in three films opposite Paulette Goddard, beginning with The Cat and the Canary (1939). In 1944, he switched to MGM, producing the classic Victorian thriller Gaslight (1944) with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman; the all-star musical Week-End at the Waldorf (1945) and the superior Clark Gable drama The Hucksters (1947), based on a best-selling novel. The Asphalt Jungle (1950), one of the most imitated crime films of the decade, brought a young Marilyn Monroe to the attention of the movie-going public. Hornblow's last three films were independently produced and included the exuberant musical Oklahoma! (1955) and the edgy courtroom drama Witness for the Prosecution (1957). After his retirement from the industry in 1962, Hornblow co-authored six children's books with his wife, the former actress Leonora Hornblow (nee Schinasi), which were published by Random House.
In 1927, he was hired as a production supervisor by Samuel Goldwyn. He learned the tricks of his trade for the next six years. By the time he joined Paramount, it was as producer of popular entertainments, such as Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) and the Bing Crosby-W.C. Fields vehicle Mississippi (1935). He also helped elevate Bob Hope from comedic support to romantic lead in three films opposite Paulette Goddard, beginning with The Cat and the Canary (1939). In 1944, he switched to MGM, producing the classic Victorian thriller Gaslight (1944) with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman; the all-star musical Week-End at the Waldorf (1945) and the superior Clark Gable drama The Hucksters (1947), based on a best-selling novel. The Asphalt Jungle (1950), one of the most imitated crime films of the decade, brought a young Marilyn Monroe to the attention of the movie-going public. Hornblow's last three films were independently produced and included the exuberant musical Oklahoma! (1955) and the edgy courtroom drama Witness for the Prosecution (1957). After his retirement from the industry in 1962, Hornblow co-authored six children's books with his wife, the former actress Leonora Hornblow (nee Schinasi), which were published by Random House.
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