Writing

Horace McCoy

Born April 14, 1897 · Pegram, Tennessee, USA

Died December 15, 1955 · aged 58

Horace Stanley McCoy (1897–1955) was an American novelist whose gritty, hardboiled novels documented the hardships Americans faced during the Depression and post-war periods. McCoy grew up in Tennessee and Texas; after serving in the air force during World War I, he worked as a journalist, film actor, and screenplay writer, and is author of five novels including They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (193…

Known For

Western Union

Western Union · 1941

When Edward Creighton leads the construction of the Western Union to unite East with West, he hires a Western reformed outlaw and a tenderfoot Eastern surveyor. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in 2000.

Montana Belle

Montana Belle · 1952

Oklahoma outlaw Belle Starr meets the Dalton gang when rescued from lynching by Bob Dalton, who falls for her. So do gang member Mac and wealthy saloon owner Tom Bradfield, who's enlisted in a bankers' scheme to trap the Daltons. Discord among the gang and Bradfield's ambivalence complicates things, as Belle demonstrates her prowess with shootin' irons and horses, and as a surprisingly racy saloon entertainer.

The World in His Arms

The World in His Arms · 1952

The World in His Arms

MovieAdventureRomance

A boisterous sea captain in the Pacific Coast, circa 1850, has a plan to buy Alaska from the Russians… if they don’t kill him first.

Gentleman Jim

Gentleman Jim · 1942

MovieDramaComedy

As bare-knuckled boxing enters the modern era, brash extrovert Jim Corbett uses new rules and dazzlingly innovative footwork to rise to the top of the boxing world.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? · 1969

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

In the midst of the Great Depression, manipulative emcee Rocky enlists contestants for a dance marathon offering a $1,500 cash prize. Among them are a failed actress, a middle-aged sailor, a delusional blonde and a pregnant girl.

The Turning Point

The Turning Point · 1952

The Turning Point

MovieCrimeDrama

Special prosecutor John Conroy hopes to combat organized crime and appoints his cop father Matt as chief investigator. John doesn't understand Matt's reluctance, but cynical reporter Jerry McKibbon thinks he knows: he's seen Matt with mob lieutenant Harrigan. Jerry's friendship with John is tested by the question of what to do about Matt, and by his attraction to John's girl Amanda. Meanwhile, the threatened racketeers adopt increasingly violent means of defense.

Rage at Dawn

Rage at Dawn · 1955

MovieActionWestern

In this film's version of the story, four of the Reno Brothers are corrupt robbers and killers while a fifth, Clint is a respected Indiana farmer. A sister, Laura, who has inherited the family home, serves the outlaw brothers as a housekeeper and cook. One brother is killed when they go after a bank, the men of the town appear to have been waiting for them…

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye · 1950

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

MovieCrimeThriller

Ralph Cotter, a ruthless criminal, escapes violently from a farm prison. Then, he seduces a dead inmate’s sister, gets back quickly into the crime business, faces corrupt local cops who run the city’s underworld and meets a powerful tycoon’s whimsical daughter.

Filmography

Sort

Western Union

Western Union · 1941

When Edward Creighton leads the construction of the Western Union to unite East with West, he hires a Western reformed outlaw and a tenderfoot Eastern surveyor. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in 2000.

Dialogue

Montana Belle

Montana Belle · 1952

Oklahoma outlaw Belle Starr meets the Dalton gang when rescued from lynching by Bob Dalton, who falls for her. So do gang member Mac and wealthy saloon owner Tom Bradfield, who's enlisted in a bankers' scheme to trap the Daltons. Discord among the gang and Bradfield's ambivalence complicates things, as Belle demonstrates her prowess with shootin' irons and horses, and as a surprisingly racy saloon entertainer.

Screenplay

The World in His Arms

The World in His Arms · 1952

The World in His Arms

MovieAdventureRomance

A boisterous sea captain in the Pacific Coast, circa 1850, has a plan to buy Alaska from the Russians… if they don’t kill him first.

Additional Dialogue

Gentleman Jim

Gentleman Jim · 1942

MovieDramaComedy

As bare-knuckled boxing enters the modern era, brash extrovert Jim Corbett uses new rules and dazzlingly innovative footwork to rise to the top of the boxing world.

Screenplay

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? · 1969

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

In the midst of the Great Depression, manipulative emcee Rocky enlists contestants for a dance marathon offering a $1,500 cash prize. Among them are a failed actress, a middle-aged sailor, a delusional blonde and a pregnant girl.

Novel

The Turning Point

The Turning Point · 1952

The Turning Point

MovieCrimeDrama

Special prosecutor John Conroy hopes to combat organized crime and appoints his cop father Matt as chief investigator. John doesn't understand Matt's reluctance, but cynical reporter Jerry McKibbon thinks he knows: he's seen Matt with mob lieutenant Harrigan. Jerry's friendship with John is tested by the question of what to do about Matt, and by his attraction to John's girl Amanda. Meanwhile, the threatened racketeers adopt increasingly violent means of defense.

Story

Rage at Dawn

Rage at Dawn · 1955

MovieActionWestern

In this film's version of the story, four of the Reno Brothers are corrupt robbers and killers while a fifth, Clint is a respected Indiana farmer. A sister, Laura, who has inherited the family home, serves the outlaw brothers as a housekeeper and cook. One brother is killed when they go after a bank, the men of the town appear to have been waiting for them…

Screenplay

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye · 1950

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

MovieCrimeThriller

Ralph Cotter, a ruthless criminal, escapes violently from a farm prison. Then, he seduces a dead inmate’s sister, gets back quickly into the crime business, faces corrupt local cops who run the city’s underworld and meets a powerful tycoon’s whimsical daughter.

Novel

The Texas Rangers Ride Again

The Texas Rangers Ride Again · 1940

The Texas Rangers Ride Again

MovieWesternComedy

With thousands of cattle being rustled from White Sage ranch the 1930's Texas Rangers are called in. They manage to get one of their agents into the gang by making them think he is the Pecos Kid on the lam.

Writer

El Alaméin

El Alaméin · 1953

A small group of men and a tank stave off a German attack in a Bedouin desert during World War II.

Writer

Valley of the Sun

Valley of the Sun · 1942

Valley of the Sun

An Arizona frontiersman steals an Indian agent's girlfriend, followed by trouble.

Screenplay

Daughters of Destiny

Daughters of Destiny · 1954

Daughters of Destiny

MovieComedyDrama

Three stories, very different in space and time. Lysistrata, a dancer from ancient times, Jeanne d'Arc, medieval warrior and Elisabeth, American war widow who comes on pilgrimage in Italy.

Writer

Appointment in Berlin

Appointment in Berlin · 1943

Appointment in Berlin

The "war of nerves" which gripped the European continent in 1938, is the background for this war thriller starring George Sanders.

Writer

Flight for Freedom

Flight for Freedom · 1943

Flight for Freedom

A fictionalized biopic about aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. A female pilot breaks the Los Angeles to New York record and attracts the interest of the U.S. Navy, who want to send her on a spy mission.

Story

Undercover Doctor

Undercover Doctor · 1939

Undercover Doctor

MovieCrimeDrama

Dr. Bartley Morgan covers up his profitable illegalities with the respectable veneer of a posh, highly profitable private practice, he runs with his nurse Margaret Hopkins. The FBI agent Robert Anders has to catch on to Morgan's illicit activities.

Writer

Bad for Each Other

Bad for Each Other · 1953

Bad for Each Other

A doctor returned from the Korean War must choose between joining a glamorous practice and helping the poor.

Screenplay

The Lusty Men

The Lusty Men · 1952

MovieDramaWestern

Retired rodeo champion Jeff McCloud agrees to mentor novice rodeo contestant Wes Merritt against the wishes of Merritt's wife who fears the dangers of this rough sport.

Writer

Parole Fixer

Parole Fixer · 1940

MovieActionCrime

This expose of the U.S. parole system, as seen through the eyes of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, takes dead aim on lawyers who manipulate the justice system in order to get undeserving convicts parole from prisons. The point is made when FBI agents are assigned to track down "Big Boy" Bradmore, who after getting an undeserved parole, via the efforts of a shyster lawyer, promptly murders an FBI agent.

Screenplay

Island of Lost Men

Island of Lost Men · 1939

Island of Lost Men

MovieCrimeDrama

A Chinese general's daughter tracks her father to a slave-labor tyrant's jungle empire.

Screenplay

Queen of the Mob

Queen of the Mob · 1940

Queen of the Mob

MovieCrimeDrama

Ma Webster and her boys rob a bank on Christmas Eve; G-men stop them with Tommy guns.

Screenplay

Dangerous Mission

Dangerous Mission · 1954

Dangerous Mission

MovieThrillerCrime

A policeman tries to protect a young woman against a hit man, when she flees New York after witnessing a mob killing.

Screenplay

The Road to Denver

The Road to Denver · 1955

The Road to Denver

The Mayhew brothers flee from one Texas town to another as older brother Bill repeatedly attempts to keep younger brother Sam out of jail. Bill finally gives up on his younger brother and heads for Colorado. He gets a job and all is well until his brother shows up and takes a job that puts them on opposite sides of the law.

Screenplay

No Pockets in a Shroud

No Pockets in a Shroud · 1974

No Pockets in a Shroud

MovieDramaCrime

In the newspaper he has just founded, journalist Dolannes exposes all the wheeling and dealing and scandals that go on in his town.

Novel

Postal Inspector

Postal Inspector · 1936

Postal Inspector

MovieThrillerAction

Postal inspectors track down money stolen from a railroad car.

Screenplay

Maverick

Maverick · 1957

SeriesComedyWestern

The Maverick boys - Bret, Bart, Beau and Brent - are a clan of well-dressed dandies, gamblers who'd much rather make their money playing cards than messing up their fine clothing with actual work. Sly and clever, none of the Mavericks are much for acts of derring do, but they can be courageous when the situation calls for it. Most often, however, they live by their wits and considerable charm.

Story