Biography
An alumnus of Stanford University, James R. Webb was a busy and prolific magazine writer when he entered films in 1939. After an apprenticeship with the Republic western and serial units, Webb moved into the big leagues at Warner Bros., where he scripted such adventure films as South of St. Louis (1949),
The Big Trees (1952) and
The Iron Mistress (1953). He then spent a few years with Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, penning the
Burt Lancaster vehicles
Apache (1954),
Vera Cruz (1954) and
Trapeze (1956). One of his most fruitful professional associations was with
Gregory Peck, for whom Webb wrote
The Big Country (1959),
Pork Chop Hill (1959) and
Cape Fear (1962). Peck was one of the many stars who appeared in
How the West Was Won (1962), which earned James Webb a "Best Original Screenplay" award. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide