Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written Comedy
Awarded forOutstanding Writing for a Comedy Film
CountryUnited States
Presented byWriters Guild of America
First awarded1949
Last awarded1984
Websitehttp://www.wga.org/

The Writers Guild Award for Best Written Comedy was an award presented from 1949 to 1984 by the Writers Guild of America, after which it was discontinued.

Winners & Nominees

Notes

1940s

Year Film Writer(s)
1948

(1st)[2]

Sitting Pretty F. Hugh Herbert
A Foreign Affair Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, and Richard L. Breen
Apartment for Peggy George Seaton
I Remember Mama Dewitt Bodeen
June Bride Ranald Macdougall
Miss Tatlock's Millions Charles Brackett, and Richard L. Breen
No Minor Vices Arnold Manoff
The Mating of Millie Louella MacFarlane, and St. Clair McKelway
The Paleface Edmund L. Hartmann, Frank Tashlin, and Jack Rose
1949

(2nd)[3]

A Letter to Three Wives Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Adam's Rib Ruth Gordon, and Garson Kanin
Come to the Stable Oscar Millard, and Sally Benson
Every Girl Should Be Married Stephen Morehouse Avery
I Was a Male War Bride Charles Lederer, Leonard Spigel, and Hagar Wilde
It Happens Every Spring Valentine Davies

1950s

Year Film Writer(s)
1950

(3rd)[4]

All About Eve Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Adam's Rib Ruth Gordon, and Garson Kanin
Born Yesterday Albert Mannheimer
Father of the Bride Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett
The Jackpot Phoebe Ephron, and Henry Ephron
1951

(4th)[5]

Father's Little Dividend Albert Hackett, and Frances Goodrich
Angels in the Outfield Dorothy Kingsley, and George Wells
People Will Talk Joseph L. Mankiewicz
That's My Boy Cy Howard
You're in the Navy Now Richard Murphy
1952

(5th)[6]

The Quiet Man Frank Nugent
Pat and Mike Ruth Gordon, and Garson Kanin
Room for One More Jack Rose, and Melville Shavelson
The Happy Time Earl Felton
The Marrying Kind Ruth Gordon, and Garson Kanin
1953

(6th)[7]

Roman Holiday Ian McLellan Hunter, Dalton Trumbo, and John Dighton
How to Marry a Millionaire Nunnally Johnson
Stalag 17 Billy Wilder, and Edwin Blum
The Actress Ruth Gordon
The Moon Is Blue F. Hugh Herbert
1954

(7th)[8]

Sabrina Billy Wilder, Samuel Taylor, and Ernest Lehman
It Should Happen to You Garson Kanin
Knock on Wood Melvin Frank, and Norman Panama
Susan Slept Here Alex Gottlieb
The Long, Long Trailer Albert Hackett, and Frances Goodrich
1955

(8th)[9]

Mister Roberts Frank S. Nugent, and Joshua Logan
Phffft George Axelrod
The Seven Year Itch Billy Wilder, and George Axelroad
The Tender Trap Julius J. Epstein
To Catch a Thief John Michael Hayes
1956

(9th)[10]

Around the World in 80 Days James Poe, John Farrow, and S. J. Perelman
Bus Stop George Axelrod
Full of Life John Fante
The Solid Gold Cadillac Abe Burrows
The Teahouse of the August Moon John Patrick
1957

(10th)[11]

Love in the Afternoon Billy Wilder, and I.A.L. Diamond
Designing Woman George Wells
Don't Go Near the Water Dorothy Kingsley, and George Wells
Operation Mad Ball Arthur Carter, Jed Harris, and Blake Edwards
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? Frank Tashlin
1958

(11th)[12]

Me and the Colonel S.N. Behrman, and George Froeschel
Houseboat Melville Shavelson, and Jack Rose
Indiscreet Norman Krasna
Teacher's Pet Fay Kanin, and Michael Kanin
The Reluctant Debutante William Douglas-Home, and Julius J. Epstein
1959

(12th)[13]

Some Like It Hot Billy Wilder, and I.A.L. Diamond
A Hole in the Head Arnold Schulman
North by Northwest Ernest Lehman
Operation Petticoat Stanley Shapiro, and Maurice Richlin
Pillow Talk Stanley Shapiro, and Maurice Richlin

1960s

Year Film Writer(s)
1960

(13th)[14]

The Apartment Billy Wilder, and I.A.L. Diamond
North to Alaska Martin Rackin, John Lee Mahin, and Claude Binyon
Ocean's 11 Harry Brown, and Charles Lederer
Please Don't Eat the Daisies Isobel Lennart
The Facts of Life Norman Panama, and Melvin Frank
1961

(14th)[15]

Breakfast at Tiffany's George Axelrod
A Majority of One, Leonard Spigelgass
One, Two, Three Billy Wilder, and I.A.L. Diamond
The Absent Minded Professor Bill Walsh
The Parent Trap David Swift
1962

(15th)[16]

That Touch of Mink Nate Monaster and Stanley Shapiro
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation Nunnally Johnson
The Notorious Landlady Blake Edwards, and Larry Gelbart
Period of Adjustment Isobel Lennart
The Pigeon That Took Rome Melville Shavelson
1963

(16th)[17]

Lilies of the Field James Poe
Charade Peter Stone
Irma la Douce I.A.L. Diamond, and Billy Wilder
Love with the Proper Stranger Arnold Schulman
The Thrill of It All Carl Reiner
1964

(17th)[18]

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb Stanley Kubrick, Peter George, and Terry Southern
Father Goose, Peter Stone, and Frank Tarloff
The Pink Panther Maurice Richlin, and Blake Edwards
The World of Henry Orient Nora Johnson, and Nunnally Johnson
Topkapi Monja Danischewsky
1965

(18th)[19]

A Thousand Clowns Herb Gardner
Cat Ballou Walter Newman, and Frank Pierson
That Darn Cat! Mildred Gordon, Gordon Gordon, and Bill Walsh
The Great Race Arthur A. Ross
What's New Pussycat Woody Allen
1966

(19th)[20]

The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming William Rose
How to Steal a Million Harry Kurnitz
Our Man Flint Hal Fimberg, and Ben Starr
The Fortune Cookie Billy Wilder, and I.A.L. Diamond
You're a Big Boy Now Francis Ford Coppola
1967

(20th)[21]

The Graduate Buck Henry, and Calder Willingham
Barefoot in the Park Neil Simon
Divorce American Style Norman Lear
The Flim-Flam Man William Rose
A Guide for the Married Man Frank Tarloff
1968

(21st)[22]

The Odd Couple Neil Simon
Hot Millions Ira Wallach, and Peter Ustinov
I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! Paul Mazursky, and Larry Tucker
The Producers Mel Brooks
Yours, Mine and Ours Melville Shavelson, and Mort Lachman
1969
(22nd)[23] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium
Goodbye, Columbus ‡ Arnold Schulman
Cactus Flower I.A.L. Diamond
Gaily, Gaily Abram S. Ginnes
John and Marty John Mortimer
The Reivers Irving Ravetch, and Harriet Frank Jr.
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice ‡ Paul Mazursky and Larry Tucker
If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium David Shaw
Popi Tina Pine, and Lester Pine
Support Your Local Sheriff William Bowers
Take the Money and Run Woody Allen, and Mickey Rose

1970s

Year Film Writer(s)
1970
(23rd)[24] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium
M*A*S*H † Ring Lardner Jr.
Lovers and Other Strangers Renée Taylor, Joseph Bologna, David Zelag Goodman
The Owl and the Pussycat Buck Henry
The Twelve Chairs Mel Brooks
Where's Poppa Robert Klane
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
The Out-of-Towners Neil Simon
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes Billy Wilder, and I.A.L. Diamond
Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronk Gabriel Walsh
Start the Revolution Without Me Fred Freeman, and Lawrence J. Cohen
The Cheyenne Social Club James Lee Barrett
1971
(24th)[25] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium
Kotch John Paxton
A New Leaf Elaine May
Fiddler on the Roof Joseph Stein
Little Murders Jules Feiffer
The Boy Friend Ken Russell
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
The Hospital Paddy Chayefsky
Bananas Woody Allen, and Mickey Rose
Carnal Knowledge Jules Feiffer
Made for Each Other Renée Taylor, and Joseph Bologna
Taking Off Miloṡ Forman, Jean-Claude Carrière, John Guare, and Jon Klein
1972
(25th)[26] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium
Cabaret ‡ Jay Presson Allen
Avanti! Billy Wilder, and I.A.L. Diamond
Butterflies Are Free Leonard Gershe
The Heartbreak Kid Neil Simon
Travels with My Aunt Jay Presson Allen, and Hugh Wheeler
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
What's Up, Doc? Peter Bogdanovich, Buck Henry, David Newman, and Robert Benton
Get to Know Your Rabbit Jordan Crittenden
Hammersmith Is Out Stanford Whitmore
Minnie and Moskowitz John Cassavetes
The War Between Men and Women Melville Shavelson, and Danny Arnold
1973
(26th)[27] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium
Paper Moon ‡ Alvin Sargent
40 Carats Leonard Gershe
Godspell David Greenne, and John-Michael Tebelak
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
A Touch of Class‡ Melvin Frank and Jack Rose
American Graffiti ‡ George Lucas, Gloria Katz, and Willard Huyck
Blume in Love Paul Mazursky
Sleeper Woody Allen, and Marshall Brickman
Slither W.D. Richter
1974
(27th)[28] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz ‡ Mordecai Richler, and Lionel Chetwynd
The Front Page Billy Wilder, and I.A.L. Diamond
Young Frankenstein ‡ Gene Wilder, and Mel Brooks
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
Blazing Saddles Mel Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, and Alan Uger
California Split Joseph Walsh
Claudine Tina Pine, and Lester Pine
Phantom of the Paradise Brian de Palma
The Sugarland Express Hal Barwood, Matthew Robbins, and Steven Spielberg
1975
(28th)[29] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium
The Sunshine Boys ‡ Neil Simon
Hester Street Joan Micklin Silver
The Prisoner of Second Avenue Neil Simon
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
Shampoo ‡ Robert Towne and Warren Beatty
Heats of the West Rob Thompson
Smile Jerry Belson
The Return of the Pink Panther Frank Waldman, and Blake Edwards
1976
(29th)[30] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium
The Pink Panther Strikes Again Frank Waldman, and Blake Edwards
Family Plot Ernest Lehman
Stay Hungry Charles Gaines, and Bob Rafelson
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings Hal Barwood, and Matthew Robbins
The Ritz Terrence McNally
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
The Bad News Bears Bill Lancaster
Murder by Death Neil Simon
Next Stop, Greenwich Village Paul Mazursky
Silent Movie Mel Brooks, Ron Clark, Rudy De Luca, and Barry Levinson
Silver Streak Colin Higgins
1977
(30th)[31] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium
Oh, God! ‡ Larry Gelbart
The Spy Who Loved Me Christopher Wood, and Richard Maibaum
Semi-Tough Walter Bernstein
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
Annie Hall Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman
Star Wars George Lucas
Slap Shot Nancy Dowd
The Goodbye Girl Neil Simon
1978
(31st)[32] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium
Heaven Can Wait ‡ Elaine May, and Warren Beatty
California Suite ‡ Neil Simon
Same Time, Next Year ‡ Bernard Slade
Superman Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, and Robert Benton
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? Peter Stone
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
Movie Movie Larry Gelbart and Sheldon Keller
A Wedding John Considine, Patricia Resnick, Allan F. Nicholls, and Robert Altman
Animal House Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney, and Chris Miller
House Calls Max Shulman, Julius J. Epstein, Alan Mandel, and Charles Shyer
Once in Paris... Frank D. Gilroy
1979
(32nd)[33] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium
Being There Jerzy Kosinski
Starting Over James L. Brooks
A Little Romance ‡ Allan Burns
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
Breaking Away † Steve Tesich
10 Blake Edwards
Manhattan ‡ Woody Allen, and Marshall Brickman

1980s

Year Nominees Writer(s)
1980
(33rd)[34] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Other Another Medium
Airplane! Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker
Hopscotch Brian Garfield, and Bryan Forbes
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Leigh Brackett, and Lawrence Kasdan
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
Private Benjamin † Nancy Meyers, Harvey Miller, and Charles Shyer
Nine to Five Colin Higgins, and Patricia Resnick
Return of the Secaucus John Sayles
Stardust Memories Woody Allen
1981
(34th)[35] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Other Another Medium
Rich and Famous Gerald Ayres
For Your Eyes Only' Richard Maibaum, and Michael G. Wilson
First Monday in October Jerome Lawrence, and Robert E. Lee
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
Arthur ‡ Steve Gordon
Raiders of the Lost Ark Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, and Philip Kaufman
S.O.B. Blake Edwards
The Four Seasons Alan Alda
1982
(35th)[36] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Other Another Medium
Victor Victoria ‡ Blake Edwards
Fast Times at Ridgemont High Cameron Crowe
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
Tootsie ‡ Don McGuire, Larry Gelbart, and Murray Schisgal
Diner Barry Levinson
My Favorite Year Norman Steinberg, and Dennis Palumbo
1983
(36th)[37] 		Best Comedy Adapted from Other Another Medium
Terms of Endearment † James L. Brooks
A Christmas Story Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, and Bob Clark
To Be or Not to Be Thomas Meehan, and Ronny Graham
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
The Big Chill ‡ Lawrence Kasdan, and Barbara Benedek
Risky Business Paul Brickman
Zelig Woody Allen

References

  1. ^ "Writers Guild Awards Winners 1995-1949". awards.wga.org. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  2. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1949)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  3. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1950)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  4. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1951)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  5. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1952)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  6. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1953)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  7. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1954)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  8. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1955)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  9. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1956)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  10. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1957)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  11. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1958)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  12. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1959)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  13. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1960)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  14. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1961)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  15. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1962)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  16. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1963)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  17. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1964)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  18. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1965)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  19. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1966)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  20. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1967)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  21. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1968)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  22. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1969)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  23. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1970)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  24. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1971)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  25. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1972)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  26. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1973)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  27. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1974)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  28. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1975)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  29. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1976)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  30. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1977)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  31. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1978)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  32. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1979)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  33. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1980)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  34. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1981)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  35. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1982)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  36. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1983)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  37. ^ "Writers Guild of America, USA (1983)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-18.

External links

Writers Guild of America Awards
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