Born in Russia. Drama critic for the New York Evening Sun, essayist and poet, he collaborated on a number of distinguished Hollywood screenplays in the 30s and 40s, including AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY and DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (both 1931), LOVE ME TONIGHT (1932), THE SONG OF SONS (1933), THE FOUNTAIN and THE GAY DIVORCÉE (also score) (both 1934), ENCHANTED APRIL (1935), DESIRE (1936), CONQUEST (1937), THE GREAT WALTZ (1938), THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939, uncredited), THAT NIGHT IN RIO (1941), TALES OF MANHATTAN (1942), PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, FLESH AND FANTASY and HIS BUTLER'S SISTER (all 1943), LAURA (1944), SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY and CLUNY BROWN (both 1946), CARNIVAL IN COSTA RICA (1947) and his last film, GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY (1948). A complete collection of his poetry was published in 1954.

Nominated for Writing (Adaptation) 1931-32: DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (w. Percy Heath)  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Best Score) 1934: THE GAY DIVORCÉE - Score (w. Kenneth Webb and Max Steiner, as head of department)  Nominated for Writing (Screenplay) 1944: LAURA (w. Jay Dratler & Elizabeth Reinhardt) 3 nominations