Born in Glasgow, Scotland. Playwright and screenwriter who entered British film with MIDNIGHT AT MADAME TUSSAUD'S (1936). Other notable non-nominated credits include THIS MAN IS NEWS (1938), LET'S BE FAMOUS, CHEER BOYS CHEER and THIS MAN IN PARIS (all 1939), SPARE A COPPER (1941), THE BELLS GO DOWN (1943), THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT (1951, also play), THE GENTLE GUNMAN (1952, also play), TO DOROTHY A SON (1954, play), ESCAPADE (1955, play), THE MOUSE THAT ROARED and A TOUCH OF LARCENY (both 1959). His cousin was writer-director Alexander Mackendrick.  Nominated for Writing (Screenplay) 1952: THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT (w. John Dighton & Alexander Mackendrick) 1 nomination