Growing up Jewish in the Deep South required writer/director Hal Kanter to develop a strong sense of humor as a defensive mechanism. Kanter's professional career began with gag contributions for radio and nightclub comedians. Flourishing in TV's Golden Age, Kanter was a member of the Emmy-winning writing team of The George Gobel Show; on the film front, he wrote scripts and special material for the likes of Bob Hope and Martin and Lewis. Kanter made his film directorial debut with Elvis Presle's Loving You (1957), which, though panned on its first release, made a lot of money and holds up admirably when seen today. Unfortunately Kanters next directing job, the 1957 George Gobel movie vehicle I Married a Woman was an exercise in mediocrity. Once Upon a Horse (1957) was an attempt by Kanter to make movie stars of Rowan and Martin the film was a frequently witty western parody (written as well as directed by Kanter), but a bit too "inside" for general audiences of the era. Returning to television, Kanter was the creative force behind the popular 1968 sitcom Julia a sociologically important effort in that it was the first weekly TV program to star a young black woman (Diahann Carroll) in a non-subservient role. In 1976, Kanter was appointed head writer for Bob Hope, who shed himself of his long-time writing staff in hopes of coming up with "something new" (Kanter tried hard, but in the end Bob decided to fall back on the old tricks that had served him so well for forty years). Also during the '70s, Kanter became executive producer of All in the Family, which proved an ideal outlet for the writer's characteristic blend of sarcastic one-liners and sitcom sentimentality. In 1989, Hal Kanter was honored by the Writers' Guild with the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award; since that time, he has been a prolific on-camera interviewee in retrospective documentaries devoted to film and TV comedy.
| Title | Year | Editors' Rating | User Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Color Adjustment
Actor |
1992 | |||
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Oscar's Greatest Moments: 1971-1991
Screenwriter |
1992 | |||
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For the Love of It
Director |
1980 | |||
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All in the Family: A Very Moving Day
Screenwriter |
1975 | |||
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All in the Family: Alone At Last
Screenwriter |
1975 | |||
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All in the Family [TV Series]
Executive Producer |
1971 | |||
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Julia [TV Series]
Executive Producer, Show Creator |
1968 | |||
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Dear Brigitte
Screenwriter |
1965 | |||
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Move Over, Darling
Screenwriter |
1963 | |||
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Bachelor in Paradise
Screenwriter |
1961 | |||
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Blue Hawaii
Screenwriter |
1961 | |||
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Pocketful of Miracles
Screenwriter |
1961 | |||
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Let's Make Love
Screenwriter |
1960 | |||
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Mardi Gras
Screenwriter |
1958 | |||
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Once Upon a Horse
Director, Producer, Screenwriter |
1958 | |||
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Loving You
Director, Screenwriter |
1957 | |||
|
I Married a Woman
Director |
1956 | |||
|
Artists and Models
Screenwriter |
1955 | |||
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The Rose Tattoo
Screenwriter |
1955 | |||
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About Mrs. Leslie
Screenwriter |
1954 | |||
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Casanova's Big Night
Screenwriter |
1954 | |||
|
Here Come the Girls
Screenwriter |
1953 | |||
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Money from Home
Screenwriter |
1953 | |||
|
Off Limits
Screen Story, Screenwriter |
1953 | |||
|
Road to Bali
Screenwriter |
1953 | |||
|
My Favorite Spy
Screenwriter |
1951 | |||
|
Two Tickets to Broadway
Screenwriter |
1951 |


