Oscar nominated scribe of REAR WINDOW dies aged 89
John Michael Hayes, the Academy Award nominated scribe of REAR WINDOW died of natural causes at his home in Hannover last Wednesday, aged 89. He was one of Alfred Hitchcock's most trusted screenwriters, bringing flirtatious and suspenseful qualities to Hitch's two Grace Kelly pics, the aforementioned REAR WINDOW and TO CATCH A THIEF. He also worked with Hitchcock on THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY and the 1956 version of THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, the latter being a movie they fell out over after Hitchcock insisted that another previous screenwriter of his 1934 version should get a duel writing credit. Hayes didn't agree and neither did the WGA who gave Hayes sole credit. They would never work with each other again. Hayes went on to win another Oscar nomination for the 1957 drama PEYTON PLACE and would enjoy an instant thriving career in the 50's and 60's with high profile movies for Rita Hayworth, Deborah Kerr, David Niven, Burt Lancaster, Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner and Tony Curtis. His last credit was the 1994 Kevin Spacey movie IRON WILL.