---
name: "Rian James"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/rian-james"
roles: ["Writer"]
born: "3 October 1899"
died: "26 April 1953"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "writer"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-19T22:41:28.016165+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Rian James

Writer. Born 3 October 1899 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. Died 26 April 1953.

## Details

- **Work:** Writer
- **Born:** 3 October 1899, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
- **Died:** 26 April 1953
- **Active:** 1933–1934
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rian_James, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q597544, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0416861/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/29994

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*42nd Street*](https://film.one/film/42nd-street.md) (82)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Rian James (né Julian Herbert Rothschild) was an American screenwriter and author. He co-wrote the screenplay for the 1933 musical film *42nd Street* with James Seymour.

Prior to his film career, James worked as a columnist covering arts and entertainment for the Brooklyn Eagle from about 1928 to 1935. He had earlier been a foreign correspondent, parachute jumper, stunt man, airmail pilot, Air Force lieutenant and vaudeville actor.

He contributed to more than thirty films between 1932 and 1947. Other credits include the story for *The Other* (1946), later remade as *Dead Ringer* (1964).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *42nd Street* (1933), Fi1m 82, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/42nd-street.md)

## Complete filmography (37)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *42nd Street* (2019), Original Film Writer
- *Killer in the Mirror* (1986), Writer
- *Dead Ringer* (1964), Story
- *Whispering City* (1947), Screenplay
- *La forteresse* (1947), Writer
- *The Other* (1946), Screenplay
- *Eve Knew Her Apples* (1945), Story
- *Parachute Nurse* (1942), Screenplay
- *Not a Ladies' Man* (1942), Writer
- *This Time for Keeps* (1942), Screenplay
- *Broadway Limited* (1941), Screenplay
- *Down Argentine Way* (1940), Story
- *The Housekeeper's Daughter* (1939), Screenplay
- *The Gorilla* (1939), Screenplay
- *Submarine Patrol* (1938), Writer
- *Exclusive* (1937), Screenplay
- *Internes Can't Take Money* (1937), Screenplay
- *Walking on Air* (1936), Screenplay
- *The Witness Chair* (1936), Screenplay
- *We're Only Human* (1935), Screenplay
- *To Beat the Band* (1935), Screenplay
- *Redheads on Parade* (1935), Screenplay
- *The White Parade* (1934), Screenplay
- *Gift of Gab* (1934), Associate Producer
- *The Dragon Murder Case* (1934), Writer
- *The Big Shakedown* (1934), Screenplay
- *Mary Stevens, M.D.* (1933), Screenplay
- *She Had to Say Yes* (1933), Screenplay
- *Best of Enemies* (1933), Director, Screenplay
- *Private Detective 62* (1933), Screenplay
- *Central Airport* (1933), Screenplay
- *42nd Street* (1933), Screenplay — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/42nd-street.md)
- *Parachute Jumper* (1933), Story
- *Lawyer Man* (1932), Screenplay
- *Hat Check Girl* (1932), Story
- *Crooner* (1932), Story
- *Love is a Racket* (1932), Novel

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/rian-james