A drama critic for THE NEW YORKER with several published novels to his name, Brackett signed on as staff writer with Paramount Pictures in 1935. His screenplays were generally unexceptional until, in 1938, he teamed up with Billy Wilder. The effective combination of Brackett producing, Wilder directing and the two sharing the screenplay credit generated a string of acclaimed films including multiple Oscar-winners "The Lost Weekend" (1945) and "Sunset Boulevard" (1950).