Eleanor Perry

Eleanor Perry (née Rosenfeld; nom-de-plume Oliver Weld Bayer, October 13, 1914 – March 14, 1981) was an American screenwriter and author. Film critic Charles Champlin fondly remembered Perry as one of the feminists who took part in a protest demonstration where red paint was thrown on promotional posters for the film Roma at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival, which consisted of an exaggerated nude photo pun on the Roman foundation myth. The outspoken Eleanor Perry was an advocate for women's rights and screenwriters' recognition, often criticizing the film industry. Biography Born and raised to a Jewish family in Cleveland, Ohio, she attended Western Reserve University, where she wrote for the college's literary magazine. With her first husband, attorney Leo G. Bayer, she wrote a series of suspense novels, including Paper Chase (1942), made into the movie Dangerous Partners in 1945. After earning a master's degree in psychiatric social work, she began to write plays, enjoying Broadway success in 1958 with Third Best Sport, a collaboration with her husband. The two were divorced shortly after. Career Before working with Frank Perry, Eleanor had published numerous articles, plays and novels including Third Best Sport, produced on Broadway.