“The writer affirms a legacy where boundaries can be crossed to foster multiculturalism, an antidote to personal alienation and cynicism that has perverted world cultures with autocratic nationalism and genocide. The writer reminds us as artists to strive to achieve a moral bond between races and tongues to see ourselves as global citizens, whose art will inspire a common share in the moral compass of an enlightened world.”

— James Ragan

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

As a screenwriter for Albert S. Ruddy Productions at Paramount Pictures, his original screenplays, optioned or produced, include “The Voyager,” adapted from Max Frisch’s novel Homo Faber, “The Man,” written for actress Terry Moore and based on the life of Howard Hughes, and The Rose of Versailles adapted as “Lady Oscar” (France, 1979). His most recent films are “Balkan Island: Last Story of the Century” (1998) based on the siege of Sarajevo, and films in development: “The Shoe” (2023), and “The Rising” (co-writer, 2023), based on the 1916 Irish Easter Rebellion.

 

Working as a staff writer in the front office at Albert S. Ruddy Productions, Paramount Studios — 1974

 
 

Crew gift photo of Marlon Brando from The Godfather Producer, Al Ruddy.

Letter from Al Ruddy (Producer, The Godfather) for Ragan's 25th Anniversary Tribute at USC - 4/10/2006

Under contract in 1975 with Producer Al Ruddy to write the script adaptation of Max Frisch’s novel, Homo Faber, for Paramount in Walton-on-Naze, UK. Assoc. Producer, Thilo Theilen, took Ragan sailing as a reprieve from all-day writing. The film was adapted to screen in 1991 with the title, Voyager, starring Sam Shephard and Julie Delpy and directed by Volker Schlöndorff (Tin Drum).

On set of the Deer Hunter with Robert DeNiro, as Consultant to Art Director Kim Swados. A Michael Cimino film starring DeNiro and Meryl Streep. Universal — 1978 Oscar Best Picture.

 
 
 
 

“An inspired poet, playwright, screenwriter, director, professor, administrator, family man, and friend, you are in a class of your own. My wish for you is that whatever powers you use to create, that you continue to serve and delight us for another 50 years”

— Irvin Kershner, Director Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back

Casting Assistant to Rick Barr on The Border, a Tony Richardson Film for Universal Pictures. On a break with Harvey Keitel on set — 1981

 

Original screen adaptation by James Ragan (credited) of the the Max Frisch novel “Homo Faber” for Producer Albert S. Ruddy at Paramount Studios (1975). Retitled and filmed as Voyager (1991) by director Volker Schlondorff, starring Sam Shepard, Julie Delpy. Bioskof Films, Munich Germany.

“An inspirational teacher and an inspired poet. What a combination. My warmest congratulation and gratitude for your friendship.”

— Mark Rydell, Academy Award Director, On Golden Pond

 

As a co-writer with Czech director, Lordan Zafranovic, Balkan Island: Last Story of the Century, Prague — 1997

Actor Miroslav Krobot, Director Zuzana Liova, and Script Editor/Story Consultant James Ragan on Dom (The House, 2011). 2007 ScripTeast Kieslowski Award for Screenplay Cannes Film Festival; 2012 Palm Spring’s Festival New Visions Grand Prix Award; Variety’s Critic’s Choice Award; Trencin ArtFilm Festival Best Actor, Actress, Director; Trieste Award; Budapest Titanic Film Festival Jury Award; Romania’s Aoninimul Trophy; 6 Slovak Film Academy’s “Sun in the Net” Awards (Bratislava); 1 Czech Lion Award, Prague (etc.)

Script-editor/Story Consultant for Clownwise produced by Fog’n Desire Films Prague, Czech Republic (2013). 8 Czech Lion nominations, 4 Critic’s Choice Awards, 1 Slovak Film Academy “Sun in the Net Award” (2014).

Script Consultant on the film, Havel, Prague, Czech Republic (2020). Recipient of 14 Czech Golden Lion Award nominations, winning 2. Best Film, 2020 Rome Ind. Film Festival. Best Film Nominee, Zagreb Int. Film Fest.

Exile, directed by James Ragan as a one-hour Docu-Drama for KCOS-TV. Castro-Ragan Productions. AMPAS Grant, El Paso (1981).

On a break from directing, Ragan cameos as a “good-cop/bad-cop” US border guard at the Bridge of the Americas in the movie, Exile in El Paso, TX — 1981

James learns to ride a horse with condolences from wife Debora in El Paso, TX during filming of The Border and the Docu-Drama, Exile — 1981

AWARDS

  • Post-production Investor. "Dyan Cannon's Number One" Academy Award Nomination - Best Short Film Live-action - 1976

  • Honored for "Contributions to Film," Bucharest Wallachia Film Festival, Romania - 9/10-12/2021

  • Recognition of "Achievement in the World of Letters." Bucharest Symposium - 7/12/2020

  • "Flowers and Roots," Documentary, Official Selection, Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival - 2018

FILM PRODUCTIONS

  • The Rising: Co-writer w/ writer-director Kevin McCann. (pre-production) Dublin, Ireland (2022).

  • Havel: Script Consultant on the Biopic, Writer-Director Slavek Horak. Prague, Czech Republic (2020).

  • Clownwise: Script Editor/ Consultant/ Lyricist. Fog’n Desire Films, Prague, Czech Republic (2013). 8 Czech Lion Nominations, 4 Critics Choice Awards, 1 Slovak Film Academy “Sun in the Net” Award (Bratislava), (2014).

  • Dom (The House): Script Editor/ Story Consultant. Producer: Fog’n Desire Films, Prague, Czech Republic (2011). 2012 New Visions Grand PrixAward, Palm Springs Film Fest; Variety’s Critics Choice Award; 2007 Kieslowski ScripTeast Award for Screenplay, Cannes Film Festival; Best Actor, Actress, Director Awards, Trencin Teplice Artfilm Festival. The Trieste Award; Budapest Titanic Film Festival Jury Award; Aoninimul Trophy (Romania); 6 Slovak Film Academy’s “Sun in the Net” Awards (Bratislava), 1 Czech Lion Award (Prague) etc.

  • Heaven, Hell, Earth (Nebo,Peklo,Zem). Script Consultant. Trigon Productions. Slovakia (2009).

  • In the Field (V Poli) Script Consultant. Trigon Productions. Slovakia (2008).

  • Bathory. Film Consultant. A Juraj Jakubisko film. Prague, Czech Republic, Lunar Films, UK. (2006)

  • Exile. Producer, Sonny Castro, Director, James Ragan. Originated as Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Grant (Recipient: Bill Rugg) and University of Texas Grant. Castro-Ragan Productions (1981)

  • The Border. Casting Assistant to Rick Barr. A Tony Richardson Film. Starring Jack Nicholson and HarveyKeitel. Neil Hartly-Edgar Bronfman Productions. Universal (1981).

  • The Deer Hunter. Technical Advisor-Limited to Art Director Kim Swados. Michael Cimino Film. Starring Robert DeNiro and Meryl Streep. Producer: Barry Spikings. Academy Award, Best Picture, EMI/Universal (1978).

  • Number One. Investor and Post-Production Coordinator: A Dyan Cannon Film. Number One Productions. Academy Award Nomination: “Best Short Film, Live Action” (1976). Miami Film Festival 1 st Prize (1978).

  • How the West Was Won.“The Macahans.” Consultant. Prod: Al Ruddy. MGM TV ABC. Culver City (1977).

  • Overkill Conspiracy. Prod. Al Ruddy, Paramount - postponed (1975).

  • Faber. Screen adaptation (credited) from the Max Frisch novel “Homo Faber.” Producer Albert S. Ruddy. Paramount. Retitled and filmed as Voyager (uncredited, 1991) by director Volker Schlondorff, starring Sam Shepard, Julie Delpy. Bioskof Films, Munich Germany (1975).