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Robin Estridge
Robin Estridge
Robin Estridge
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Robin Estridge, a.k.a. Robin York and Philip Loraine (1 May 1920 – 24 October 2002) was a British author of suspense fiction and a screenwriter.

Biography

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He was born Robin Phillip Lorraine Estridge on 1 May 1920, in London, England.

His real name was Robin Estridge, but he mostly published novels under the name of Robin York and Philip Loraine. Today, he has been somewhat forgotten by many readers as well as collectors of crime fiction. Sea Change (1982) is one of his best-known novels.

An introductory note to And to My Beloved Husband written under the pseudonym Philip Loraine (Ace Books, N.Y., year of publication missing, originally published by M.S. Mill Co, 1950) provides the following information about the author:

"Philip Loraine has published a number of top-notch suspense novels in the United States, and under his real name has written other books, as well as film and television scripts."

Loraine has also been a sailor in the Royal Navy, a theatrical designer, a dishwasher in Paris, a journalist, and a tubercular patient. Besides five years in the United States, he also resided in Corsica, Italy, Yugoslavia, Spain and, as seldom as possible, his native England. He liked writing, peace and quiet, sunshine, and new places. He disliked bad food, bad manners, people who think of themselves as intellectual, bigotry, politics, and politicians.

Estridge died on 24 October 2002 in Astoria, Oregon.

Selected novels

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  • White Lie the Dead (Hodder, 1950)
  • Exit with Intent (Stoughton, 1950)
  • And to my Beloved Husband (M&S, 1950)
  • The Break in The Circle (H&S, 1951) (filmed as Break in the Circle in 1955)
  • The Dublin Nightmare (H&S, 1951) (filmed as Dublin Nightmare in 1958)
  • The Angel of Death (H&S, 1961)
  • Day of the Arrow (Collins, 1964) (filed as Eye of the Devil in 1966)
  • W.I.L One to Curtis (Collins, 1967)
  • The Dead Men of Sestos (Collins, 1968)
  • A Mafia Kiss (Collins 1969)
  • Photographs Have Been Sent to Your Wife (Collins, 1971)
  • Voices in an Empty Room (Collins, 1973)
  • Ask the Rattlesnake (Collins, 1975)
  • Lions Ransom (Collins, 1980)
  • Sea Change (Collins, 1982)
  • Death Wishes (Collins, 1983)
  • Gold and the Dance of Death (unpublished, 1990s)
  • Dead Men are Dangerous (unpublished, 1990s)

Screenwriting credits

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Sources

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  • Allen J. Hubin: CRIME FICTION IV. A Comprehensive Bibliography, 1749-2000, 2010 Revised Edition (Locus Press)
  • Keating, H. R. F. (1985). "Loraine, Philip". In Reilly, John M. (ed.). Twentieth Century Crime and Mystery Writers (Second ed.). St. James Press.
  • Marvin Lachman: Death of a Mystery Writer, in: CADS 59, December 2010
[edit]
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Robin Estridge

View on Grokipedia
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Robin Estridge is a British screenwriter and novelist known for his work on adventure and thriller films in the 1950s and 1960s as well as his suspense fiction published under the pseudonyms Philip Loraine and Robin York. Born Robin Philip Loraine Estridge in London, England, on 1 May 1920, he transitioned to writing. He achieved early recognition with his BAFTA-winning screenplay for The Young Lovers (1954), co-written with George Tabori, which earned the award for Best British Screenplay. He received a subsequent nomination in the same category for North West Frontier (1959). Estridge contributed screenplays to several notable British productions, including Checkpoint (1956), Campbell's Kingdom (1957), Dangerous Exile (1957), Escape from Zahrain (1962), and Eye of the Devil (1966), the last of which he adapted from his own novel Day of the Arrow published as Philip Loraine. He also wrote for television, including an episode of The Professionals (1979). Under his pseudonyms, Estridge authored numerous crime and suspense novels that often informed his screen work, blending his literary and cinematic careers. He died in Astoria, Oregon, on 24 October 2002.

Early life

Early life and background

Robin Estridge was born Robin Philip Loraine Estridge on 1 May 1920 in London, England. Little additional information is available regarding his family background, childhood, or education prior to his professional career.

Career

Literary beginnings

Robin Estridge began his literary career in 1950, publishing suspense novels under the pseudonyms Robin York and Philip Loraine, with the latter becoming his primary pen name for crime and suspense fiction. His early works appeared amid a varied pre-writing life that included time as a sailor, journalist, theatrical designer, and resident in several countries, though little is documented about his path to publication. His debut year saw three novels: White Lie the Dead (Hodder), Exit with Intent (Stoughton), and And to my Beloved Husband (M.S. Mill Co., later reprinted by Ace Books). The following year, 1951, brought The Break in the Circle (Hodder & Stoughton) and The Dublin Nightmare (Hodder & Stoughton). These initial publications established him in the suspense genre, with a reprint of And to my Beloved Husband describing his output as "a number of top-notch suspense novels." Estridge's early prose fiction focused on crime and suspense themes, though detailed reception, sales figures, or contemporary reviews for these specific titles remain scarce in surviving records. He continued publishing in this vein through the decade and beyond under the Philip Loraine name, building a body of work that has since been noted as somewhat forgotten among crime fiction readers and collectors. This literary phase preceded his transition to screenwriting in the mid-1950s.

Entry into screenwriting and 1950s films

Robin Estridge entered screenwriting in the 1950s, making his debut with the screenplay for Chance Meeting (1954, also released as The Young Lovers), which earned him a BAFTA for Best British Screenplay (co-written with George Tabori). In 1956, he wrote the original screenplay for Checkpoint. He followed with screenplays for Campbell's Kingdom (1957) and Dangerous Exile (1957). These early film works established Estridge in British cinema during the decade, often involving adventure and thriller elements. He also received a BAFTA nomination for North West Frontier (1959).

1960s film work

Robin Estridge's screenwriting career continued into the 1960s with credits on several films, often in thriller and adventure genres. Notable works include Beware of Children (1960), Escape from Zahrain (1962), Drums of Africa (1963, story), The Boy Cried Murder (1966), The Soldier (1966), and Eye of the Devil (1966), the latter adapted from his own novel Day of the Arrow (published as Philip Loraine). These projects demonstrated his productivity and ability to adapt literary sources or create original scripts. By the late 1960s, his film work decreased as he contributed to television and continued occasional film projects into later decades.

Television scripts

Robin Estridge contributed to television in the 1960s and later, writing one episode for The Rogues (1964) and one episode for The Professionals (1979, credited as Philip Loraine). These assignments represented a shift in his career as film projects became less frequent.

Personal life

Personal life

Robin Estridge maintained homes in California and France. Little additional information is publicly available regarding his family, marriages, or other personal relationships.

Death

Later years and death

In his later years, Robin Estridge resided in Astoria, Oregon, United States. He died on 24 October 2002 in Astoria, Oregon, at the age of 82. No cause of death was publicly reported.
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