Biography
Purcell (who was described by a friend as a "masculine, funny, and hard-drinking woman") worked as a freelancer for much of her career, penning scripts for most of the major studios. During the McCarthy era she became an important informer due to her communist past, but before the process she attempted suicide. She then retired from her cinema career, but lived a decade more.
Wrote 38
1940s
- 1946
Winter Wonderland
Screenplay
- 1945
Paris Underground
Screenplay
- 1944
Reckless Age
Screenplay
- 1942
Ice Capades Revue
Screenplay
- 1941
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
Screenplay
Arkansas Judge
Adaptation
- 1940
The Invisible Woman
Screenplay
One Night in the Tropics
Screenplay
A Little Bit of Heaven
Screenplay
1930s
- 1939
Destry Rides Again
Screenplay
First Love
Story
The Lady and the Mob
Screenplay
- 1938
Service de Luxe
Writer
Mother Carey's Chickens
Screenplay
- 1937
Hitting a New High
Screenplay
Music for Madame
Screenplay
Super-Sleuth
Screenplay
- 1936
Make Way for a Lady
Writer
The Witness Chair
Screenplay
Love Before Breakfast
Writer
- 1935
If You Could Only Cook
Screenplay
The Girl Friend
Screenplay
Redheads on Parade
Story
- 1934
She Was a Lady
Screenplay
Palooka
Screenplay
- 1933
Another Language
Adaptation
Cocktail Hour
Screenplay
Child of Manhattan
Screenplay
- 1932
No More Orchids
Screenplay
Vanity Street
Screenplay
The Night Mayor
Screenplay
- 1931
The Girl Habit
Writer
- 1930
The Royal Family of Broadway
Writer
Follow the Leader
Screenplay
The Sap from Syracuse
Screenplay
Other crew 2
1940s
- 1942
A Close Call for Ellery Queen
Additional Dialogue
1930s
- 1934
The Human Side
Additional Writing