Ernest Tidyman (1928-1984) was a novelist, motion picture and television writer, and a motion picture and television producer during the second half of the twentieth century. Tidyman was author of a number of novels between the 1960s and 1980s, several of which later became the basis for his work in movies and television, including "Shaft" (1970) and "Dummy" (1974). He started his screenwriting career during the late 1960s, and wrote screenplays for a number of popular movies during the 1970s and 1980s, including "Shaft" (1971), "The French Connection" (1971), "High Plains Drifter" (1973), and "Last Plane Out" (1983). Tidyman moved into television during the early 1970s and wrote screenplays for several television movies, including "Dummy" (1979), "Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones" (1980), and "Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story" (1980). He also wrote scripts for the television series "Shaft" (1973-1974). In addition to his work as a writer, Tidyman was also a movie and television producer during the 1970s and 1980s, producing the feature film "Shaft's Big Score" (1972) and the television movies "Dummy", "Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones", and "Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story".
From the description of Ernest Tidyman papers, 1934-1986, (bulk 1968-1986) (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 166263473
