Cornell George Hopley Woolrich ( WUUL-ritch; December 4, 1903 – September 25, 1968) was an American novelist and short story writer, also known under the pseudonyms William Irish and George Hopley. His biographer, Francis Nevins Jr., rated Woolrich the fourth best crime writer of his day, behind Dashiell Hammett, Erle Stanley Gardner and Raymond Chandler. Some of Woolrich's works have been adapted to important films. Rear Window (1954) by Alfred Hitchcock is based on his short story "It Had to Be Murder" (1942), and The Bride Wore Black (1968) by François Truffaut is based on his novel of the same name (1940). (Via Wikipedia)