John Fante is a writer.
John Fante ( April 8 , 1909 -- May 8 , 1983 ) was an Italian-American novelist , short story writer and screenwriter . Fante published five novels , one novella , and a short story collection . Additional works , including two novels , two novellas , and two short story collections , were published posthumously . Walk on the Wild Side (film) . The film had a star-studded cast , including Laurence Harvey , Capucine , Jane Fonda , Anne Baxter , and Barbara Stanwyck , and was scripted by John Fante .