Herman Raucher, the celebrated screenwriter and novelist whose coming-of-age story Summer of ’42 captivated audiences worldwide and whose groundbreaking script for “Watermelon Man” addressed racial identity with bold humour, died of natural causes on December 28, 2023. He was 95.

Raucher’s career lasted decades, writing stories that were ageless in ideas and genuine in emotional depth. Summer of ’42, his blockbuster screenplay based on his novel of the same name, launched him to Hollywood stardom.

Summer of ’42, released in 1971, depicted the bittersweet reminiscence of adolescence against the backdrop of World War II. Raucher received four Academy Award nods for his work on the film, which starred Gary Grimes and Jennifer O’Neill.

Raucher’s flexibility was seen in his varied filmography. He wrote the script for Ode to Billy Joe, a Southern Gothic saga based on the hit song, in 1976. Sweet November (1968), The Other Side of Midnight (1977), and The Great Santini (1979) were also scripted by him.

Watermelon Man (1970), a satirical comedy about racial identity, was one of his most daring works. For its daring study of societal preconceptions, the film, starring Godfrey Cambridge as a white insurance salesman who wakes up Black, caused both controversy and critical acclaim.

Raucher gained success as an author after leaving the screen. His debut novel, The Summer of ’42, became a best-seller, cementing his reputation as a master storyteller across genres.