Francis Swann (July 16, 1913 – August 27, 1983)[1] was a playwright, novelist, and a film and television writer. He wrote several Broadway plays, most notable of which was Out of the Frying Pan.[1] He wrote a number of screenplays for Warner Bros. and other studios, including the screenplay for 711 Ocean Drive (1950).[2] Swann also wrote several books including The Brass Key and Royal Street.[3] He was one of the early writers for the television soap opera Dark Shadows.[4]