Desc: James Thurber: The Life and Hard Times: Directed by Adam Van Doren. With Edward Albee, Roger Angell, Burton Bernstein, Roy Blount Jr.. James Thurber: The Life and Hard Times is the first major documentary on the life and work of one of America's greatest humorists. Known for his classic short story, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Thurber was a legendary contributor of prose and cartoons to The New Yorker magazine where he worked for many years. Narrated by George Plimpton, this documentary includes interviews with Edward Albee, John Updike, Alistair Cooke, Fran Lebowitz, Roy Blount Jr. and others.