Description:

Ernest Hemingway
various, ca. 1933-1955
Ernest Hemingway TV & Film Adaptation Archive, ca. 1930s-50s, Re: "The Sun Also Rises" & Other Classics!
Archive
A collection of two typescripts and six retained copies of letters related to film and television adaptations of various works by American writer Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), from the collection of A.E. Hotchner, Hemingway's close friend, literary editor, and biographer. Ca. 1933-1955. Various places. Please refer to catalog photos for additional information related to condition, which is overall very good. 8 pieces total.

Shortly after the success of Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises," film studios began vying to acquire the rights to adapt the novel to the silver screen. And while it would take more than thirty years for "The Sun Also Rises" to finally be filmed, Hollywood had begun its love affair with Hemingway film adaptations. From "To Have and To Have Not" to "The Killers," film constitutes a significant part of Hemingway's cultural legacy. This collection brings together retained copies of letters and typescripts related to several of these early film and television adaptations, including: two television scripts, once co-written by Hemingway's friend and biographer A. E. Hotchner, and one attributed to Hotchner; and six retained copies of letters and documents from an aborted 1933 adaptation of "The Sun Also Rises."

The lot includes:

1. A 1p retained carbon copy of a typed letter signed IN PRINT by Ernest Hemingway addressed to writer Benjamin Glazer regarding an adaptation of Hemingway's play, "The Fifth Column," along with two copies each of the 2pp document entitled "Conditions stipulated by lender in connection with advances of first lien funds," one copy marked. December 1, 1938. N.p. There is a small closed tear at the second paragraph of the text, moderate chipping along the right edge of the paper not affecting the body of text, and age-toning along the right and bottom edge. Else very good. 8.5" x 11."

In this correspondence, Hemingway stipulates his conditions for any potential changes as well as the terms for allocating royalties. First published as part of the anthology "The Fifth Column and the First Forty-Nine Stories" in October 1938, the author was immediately approached about staging the play. Hemingway was disappointed by the substantial changes Glazer made to his script, and eventually sought to have his name disassociated from the production.

2.-6. A set of five retained copies of letters related to a never-completed 1933 film adaptation of Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises." The series is dated between September 1933-December 1933, and written by the various players involved with the never-completed production. All letters are unsigned, and free of emendations. The letters concern questions of financing, distribution, and censorial requirements of the Association of Motion Picture Producers. Authors include independent producer Lester Cowan, director Edward H. Griffith, would-be star Ann Harding, screenwriter Horace Jackson, and head of the AMPA Jason Joy. After Hemingway's novel's publication in 1926, film studios immediately began vying to acquire rights to the novel, but it would take more than three decades for 20th Century Fox to release the classic film adaptation.

- 1p on one sheet of 8.5" x 11" carbon paper. September 13, 1933. Folded twice for mailing, with faint creasing on the bottom right corner, else very good condition. Included with this letter is a list of travel expenses for three trips taken by an unknown person associated with the production in November 1933, also on yellow carbon paper, folded twice for mailing.

- 2pp on two sheets of 8.5" x 11" carbon paper. October 28, 1933. Folded twice for mailing, with a crease at the bottom right corner of page one, a small chip on the right side of page one, the imprint of a paperclip near the top left of both pages, and slight age-toning to edges, else good.

- 2pp on two sheets of yellow 8.5" x 11" carbon paper. December 13, 1933. Both sheets are folded twice for mailing, page one has a large chip at the bottom right corner and a crease on the left vertical edge, and page two has minor chipping along the bottom right edge, else good.

- 1p on one sheet of yellow 8.5" x 11" carbon paper. December 20, 1933. There is a small chip at the bottom right corner, and minor age toning along the bottom edge, else good.

- 1p on one sheet of yellow 8.5" x 11" carbon paper. Undated but possibly late December 1933. Addressed to George C. Pratt.

7. An undated typescript, with no author stated, for an adaptation of Hemingway's short story "The Capital of the World." Ca. 1954-1955. N.p. This may be one of the scripts authored by A.E. Hotchner as a potential television production on "Playwrights ‘56," which would date the document to between 1954 and 1955. Hotchner would go on to adapt this story for a ballet, with music by George Antheil. Typescript on 8.5" x 11" carbon paper, paper-clipped with three-hole punch punctures. Cover page is creased at the bottom right corner. Slight age-toning throughout, and occasional smudging of text. Else very good condition. 38pp.

8. A typescript for an un-produced television adaptation of the short story "Indian Camp," written in 1955 or 1956 by A. E. Hotchner and screenwriter Sidney Carroll. Ca. 1955-1956. N.p. This adaptation was intended for Fred Coe's NBC show "Playwright's ‘56." In light blue three-prong folder, with fading and light creasing along edges. There is light age-toning to the top-edge of pages 12 - 23, and small pencil mark at the top of page 18. Else very good condition. 23pp. 9" x 11.5" x .125."

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