Description:

Steinbeck, John (1902-1968) Just months after receiving the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature, John Steinbeck grants Broadway producer David Merrick the rights to turn his Oscar-nominated screenplay of "Viva Zapata!" into a musical

Partly Printed Document Signed "John Steinbeck" as owner twice and signed "David Merrick" as Producer, initialed by him "DM" 25 times, 10p, 8.5" x 11". New York, June 11, 1963; originally dated "January" which was crossed out, replaced with "June" and initialed by Merrick. Signed by Steinbeck and Merrick on page 8. Steinbeck has signed again on page 10 (two nicks at upper edge), dating it "Jan. 11, 1963". Carbon paper, signed and initialed in ink, stapled together in upper left corner. Fine condition.

In part, Steinbeck "is the sole author of the motion picture shooting script concerning the story of the life and activities of EMILIANO ZAPATA (hereinafter called the 'Work'); that the said Work is original with and has not been copied or adapted from any other work; that the said Work was used as the basis for the motion picture entitled 'ZAPATA', produced by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation the Owner hereby grants to the Producer the sole and exclusive right to cause a dramatic-musical adaptation (hereinafter referred to as the 'Play') to be written based upon and utilizing the said work"

On page 10, Steinbeck agrees that "if negotiations and/or agreement with the Authors of the musical play shall require same, the size and prominence of my credits may be reduced to seventy-five (75%) percent of that accorded the Authors of the musical play."

With two letters and typed notes (not from Steinbeck), each related to the "Zapata" contract, including one to Steinbeck's literary agent, Annie Laurie William, signed by Merrick's lawyer Benjamin Aslan.

Merrick's musical based on Steinbeck's "Viva Zapata!" never materialized.

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