Script-writer

1935 · ref. WRCLIT62273 — Los Angeles: The Author 1935. Six volumes. Quarto. Chiefly carbon typescript but also original typescript the latter with extensive manuscript revisions and notations. Each unit bradbound or stapled into typescript wrappers. Some use wrappers a bit frayed at edges and chipped at spines last wrapper separated at spine but typescripts in generally very good order consistent with use. A fine contiguous sequence of scripts tracing the development of this film from its earliest stages through the final working draft of Cole's screenplay and the intercession of another writer. The 1935 film directed by D. Ross Lederman was released under the title TOO TOUGH TO KILL and starred Victor Jory Sally O'Neill Ward Bond et al. The film as conceived by Cole is a depiction of an investigation into labor strife at a tunnel and aqueduct construction site near Morongo California. The film as finally released was co-credited to Cole and Jay Griffin based on a story by Robert Speers. However with the exception of the last item the material in this archive is credited throughout solely to Lester Cole and includes the following: a Treatment 122 leaves carbon typescript; b First Draft Screenplay 22 July 191 leaves carbon typescript with scattered revisions and annotations in pencil; c Second Draft Screenplay 30 July 110 leaves carbon typescript with scattered pencil queries comments and alterations; d Third Draft Screenplay 2 August 1104 leaves carbon typescript; e Fourth Draft Screenplay 5 August 1104 leaves carbon typescript; and f Fourth Draft Screenplay altered in manuscript to read "Final Working Copy" 5 August ca. 104 leaves plus lettered inserts and other variations largely original typescript but some carbon very heavily revised throughout in pencil in at least two hands. The first four items are designated in manuscript with the name of Ben Pivar the production supervisor of record for the film. The last bears the ownership signature of J. Griffin Jay and would obviously appear to be the copy of Cole's draft Jay utilized for the start if not the bulk of the revisions and rewrites that earned him co-credit. Cole was one of the cofounders of the Screen Writers Guild and in 1934 joined the CPA. Like his other colleagues known as the "Hollywood Ten" Cole refused to cooperate with the HUAC in 1947 was sentenced to a year in prison and a fine and was placed on the Blacklist. He continued to work sporadically under pennames and his last major film BORN FREE was so credited. Jay had his own substantial list of screenwriting credits chiefly in the genres of adventure science fiction and horror films. A fine coherent and contiguous archive the sort seldom preserved intact over the passage of more than 75 years. The Author] unknown books