Albert Maltz papers, 1932-1985

Author / Creator

Maltz, Albert, 1908-1985

Available as

Physical

Summary

Papers of Albert Maltz (1908-1985), a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and blacklisted member of the Hollywood Ten. The collection emphasizes his screen writing and consists of variant drafts fo...

Papers of Albert Maltz (1908-1985), a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and blacklisted member of the Hollywood Ten. The collection emphasizes his screen writing and consists of variant drafts for early successes ("Destination Tokyo," "Pride of the Marines," and "This Gun for Hire"); later works for which he received no credit ("Broken Arrow" and "The Robe") or from which he was fired ("Exodus" and "The Execution of Private Slovik") because of the Blacklist; and numerous unproduced titles. Work for the Theatre Union during the Depression is documented by script drafts (primarily of unproduced plays) and microfilmed clippings. General writings include microfilmed clippings about his short stories and novels, and speeches and statements, many of which concern the Hollywood Ten and related political issues. Also about the Hollywood Ten are minutes and information pertaining to meetings, legal and public relations materials, and recordings of memorial services for Herbert Biberman and Adrian Scott.

Correspondence covers the period 1936 to 1985 and provides information on development of some films and writings, Maltz's imprisonment for contempt of HUAC and response to the Blacklist, and his continued relations with other members of the Ten such as Alvah Bessie, Lester Cole, Ring Lardner, Jr., and Dalton Trumbo. Other prominent correspondents include Michael Blankfort, Frank Capra, Raymond Clapper, Howard Fast, Albert Kahn, Robert Kenney, Emmett Lavery, Carey McWilliams, Alexander Meiklejohn, Frank Ross, Frank Sinatra, George Sklar, Philip Van Doren Stern, Shepard Traube, Robert Penn Warren, and Glenway Westcott.

Papers of Maltz's first wife, Margaret Larkin Maltz, consist of files collected as executive secretary of the Theatre Union, letters of Maltz while he was in prison, and speeches she made in his defense. Her theatrical files include many press releases about various Theatre Union productions (including many Maltz plays and Berthold Brecht's "Mother"), a financial statement, and other writings about the theater.

The processed portion is summarized above and is described in the register. Additional accessions are described below.

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