Howard Koch papers, 1937-1976

Author / Creator

Koch, Howard, 1902-1995

Available as

Physical

Summary

Papers of Howard Koch (1902-1995), a writer of motion pictures. Included are scripts, revisions, treatments, correspondence, stills, clippings, and explanatory notes for various Warner Brothers rel...

Papers of Howard Koch (1902-1995), a writer of motion pictures. Included are scripts, revisions, treatments, correspondence, stills, clippings, and explanatory notes for various Warner Brothers releases which Koch wrote including "Casablanca" (1942), for which he received an Academy Award; "In This Our Life" (1942); "The Letter" (1940); "Mission to Moscow" (1943); "Rhapsody in Blue" (1945); "The Sea Hawk" (1941); "Sergeant York" (1941); and other produced and unproduced motion pictures. Because "Mission to Moscow" led to Koch's testimony before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1947, the notes and correspondence pertaining to the writing of this screenplay are of special interest. Also relating to this subject are a transcript of his testimony to the committee and notes and correspondence relating to his subsequent blacklisting.

The collection also includes a file on "War of the Worlds" which Koch wrote for "Mercury Theatre of the Air" (CBS) in 1938 and which was largely responsible for launching his career. Included are several script revisions, a letter from Koch describing the documents, a book, and a made-for-TV movie concerning the famous broadcast. Among Koch's prominent correspondents are Ingrid Bergman, Joseph E. Davies, Margaret Sullivan, Jack Warner, and Edward Bennett Williams.

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

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