Peter Lawford Documents, With TLS Of Daryl Zanuck
1961-1965. A collection of letters, photos and print items related to the career of actor (and "Rat Pack" member) Peter Lawford. It includes ten letters written between 1961 and 1965, two type 1 photographs (professional headshots) of Lawford, and a print advertisement plus six printed reviews for the 1966 film A Man Called Adam (four mimeographed, two on original print). These items appear to have belonged to Lawford, and to have been kept in a personal file folder labelled “Adam”. One of the letters is a TLS from Darryl Zanuck to Lawford. Letters: Letter 1: Dated Jul 26, 1961, this brief typed letter is from William Asher of Desilu studios to literary agent (and later independent film producer) Malcolm Stuart. He thanks Stuart for sending him a script by author Les Pine (later screenwriter for Adam). Hollywood, 1961. In very good condition. On one sheet of 8.5” x 11” carbon paper. Two small tears on right edge, some minor wear to corners, and slight age-toning. Letter #2: A letter dated August 1, 1961 sent from Ike Jones (producer of Adam) to Asher of Desilu studios detailing a casting proposal for the upcoming film (which differs substantially from the final cast-list). Lawford is cc’d. Hollywood, 1961. In good condition. Two typed pages on two stapled sheets of yellow-carbon paper. Substantial creasing to top of page one, small closed tear at the top of page two, punctures from a two-hole punch along top edge, and emendation in pencil stating “sent to Asher / 6/3/63” at the top of page 1. Letter #3: A TLS from producer Darryl Zanuck to Peter Lawford. Dated “8 January 1962”, the letter is specified as “Personal & Confidential” and deals largely with a dispute between Zanuck and Cornelius Ryan, author of the book on which 1962’s The Longest Day was based. Printed on paper bearing the header of Zanuck’s studio, and Zanuck’s signature appears in blue ink at the signature line. In very good condition. Paris, 1962. Two pages on two stapled sheets of 8.5” x 11” copy paper. Has creases at the bottom right and top-left corners, mark from a rusty paperclip near the top left, and a stamp in purple ink from the Paris Office of Zanuck’s production studio. Folded twice for mailing. Letters #4 - 9: Six letters exchanged between Lawford, Arthur Krim of United Artists, and then-director of the Peace Corps Sargent Shriver. All pertain to Lawford’s ultimately futile attempt to produce a Peace Corps-centered comedy entitled Paper Tiger. Krim of UA suggests that Lawford send the script to Shriver for review after UA showed little interest in the script. Dated between March 16 and April 13, 1962. All typed on carbon paper, all in very good condition. Letter #10: A letter sent to Lawford from Trace-Mark Productions accompanying the final revised script for A Man Called Adam. New York, 1965. One page, typed on 8.5” x 11” copy paper. In very good- condition. Slight age-toning, mark from rusty paper clip on top edge, signed in blue ink by secretary of sender, with filing emendation “Adam” in black ink. Photos: The first photo is an 8” x 10” professional headshot of Peter Lawford. Date unknown, but appears to be from the early 1960s. In very good condition, with minor creasing at all four corners. The second photo is also an 8” x 10” professional headshot of Peter Lawford, but in a different pose (elbow on knee, cigarette in hand). Also from early ‘60s (precise date unknown). In very good- condition. Slight warping to top and bottom of photo, and age-toning throughout. Reviews: The print advertisement for Adam is excised from the Monday, November 22, 1965 issue of Hollywood Reporter. It consists of two 8.5” x 12” sheets, with one full-page ad for the film. In very good- condition. Age-toning throughout, with wear along the spine-edge, and minor chipping along the bottom edge; Review #1: Excised pages three and four of the June 29, 1966 edition of Daily Variety, with anonymously authored review of A Man Called Adam. In very good condition. On one sheet of 9” x 12” paper. Age-toned throughout, with one vertical fold between the third and fourth text column. Has wear along spine-edge, and small chip at bottom edge near the base of the vertical fold. Emendations in red ink, circling “Adam” in title of review and underlining “Peter Lawford” in the body of the text. The first mimeographed document is a copy of the Daily Variety review. Two stapled 8.5” x 11” sheets of copy paper in very good condition, folded twice (presumably for mailing); Review #2: Excised pages three and four from the June 29, 1966 edition of The Hollywood Reporter, with anonymously authored review of A Man Called Adam. In very good condition. On one sheet of 9” x 12” paper. Age-toned throughout, with one vertical fold between the first and second text column. Has minor wear along spine-edge, a small closed tear along the bottom of the vertical fold, and uneven folding in the down-turned portion of the sheet. Emendations in red ink, circling “Adam” in title of review and underlining “Peter Lawford” in the body of the text; Review #3: A mimeographed review of A Man Called Adam from the July 4, 1966 edition of Feature Reviews. In very good condition. Has two mimeographed handwritten emendations, “Box Office July 4” at top of page 1 and notations highlighting the reports on the film. Two stapled 8.5” x 11” sheets of copy paper in very good condition, folded twice (presumably for mailing); Review #4: Mimeographed review for Adam from an unknown publication. In very good condition. On one sheet of 8.5” x 11” copy paper. Slight age-toning, with one notation highlighting the review for the film. Folded three times for mailing; Review #5: A mimeographed copy of the review of Adam that appeared in the July 9, 1966 edition of The Independent Film Journal. In very good condition. On one sheet of 8.5” x 14” copy paper. Some folding at corners, staple-holes at the top left corner, and three folds for mailing. K21008 Shelved in Room A. CX Consignment.
1349108
Special Collections
Price: $250