Superb Archive of Material Relating to the William Faulkner Television Story - “The Graduation Dress” Including Two Original Typed Faulkner Letters Signed by Faulkner & One Contract Signed by Faulkner
$25,000 · Offered by Biblio
Signed
New York/Los Angeles/ Oxford, Mississippi: 8 pages, quarto, 1952. In 1952, William Faulkner was badly in need of money and wished to promote his protege/lover Joan Williams. He was approached by an old friend, television producer James J. Geller, to write an original story for television which he proceeded to do in collaboration with Joan Williams. The first piece in the group is a Typed Letter Signed from Geller to Faulkner thanking him for the story and expressing interest in learning more about Joan Williams when Faulkner is to shortly visit Los Angeles. Next, is the original contract signed by Faulkner selling the rights to the story. Faulkner arranged all this without consulting his agent, Harold Ober, to whom he then writes in a letter on July 30th: “…In confidence, I am not particularly interested in this sort of thing [writing television plays]. This one was done in collaboration with a young woman who someday may write something serious and good. My main idea in this was to contrive an opening for her where she could partly support herself while she does, tries to do, serious writing. I am perfectly willing to allow my name to be used on this TV thing for that reason. As you see, I do not commit myself to anything further. Geller is an old Hollywood friend, has been kind to me, is a reputable man and a reputable agent. The young woman I mentioned finally did a story I think is all right. I sent it to Harper’s magazine. If they decline it, will you look at it yourself
- Publisher: 8 pages, quarto
- Year: 1952
- Binding: unknown
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