THE EDDIE DUCHIN STORY TREATMENT BY ..

[Hollywood], 20 September 1954.. [3],71 leaves, plus related documents as below. Quarto. Mechanically reproduced typescript, printed on rectos only. Bradbound in stencil printed wrapper. Some shallow coffee staining to the upper fore-edges of the leaves, otherwise very good. An early and extensive treatment for the multi-award nominated 1956 biopic, directed by George Sidney, based on a final screenplay adaptation of Katcher's story by Samuel L. Taylor and starring Tyrone Power, Kim Novak, Victoria Shaw, James Whitmore and others. This is a rather important copy of the treatment, sent by producer Jerry Wald to playwright and screenwriter Clifford Odets for his review. and comments. It is accompanied by a 2 June 1955 t.l.s. from Wald to Odets, on Columbia Pictures letterhead, forwarding the script: "I would be grateful if you would read this draft ... I am still making changes on it, but I have such a high regard for your opinion and suggestions, that I would welcome them -- good and bad. If you can find time to read it, I would be grateful. Best regards. Sincerely, Jerry." Odets did read the script, and the margins and verso of the letter are covered with Odets's extensive notes about the script in red ink. There are a few small notes in the typescript itself, a couple of words on the rear wrapper and the note to "File" on the front. The treatment is accompanied by an original typescript of "Notes on Eddy Duchin Conference between Mr. Wald and Clifford Odets, June 7, 1955," seven leaves, typed on rectos only, with a small marginal note and some coffee discoloration at the top and fore- edges. Accompanied by an additional carbon typescript of "Notes on 'Music by Duchin,'" 6 onion skin leaves, text on rectos only, unsigned (a bit ragged at corners and with narrow horizontal strip of coffee stains). Finally, a largely blank "Project Report" for "Music By Duchin" rounds out the lot. The association between Odets and Wald was significant, notably in Odets's role as cowriter of the script for HUMORESQUE (1946) and Wald's production of the screen adaptation of Odets's CLASH BY NIGHT. Before turning to his prolific years as television writer Odets wrote the screenplay for WILD IN THE COUNTRY for Wald but famously left the project. Substantial studio changes in the script for the Elvis Presley vehicle followed.