Papers of Dan Bessie (1932- ), a writer and filmmaker, consisting of correspondence, film scripts and outlines, book manuscripts and proofs, storyboards and artwork, films, and photographs, documenting films and books made or written by Mr. Bessie alone or in collaboration. Many of the projects involve his father, Alvah Bessie, either as collaborator or as subject. The largest single group of materials relates to the film “Hard Traveling.” Additions, 1971-2000, scripts, storyboards and production proposals for films and books by Dan Bessie, including script drafts, publicity materials, notes and photographs for the film “Hard Traveling.” Also includes scripts for unproduced works. Additions, 1969-2006, consisting of a few personal papers; drafts, proofs and correspondence relating to the books Rare Birds (2000) and Reeling through Hollywood (2006); script, production, distribution and exhibition files relating to films written, produced, and directed by Dan Bessie, especially Hard Traveling (1985), Turnabout (1992), and Nobody’s Boy (unproduced); similar materials relating to stage plays and television programs and series. Film, video, and sound consists of viewing prints and videocassettes of Dan Bessie’s films and elements relating principally to Turnabout. Additions, 1977-1995, consisting of three programs for events organized by Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, outline for a book on Ring Lardner and his children, proposal and draft script (with Anna Vracin) for the educational film Hokusai, and correspondence and outlines for a film adaptation of “The House with a Clock in its Walls.”
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All Collection Details:
- Author: Bessie, Dan.
- Title: Papers, 1966-2006.
- Size: 9.2 c.f., 136 photographs, 106 negatives, 257 transparencies, 8 tape recordings, 47 reels of film (16mm), and 92 videorecordings.
- Category: director, film, industrial, and mixed collection
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