Bolivar - Screenplay by Herbert Kline
1961 · New York
by KLINE, HERBERT, ROBERT ROSSEN, SIMON BOLIVAR
New York: Simon Bolivar Productions, 1961. Directly from the personal papers of film director Robert Rossen, this is an original massive 256 page screenplay bradbound in gilt-stamped Studio Duplicating Service leatherette wrappers for an unproduced 4 hour film version of the life of the great South American liberator, Simon Bolivar. Laid in is a long detailed two page Typed Letter Signed, from Herbert Kline to Robert Rossen, dated February 24, 1961 discussing his possible interest in directing and producing Bolivar. “...The Budget will $1,650,000 below line for about 1/2 what similar production would cost in Mexico, and 15th white it would cost for values greater than SPARTACUS and is great as BEN-HUR. Peruvian costs, with President Prados help and government, army support in writing, are less than 1/2 Mexican costs. The have 3 regiments of of crack cavalry that wear similar uniforms, colorful Napoleonic helmets and hip length flowing horse manes...same as Bolivar’s times.” “But if it can be worked out that you step in as Producer-Director...I believe you could solve the STAR PROBLEM right in your present company as PAUL NEWMAN would look more Latin, and be an ideal Bolivar...with this role’s contrasting appeal to the Hustlers, or Exodus....” A letter of great content and considerably more inside movie-making detail. Very good with some edge wear and shallow chips to the covers. The letter has creasing from folding, otherwise fine. Herbert Kline (1909-1999) was an acclaimed documentary film maker who made such important films as Heart of Spain (1937), Return to Life (1938 co-directed with Henri Cartier-Bresson) Crisis (1939 recording Hitler’s conquest of Czechoslovakia), Lights Out In Europe (1939 with James Hilton and Fredric March), The Forgotten Village (1941 with the story and screenplay written by John Steinbeck), The Challenge...A Tribute to Modern Art (1975 with Orson Welles as narrator and appearing in the film), Acting: Lee Strasberg and the Actors Studio (1981). Kline, who was involved with left wing politics starting in the 1930s became a victim of the Blacklist and did not make a film from 1953 until 1975. Robert Rossen, director of such film classics as All the King’s Men (1949), and The Hustler (1961), was another victim of the Blacklist, who was twice called before the House On Un-American Activities Committee, who self exiled himself in Europe and Mexico. (Inventory #: 15324J)