Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Abstract:
- During its peak years Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's (MGM) lineup included many of the most creative artists, technicians, and stars in the film industry. The collection consists of scripts and reader reports representing MGM motion picture projects.
- Extent:
- 23 Linear Feet (47 boxes)
- Language:
- Materials are in English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Scripts and Reader Reports (Collection PASC 82). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection consists of scripts and a small number of reader reports for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture productions. The bulk of the scripts represent the 1930s-1940s and includes features (produced and unproduced), serials, and shorts. Among the scripts are titles such as Balalaika, The Big House, Call of the Flesh, The Divorcee, In Old Kentucky, Kid Glove Killer, Maytime, Prophet Without Honor, and several works from the Andy Hardy family series, among others. Serials include stories from Crime Does Not Pay, John Nesbitt's Passing Parade, Our Gang, and Pete Smith Specialities. A small number of scripts represent silent films. The script files also document careers of MGM screenplay writers such as such as Achmed Abdullah, Robert Benchley, Herman Boxer, Marion Frances, Doan Hoag, Charles Lederer, Robert McGowan, John Nesbit, A.P. Younger, and others.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), the American film production company, was established in 1924 when Metro Picture Corporation (formed 1915), the Goldwyn Picture Corporation (formed 1917), and Louis B. Mayer Pictures (formed 1918) joined together under the corporate control of Loew's Inc. Louis B. Mayer was vice president and head of the studio and Irving Thalberg was vice president in charge of production. During the 1930s and 1940s, the studio was home to the finest creative talent, technicians, and stars in the motion picture industry and dominated Hollywood until the end of WWII. In 1952 the government forced Loew's, Inc. to divest itself from MGM. In the 1960s, MGM suffered huge declines and was taken over by Kirk Kerkorian (1970) with James T. Aubrey as president. It was acquired by a consortium of investors in 2005.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc., 1971.
- Processing information:
-
Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.
- Arrangement:
-
This collection has been arranged in the following series:
Series 1: Reader Reports
Series 2: Scripts
Series 3: Shorts and Serials
- Physical location:
- Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
- Terms of access:
-
Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Scripts may not be photocopied without permission of copyright holder.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Scripts and Reader Reports (Collection PASC 82). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
- Location of this collection:
-
A1713 Charles E. Young Research LibraryBox 951575Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
- Contact:
- (310) 825-4988