Elliott Kastner (1930-2010) was a larger-than-life American film producer, whose best-known credits include Where Eagles Dare and The Long Goodbye. William Goldman first came to prominence in the 1950s as a novelist before turning to screenwriting. Among other accolades, he won two Academy Awards in both writing categories—once for Best Original Screenplay for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and once for Best Adapted Screenplay for All the President's Men (1976). This collection is the product of efforts to make a film based on the Ross D Macdonald novel The Chill following on from Goldman’s commercial success with the film Harper in 1966 starring Paul Newman. (adapted also from a Ross D Macdonald novel, Moving Target).
8 X draft screenplay scripts including:
7 X unannotated typewritten scripts titled The Chill in a combination of plastic ring binders, metal straps and paper clips all produced and marked for Cinema Seven Productions Ltd, England, New York, California. Undated, c. 110 pp. per script. In very good condition.
1 X unannotated typewritten script titled The Chill, labelled ‘A Jerry Gershwin – Elliott Kastner Production’. Includes a revised cast of characters and rewrite. Undated. 152 pp. single sided. In very good condition.
Correspondence including:
3 original hand signed letters dated 1968 from David Niven Jr. of the William Morris Agency (U.K.) Ltd including the advice that Walter Matthau has decided to pass on The Chill.
1 X original hand signed letter dated 1968 from Milton A Rudin, Law Firm, Hollywood advising that Frank Sinatra has no interest in the project.
1 X original hand signed letter from Robert Lantz dated 1969 advising that George Segal has read and loved the script.
Contractual letters dated and signed 1969 outlining the acquisition of The Chill by Warner Bros 7 Arts.
Additional memorabilia include letters to and from Elliott Kastner and Jerry Gershwin of Winkast Productions and MGM Studios. Correspondence dated 1970 from Henry T Weinstein and Leo Bookman outlining legal problems pertaining to the temporary shelving of the project. Correspondence from Fontana Paperbacks, cables between the USA and UK and suggested casting lists. Later correspondence dated 2007/2008 from Cinema7ny attempting to reignite interest in the production naming Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, George Clooney and Tom Cruise, ‘Actors with Sizzle.’ A 1977 unmarked copy in very good condition of William Goldman: Five Screenplays and a 1975 unmarked copy in very good condition of William Goldman: Four Screenplays with Essays. A 1996 unmarked paperback copy of The Chill, Ross Macdonald.
