Beinecke Top Tens: Eugene O’Neill at the Movies

October 14, 2013

By Nancy Kuhl

Ten typescripts, posters, advertisements, archival collections, letters and photoplay editions related to Eugene O’Neill and the movies.
 
A six-sheet poster for the motion picture The Constant Woman
The Constant Woman is based on Recklessness, a one-act play by Eugene O’Neill published in 1914. The film was produced by KBS at California Tiffany Studios: World Wide Pictures: distributed in U.S.A. by Fox Film Corporation. [Los Angeles? : K.B.S. Productions, 1933]
Call Number: Art Storage 947
 
Promotional material for Long Day’s Journey into Night
Eugene O’Neills play Long Day’s Journey into Night was made into a film in 1962 by the same name. The promotional material includes a promotional booklet and pressbook, as well as lobby cards and posters.
 
Script and production notes for Mourning Becomes Electra
These materials date from November 5, 1946. The front cover of the manuscript reads: “Copy for Mrs. O’Neill.”
Call Number: Za On2 +F947Na
 
Press kit for Long Day’s Journey into Night
The press kit was for a 1996 Canadian telefilm version of Long Day’s Journey Into Night, based on the Eugene O’Neill play. Cineplex Odeon Films Canada, [1996]. It includes an informational handout containing a cast list, plot synopsis, short biographies of the actors, production notes, an article about current O’Neill stage productions, and a souvenir bookmark.
Call Number: Za On2 +996B
 
A promotional booklet for the film Strange Interlude 
[New York, N.Y.?] : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, c1932.
Call Number: Za On2 +H932S
 
Promotional and advertising material for John Ford’s production of Eugene O’Neill’s The Long Voyage Home …
[New York : United Artists], c1940.
Call Number: 1987 Folio 11
 
Script of The Iceman Cometh 
The script was adapted for the American Film Theatre by Thomas Quinn Curtiss c. 1972.
Call Number: Za On2 +F972C
 
Dudley Nichols correspondence regarding the screen adaptation of Eugene O’Neill’s Mourning Becomes Electra, 1946-1956.
The correspondence includes early discussions of the script and comments regarding the film’s critical reception. Also included is a carbon typescript “Script and Production Notes” consisting of character descriptions, act synopses and notes on sets and costumes; censorship reports; and a newspaper article regarding the film.
Call Number: YCAL MSS 439
 
Image: O’Neill in Marblehead Neck, Massachusetts. From the Eugene O’Neill Papers, YCAL MSS 123
 
Beinecke Top Tens gather (approximately) ten related items to give an at-a-glance look at some of the Library’s interesting, important, strange, compelling, beautiful holdings. To see more lists, click here: Beinecke Top Tens. To suggest a list subject, contact us: Top Ten Ideas.