William Wyler papers
Special Collections
Margaret Herrick Library
© 2013
Title: William Wyler papers
Date (inclusive): 1900-1987
Date (bulk): 1924-1970
Collection number: 204
Creator:
Wyler, William
Extent:
28.5 linear feet of papers.
Repository:
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Languages:
English
Important Information for Users of the Collection
Available by appointment only.
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Margaret Herrick Library. Researchers are
responsible for obtaining all necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies
or individuals before quoting from or publishing materials obtained from the library.
William Wyler papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
William Wyler was a German-born director, producer, and screenwriter active in film from 1923 to 1970.
He emigrated to the United States in the early 1920s. Wyler worked for Universal Pictures, first in New
York, then in Hollywood from around 1922 to 1936. He married actress Margaret Tallichet in 1938, having
previously been married to actress Margaret Sullavan. Wyler received Academy Awards for directing MRS.
MINIVER (1942), THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946), and BEN-HUR (1959). His other nominations for
directing include WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939) and THE HEIRESS (1949). For ROMAN HOLIDAY (1953) and FRIENDLY
PERSUASION (1956) he was nominated in both the directing and best picture categories. Wyler received the
1965 Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The William Wyler papers span the years 1900-1987 (bulk 1924-1970) and encompass 28.5 linear feet. The
collection contains scripts, production information, correspondence, and clippings. The bulk of the
material is for Wyler's films from 1927 through WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939). Of his later films, the most
coverage is on ROMAN HOLIDAY (1953), FUNNY GIRL (1968), AND THE LIBERATION OF L.B. JONES (1970). The
unproduced production files contain scripts and memos on projects Wyler was involved in primarily during
his time at Universal. The subject files contain clippings, miscellaneous correspondence, contract files,
and information about Wyler's political activities. The bulk of the correspondence ends around 1940 and
resumes in the 1960s. There is also a small amount of personal information, including files on his
brothers, as well as Southern Methodist University oral histories with Wyler and Margaret "Talli" Wyler.
The World War II files contain information about Wyler's service in the U.S. Army, including orders,
correspondence, photographs, and newspapers and magazines. Thirteen scrapbooks include clippings and
reviews on Wyler's earliest films through ROMAN HOLIDAY, as well as for THE BIG COUNTRY and THE
CHILDREN'S HOUR (1961). There are personal publicity clippings on Wyler as well as a mid-1930s scrapbook
on Margaret Tallichet's acting career.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following series: 1. Production files, subseries A-B as follows: A. Produced; B.
Unproduced; 2. Story files; 3. Subject files, subseries A-B as follows: A. General; B. World War II
files; 4. Scrapbooks
Wyler, William , 1902-1981--Archives
Directors
Producers
Screenwriters