John Milius papers, bulk 1970s-2000s

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Summary

Creators:
Milius, John
Abstract:
This collection contains of the papers of American screenwriter, director, and producer John Milius (born 1944), including scripts, production and personal files, photographs, and audiovisual materials. The collection includes a number of handwritten original script pages, as well as printed scripts. Milius wrote films such as "Apocalypse Now" (1979), "Conan the Barbarian" (1982) and "Red Dawn" (1984).
Extent:
62.63 Linear Feet 87 boxes and 1 oversize tube
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], John Milius papers, Collection no. 2233, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains of the papers of American screenwriter, director, and producer John Milius (born 1944), including scripts, production and personal files, photographs, and audiovisual materials. There are a number of handwritten original script pages, as well as printed scripts.

All of Milius's films are represented in the collection to varying degrees, with substanial materials for "Big Wednesday" (1978); "Conan the Barbarian" (1982), including set sketches and blueprints; "Farewell to the King" (1989); "Flight of the Intruder" (1990); "1941" (1979); "Red Dawn" (1984); and "Rough Riders" (1997).

The alphabetical files in the "Office, production, and personal files" series are arranged alphabetically by project title or topic according to their original labels and order. These files include a large variety of materials reflecting the production of Milius's film projects, legal matters, correspondence, research, and personal interests. There is overlap within the collection, and a film project, for instance, may have related materials in multiple series.

Biographical / historical:

John Milius (born 1944) is an American screenwriter, director, and producer. Milius was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and moved with his family to Los Angeles, California, as a child. He enrolled in the Film Department of the University of Southern California in 1965 but did not graduate. In the late 1960s, after failing to enlist in the United States Marines Corp because of chronic asthma, Milius became a screenwriter. His early work included the screenplays for "The Devil's Eight" and "Apocalypse Now." In 1975, Milius formed the "A-Team" production company and wrote and directed "Big Wednesday" (1978). Milius's filmography includes over thirty films including "The Wind and the Lion" (1975), "Conan the Barbarian" (1982), "Red Dawn" (1984), "Farewell to the King" (1989), "Flight of the Intruder" (1990), "The Hunt for Red October" (1990), "Clear and Present Danger" (1994), and "Rough Riders" (1997). Milius received an Academy Award nomination for best adapted screenplay for "Apocalypse Now."

Acquisition information:
The bulk of the collection was the gift of Amanda Milius (daughter), March 17, 2017. 4 boxes were the gift of John Milius in August 1982.
Processing information:

Some parts of this collection, including the audiovisual materials, may not be fully processed.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Advance notice required for access.

Terms of access:

Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Cinematic Arts Library at ctlibarc@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Cinematic Arts Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], John Milius papers, Collection no. 2233, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Location of this collection:
Cinematic Arts Library
Doheny Memorial Library, Room G4
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0185, US
Contact:
(213) 740-8383
ctlibarc@usc.edu
Website