Collection context
Summary
- Dates:
- 1930-1990
- Creators:
- Bercovici, Leonardo
- Abstract:
- The collection consists of film scripts, radio scripts, playscripts, teleplays, correspondence, audiocassette tape recordings of UCLA writing seminars conducted by Bercovici, and photographs.
- Extent:
- 19 linear ft. of papers
- Language:
- Languages represented in the collection: English
- Preferred citation:
-
Leonardo Bercovici papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Background
- Biographical / historical:
-
Leonardo Bercovici was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1908. He started his writing career on Broadway, co-writing the play "Substitute for Murder" and the book adaptation for "The Holmses of Baker Street" with William Jourdan Rapp. His film career began in 1938 with the release of RACKET BUSTERS (1938), from an original screenplay by Bercovici and Robert Rossen. He also provided the stories for PRISON TRAIN (1938) and CHASING DANGER (1939). During World War II, he worked for the film division of the Office of War Information.
Bercovici is best-known for his work on two films released in the years following World War II: THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947), which he co-wrote with Robert E. Sherwood and adapted from Robert Nathan's novel; and PORTRAIT OF JENNIE (1948), which he adapted from Robert Nathan's novel for a screenplay by Paul Osborn and Peter Berneis. During this time he also wrote the screenplay for THE LOST MOMENT (1947), adapted from Henry James' novel "The Aspern Papers," as well as the screenplay for KISS THE BLOOD OFF MY HANDS (1948), adapted by Ben Maddow and Walter Bernstein from a novel by Gerald Butler.
In 1951, Bercovici was called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee after being named by Edward Dmytryk and Richard Collins. He denied that he was a Communist but would not say whether he had any previous connection to the party. He was subsequently blacklisted and moved to Europe to find work. He wrote, produced, and directed SQUARE OF VIOLENCE (1961) and STORY OF A WOMAN (1970). SQUARE OF VIOLENCE was co-written by Bercovici's son, Eric, who went on to become a screenwriter and producer in film and television.
In the 1980s, Bercovici began conducting writing seminars at UCLA. He continued to teach until just before his death in 1995.
- Acquisition information:
- Bequest of the Leonardo Bercovici estate, 1996; and gift of Laura Olsher, 1998
- Arrangement:
-
Not arranged in series.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Directors
Producers
Screenwriters - Names:
- Bercovici, Leonardo
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- Published January 2023
- Date Encoded:
- Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Ahn, Stella. Date of source: January 3, 2023.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Available by appointment only.
- Terms of access:
-
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.
- Preferred citation:
-
Leonardo Bercovici papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
- Location of this collection:
-
333 S. La Cienega BlvdBeverly Hills, CA 90211, US
- Contact:
- (310) 247-3036 extension 2226