Finding aid for the Robert Towne papers 2651
Diann Benti
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
2022 November
Doheny Memorial Library G4
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0185
ctlibarc@usc.edu
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
Title: Robert Towne papers
Creator:
Towne, Robert
Identifier/Call Number: 2651
Physical Description:
86.07 Linear Feet
119 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1945-2008
Abstract: This collection contains the papers of American screenwriter, director, and producer Robert Towne (born 1934). Materials include
scripts, draft pages, production files, press and publicity files, photographs, personal papers, contracts, videotapes, and
audio cassette tapes. There are items for many film projects, including "Ask the Dust" (2006), "Chinatown" (1974), "Days of
Thunder" (1990), "The Firm" (1993), "Personal Best" (1982), "Tequila Sunrise" (1988), and "Without Limits" (1998).
Language of Material:
English
.
Biographical / Historical
Robert Towne (born 1935) is an American screenwriter and producer. He attended Pomona College and served in the United States
Army before becoming a television and film writer and script doctor. His first film as writer was The Last Woman on Earth
(1960). He received the Academy Award for original screenplay for Chinatown (1974). Among his writing credits are the films
Shampoo (1975), Personal Best (1982), Tequila Sunrise (1988), Without Limits (1998), Ask the Dust (2006) and Mission: Impossible
I-II (1996, 2000).
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the papers of American screenwriter, director, and producer Robert Towne (born 1934). Materials include
scripts, draft pages, production files, press and publicity files, photographs, personal papers, contracts, videotapes, and
audio cassette tapes. There are items for many film projects, including "Ask the Dust" (2006), "Chinatown" (1974), "Days of
Thunder" (1990), "The Firm" (1993), "Personal Best" (1982), "Tequila Sunrise" (1988), and "Without Limits" (1998).
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Robert and Luisa Towne, September 14, 2015.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder no. or item name], Robert Towne papers, Collection no. 2651, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California.
Processing Information
This collection is not fully processed.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Motion picture producers and directors -- Archival resources
Motion pictures -- Production and direction -- Archival resources
Screenwriters -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Scripts
Towne, Robert -- Archives
Box 2, Box 3, Box 4, Box 5, Box 6, Box 94
Scripts, research, and production files
Box 96
Photographs and illustrations
Box 93
Set props: Popeye figurines
Box 8, Box 9, Box 10
Battle of Britain (unproduced)
Box 11
Brotherhood of the Grape (unproduced)
Box 12
A Cast of Killers (unproduced)
Chinatown (1974)
Related Materials
Two metal canisters of Chinatown 35 mm studio print reels are held in the School of Cinematic Arts.
Box 13
Draft pages, notes, and bound copy of 3rd draft of script
Box 14, Box 15, Box 16, Box 17
Box 18
Production info, press, and miscellaneous
Box 19, Box 20
The Count (unproduced Kenny Moore project)
Box 23, Box 24, Folder 1-2
Dancing Bear (unproduced)
Box 24, Folder 3-8, Box 25
Box 26
Research, storyboards, notes, production info, etc.
Box 42
Photographs (bound volume)
8 Million Ways to Die (1986)
Box 39, Folder 1
"Easy Does It" script
1985
Box 29
Book, correspondence, story outline, notes, etc.
Box 29
Photographs (bound volume)
Box 30, Box 31, Box 32, Box 33
Greystroke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)
Box 37, Box 38, Box 117, Box 119
Little Blue Whale (unproduced)
Box 35, Box 36, Folder 1-3
Box 40, Box 42
Mission: Impossible (1996)
Box 40, Box 42
Mission: Impossible II (2000)
Box 41
Mission: Impossible III (unproduced)
Box 36, Folder 4-5
The New Centurions (1972)
Box 43, Box 44, Box 115, Folder 2
The Night Manager (unproduced)
Box 69
Storyboards and shoot lists
Box 70, Box 71, Box 72, Box 73, Box 74, Box 115, Folder 3-7
Production information, locations, legal papers, working papers, press kits, etc.
Box 76
Polaroid photographs and microcassettes
Box 45, Box 46, Box 47, Box 48
Box 49, Box 50
So Far From God (unproduced Joaquin Murrieta project)
Box 51, Box 52, Box 53, Box 54
Box 82
A Time For Killing ("The Long Ride Home") (1967)
Box 64, Folder 1-6
The Tomb of Ligeia (1964)
Box 56, Box 57, Box 58, Box 59, Box 60, Box 61
Scripts, research, notes, and production information
Box 62, Box 63, Box 115, Folder 1
Legal files, agreements, etc.
Without Limits (aka "Pre") (1998)
Box 104, Box 105, Box 106, Box 107, Box 108, Box 109, Box 118
Scripts, publicity, research, production information, storyboards, etc.
Box 77, Box 78, Box 79, Box 80
Witness to the Truth (unproduced)
Box 64, Folder 7-10
Book, meeting notes, agreement, research, and treatment
Miscellaneous film projects, scripts, treatments
Box 112, Folder 10
Unidentified script with character Malen Williams
Box 112, Folder 11
Unidentified project with character Rick
Box 81, Folder 1
Bailbondsman (unproduced)
Box 81, Folder 3
The Lieutenant (unproduced episode)
Box 81, Folder 4-6
The Lloyd Bridges Show (1962-1963)
Box 81, Folder 7
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964)
Box 81, Folder 9-10
The Richard Boone Show (unproduced episode)
Audiovisual
Related Materials
Additional audiovisual items for some specific projects are also housed within the "Film" series under the project title.
Box 86
Videotapes (various projects)
Box 97
Audio cassette tapes (various projects)
Box 102, Box 103
Published writings, interviews, speeches, etc.
Box 110, Box 116
Photographs
Scope and Contents
Box 115 contains a small set of exhibit boards with photographic reproductions.
Box 113, Folder 5-8
Journals, notes, and miscellaneous writing
Box 113, Folder 11-12
Miscellaneous business, financial and personal legal documents
Box 113, Folder 13
Military separation papers
Box 113, Folder 14-15
Miscellaneous personal papers
Business and legal papers
Creative Artists Agency (CAA) contracts
Box 87
CAA contracts, A-D (by film title)
Box 88
CAA contracts, F-W (by film title)