Aldrich (Robert) papers, bulk 1949-1983

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Summary

Title:
Robert Aldrich papers
Dates:
bulk 1949-1983
Creators:
Aldrich, Robert, 1918-1983, Aldrich, William, 1944-2006, Blake, Walter, 1903-1998, Metcalf, Eugene, Nelson, Peter, 1929-, Pam, Jerry (Gerald), Prinzmetal, Isadore H., 1906-1970, and Sunderland, Ronald
Abstract:
Collection consists of materials belonging to American film director, producer, and screenwriter Robert Aldrich (1918-1983).
Extent:
95.52 Linear Feet 171 boxes
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], Robert Aldrich papers, Collection no. 2684, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of production records, legal and corporate files, correspondence, scripts, photographs, awards, realia, and other memorabilia belonging to American film director, producer, and screenwriter Robert Aldrich (1918-1983).

Biographical / historical:

Robert Burgess Aldrich (1918 - 1983) was born in 1918 into a prominent banking family with extensive business and political ties. In 1941, through an uncle with Hollywood connections, he landed a six-month trial job as a production clerk at RKO. Within a few years he had worked his way up the ladder to first assistant director on the studio's comedy short subjects. Aldrich left RKO for freelance work in 1944, and until the early 1950's, Aldrich worked on numerous United Artists productions, and was also under contract for a time to Enterprise Studios.

In 1955, Aldrich and several colleagues formed "The Associates & Aldrich Company, Inc.," to produce "The Big Knife" which earned him the Golden Lion Directorial Award at the 1955 Venice Film Festival. Aldrich then signed a two-year contract with Columbia Pictures, for which his first picture was "Autumn Leaves" (1956), starring Joan Crawford. When he and studio head Harry Cohn were unable to agree on another project, Aldrich independently produced and directed "Attack!" (1956). Aldrich then directed "The Garment Jungle" for Columbia, but a clash with Harry Cohn culminated in Aldrich's removal from the production after seven weeks of shooting. Cohn was a formidable foe and Aldrich subsequently found work in Hollywood hard to come by and until 1962 he became an "international" director.

Aldrich returned to Hollywood in 1962, reactivating The Associates & Aldrich to make "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" which re-established Aldrich's Hollywood credentials. "The Dirty Dozen" (1967) was the blockbuster that enabled Aldrich to take the boldest financial step of his career: at a cost of more than a million dollars, The Associates & Aldrich purchased and remodeled the studio of John Sutherland Productions in East Hollywood. Renamed The Aldrich Studios, it was officially dedicated in August 1968. An ambitious production slate was announced, and subsequent plans called for the purchase of adjacent land and the construction of additional sound stages. Unfortunately, a string of generally unprofitable films doomed the enterprise to eventual failure. Aldrich did not have another box-office hit until "The Longest Yard" (1974) which was released one year after the sale of the studio in 1973.

Aldrich remained active as a director and became increasingly involved in the business affairs of the Directors Guild of America. An active member since the 1940's, he was elected in 1975 to the first of two consecutive terms as the guild's president. He was instrumental in the formation of the Inter-Guild Council, which he hoped would provide a forum for airing differences between the Actors, Directors, Producers and Writers Guilds. Aldrich's second term as president (1977-1979) was notable for his strong leadership during difficult labor negotiations with film and television producers, which led to extensive increases in salaries and benefits for DGA members. Aldrich's legacy to the guild is embodied in the "Robert B. Aldrich Award," established following his death in 1983.

Acquisition information:
Placed on permanent loan by The Directors Guild of America, December 21, 2010.
Processing information:

When the collection was first processed it was initially inventoried and kept in its original housing and in original order as it was received. The collection was later re-housed into archival envelopes noting the original folder titles in order to maintain original order while adding physical stabilization.

For USC's processing, portions of the collection were further re-housed into folders as needed while the majority of the collection remains in the archival envelopes in which USC received the collection.

Photographic materials have been placed into archival housing within folders. Many of the older, worn archival document boxes were replaced with newer archival document boxes when needed. The decision to extract materials stored in frames with untempered glass was made for safety and preservation purposes.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into 5 series: 1. Personal files 2. Corporate activities 3. Film productions 4. unproduced properties 5. Realia

This arrangement is adapted from the original cataloging done by the Directors Guild and the American Film institute based on the original order of the collection as it was received from Robert Aldrich's estate in August 1984. Updates to this arrangement include the intellectual placement of photographic and audiovisual materials within respective film productions where applicable. Previously uncatalogued materials have been catlogued and added to corresponding film productions and unproduced properties where applicable. Materials have been physically consolidated and re-housed for preservation.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Stella Castillo for USC; Marissa Chavez and Sarah Jardini for History Associates Incorporated
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-07-22 15:35:38 -0700 .

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], Robert Aldrich papers, Collection no. 2684, 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