Finding Aid for the Phil Karlson Papers, 1954-1969
Processed by Manuscripts Division staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
© 2003
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid for the Phil Karlson Papers, 1954-1969
Collection number: 345
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Los Angeles, CA
- Processed by:
- Manuscripts Division staff
- Encoded by:
- Caroline Cubé
- Online finding aid edited by:
- Josh Fiala, November 2003
© 2003 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Phil Karlson Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1954-1969
Collection number: 345
Creator:
Karlson, Phil, 1908-
Extent:
3 boxes (1.5 linear ft.)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Dept. of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Phil Karlson (1908- ) was born Philip N. Karlstein. He worked in many positions at Universal Studios, including propman, film
editor, associate producer, and finally as feature editor in 1944. He was known for directing realistic crime films. The collection
consists of screenplays and related materials of motion pictures directed byKarlson. Most screenplays are heavily annotated,
and some contain drawings, timing notes, schedules, memos, and cast lists.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including
copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds
the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold
the copyright.
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Phil Karlson.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Phil Karlson Papers (Collection 345). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography
Karlson was born Philip N. Karlstein on July 2, 1908 in Chicago, Illinois; studied law at Loyola Marymount University in Los
Angeles; worked in many positions at Universal Studios, including propman, film editor, associate producer, and finally as
feature editor in 1944; became known for directing realistic crime films, including
Scandal sheet (1952),
99 River street (1953),
Tight spot,
Five against the house, and
the Phenix city story (all 1955),
The brothers Rico (1957), and
Walking tall (1973).
Scope and Content
Collection consists of screenplays and related materials of motion pictures directed by Phil Karlson. Most screenplays are
heavily annotated, and some contain drawings, timing notes, schedules, memos, and cast lists. Also includes a television script
for the final draft pilot of
The untouchables.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
-
Tight spot,
Five against the house,
Gunman's walk,
Key witness (Box 1).
-
The young doctors,
Kid Galahad,
Rampage,
The silencers (Box 2).
-
The hornet's nest,
The untouchables (final draft pilot screenplay for television) (Box 3).
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Karlson, Phil, 1908- --Archives.
Motion picture producers and directors--California, Southern--Archives.
Screenplays.
Motion Picture Manuscripts
Box 1
Tight Spot. 1955. “Dead Pigeon.”
Physical Description: Final draft screenplay, revised, September 7, 1954, bound in full red leather with gold stamping.
Scope and Content Note
- A Columbia Pictures film production
- Produced by Lewis J. Rachmil
- Directed by Phil Karlson
- Written by William Bowers
- Starring Ginger Rogers, Edward G. Robinson, Lorne Greene
Box 1
Five Against The House. 1955.
Physical Description: Final draft screenplay, November 2, 1954, bound in full red leather and signed.
Scope and Content Note
- A Columbia Pictures film production
- Produced by Stirling Silliphant, John Barnwell
- Directed by Phil Karlson
- Written by Stirling Silliphant, William Bowers, John Barnwell
- Starring Guy Madison, Kim Novak, Brian Keith
Box 1
Gunman's Walk. 1958.
Physical Description: Final draft screenplay, November 4, 1957, heavily annotated throughout and signed. This also includes the location and shooting
schedules.
Scope and Content Note
- A Columbia Pictures film production
- Produced by Fred Kohlmar
- Directed by Phil Karlson
- Written by Frank Nugent
- Starring Van Heflin, Tab Hunter, Kathryn Grant
Box 1
Key Witness . 1961.
Physical Description: Final draft screenplay, August 18, 1959. Mr. Karlson's working copy, heavily annotated throughout with all inter-office.
memos, all schedules and cast lists. Signed.
Scope and Content Note
- An MGM film production
- Produced by Kathryn Buckman
- Directed by Phil Karlson
- Written by Sidney Michaels
- Starring Jeff Hunter, Pat Crowley, Dennis Hopper
Box 2
The Young Doctors. 1961.
Physical Description: Final shooting script, December 5, 1960, Mr. Karlson's working copy, heavily annotated throughout, includes location schedules,
signed.
Scope and Content Note
- A United Artists film production
- Produced by Stuart Millar, Lawrence Turman
- Directed by Phil Karlson
- Written by Joseph Hayes
- Starring Ben Gazzara, Frederic March, Ina Balin
Box 2
Kid Galahad. 1962.
Physical Description: Copy of the final shooting script, October 4, 1961. Mr. Karlson's working copy, heavily annotated throughout and signed.
Scope and Content Note
- A United Artists film production
- Produced by David Weisbart
- Directed by Phil Karlson
- Written by William Fay
- Starring Elvis Presley, Gig Young, Lola Albright
Box 2
Rampage. 1963.
Physical Description: Final draft screenplay, August 22, 1962. Mr. Karlson's working copy, heavily annotated throughout. This includes an English-Malay
vocabulary and all revised schedules. Signed.
Scope and Content Note
- A Seven Arts film production
- Produced by William Fadiman
- Directed by Phil Karlson
- Written by Robert L. Holt
- Starring Robert Mitchum, Elsa Martinelli, Sabu
Box 2
The Silencers. 1966.
Physical Description: Final draft's creenplay, revised, June 17, 1965, signed.
Scope and Content Note
- A Columbia Pictures film production
- Produced by Irving Allen
- Directed by Phil Karlson
- Written by Oscar Soul
- Starring Dean Martin, Stella Stevens, Daliah Lavi
Box 3
The Silencers. 1966.
Physical Description: Storyboard with the layout of every shot as directed by Mr. Karlson, 145 drawings and a summary of all timing notes.
Box 3
The Hornet's Nest.
Physical Description: Final draft screenplay, January 15, 1969, heavily annotated throughout and signed.
Box 3
The Untouchables. March 1959.
Physical Description: Final draft pilot screenplay, in two parts, heavily annotated throughout and signed.
Scope and Content Note
- TV
- Produced by Desilu Productions
- Directed by Phil Karlson
- Written by Paul Monash
- Starring Robert Stack, Neville Brand, Pat Crowley
