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Sturges (Preston) papers
LSC.1114  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
Preston Sturges (1898-1959) was a inventor, playwright and motion picture writer and director. He wrote the hit Broadway play, Strictly dishonorable (1929), and received a Academy Award for his screenplay, The great McGinty (1940). He lived in Europe for a period of time during the 1950s, and wrote and directed his last film in France in 1955. The collection consists of film scripts, production material, and correspondence related to Sturges' career.
Background
Born August 29, 1898 in Chicago as Edmond Preston Biden; inventor of kissproof lipstick for mother's cosmetic company; wrote hit Broadway play, Strictly dishonorable, 1929; moved to Hollywood, 1933; worked as screenwriter, and beginning in 1940 as a writer-director of satiric comedies; Academy Award for screenplay The great McGinty, 1940; left Paramount Pictures in 1944, and had a short business association with Howard Hughes, founding California Pictures in mid-1940s; lived in Europe for a period of time during the 1950s, writing and directing his last film in France in 1955; died in New York of heart attack on August 6, 1959.
Extent
57.5 Linear Feet (101 boxes and 7 cartons)
Restrictions
Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other 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.
Availability
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.