mss0596.xml Finding aid for Herbert Kline collection related to the film Barabbas (The Thief and the Cross)1954–1960(bulk dates 1957–1959) University of Delaware Library, Special Collections University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267 Phone: 302-831-2229 Fax: 302-831-6003 URL: http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/
Date encoded (2009 May 21) Finding aid encoded 2009 May 21 English Herbert Kline collection related to the film Barabbas (The Thief and the Cross)1954–1960(bulk dates 1957–1959) Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267 Phone: 302-831-2229 Fax: 302-831-6003 URL: http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/
 Kline, Herbert. Herbert Kline collection related to the film Barabbas (The Thief and the Cross)1954–1960 1957–1959 MSS 596 .6 linear feet (2 boxes) The Herbert Kline collection related to the film Barabbas (The Thief and the Cross) spans the dates 1954–1960 and comprises the shooting script, letters, telegrams, and documents related to the proposed production of the film, which was ultimately not made. Materials entirely in English. University of Delaware Library - Special Collections Source

Purchase, 2009.

 Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

 Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, http://www.lib.udel.edu/cgi-bin/askspec.cgi

 Citation

MSS 596, Herbert Kline collection related to the film Barabbas (The Thief and the Cross), Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.

 Shelving Summary Boxes 1-2: Shelved in SPEC MSS manuscript boxes Processing

Processed and encoded by Christiana Dobrzynski, May 2009.

 Biographical Note

Herbert Kline was a pioneer in documentary filmmaking and received a Golden Globe nomination and award, as well as two Academy Award nominations for his achievements. Kline also contributed to or wrote scripts for some of his documentary films. Kline's important early work included The Heart of Spain (1937), Lights Out in Europe (1938), Crisis (1939), and My Father's House (1947).

During his career, Kline had attempted to break away from making documentaries to become a Hollywood director and writer, but he did not have much success. Toward the end of Kline's life, his health declined and he battled a long illness before his death on February 5, 1999, in Los Angeles.

Contemporary Authors Online. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC (accessed May 2009)

 Scope and Content Note

The Herbert Kline collection related to the film Barabbas (The Thief and the Cross) spans the dates 1954–1960 and comprises the shooting script, letters, telegrams, and supporting documents related to the proposed production of the film, which was ultimately not made. Kline's film, based on Pär Lagerkvist's successful book, Barabbas, was also briefly titled His Name was Barabbas.

The collection includes various projected budgets for the film, along with pages of cast recommendations (Marilyn Monroe, Alan Ladd, and Tony Curtis). The correspondence includes many letters Kline received from various agents and producers, along with carbon copies of his responses. The collection documents Kline's contacts with studios and agencies while trying to get financial backing for his intended film Barabbas. The collection is valuable for detailing the difficult process (and failure) of trying to get a film made in Hollywood in the 1950s.

 Arrangement

I. Shooting script, 1957II. Correspondence, 1954–1960

 Selected Search Terms Personal Names Kline, Herbert. Lagerkvist, Pär, 1891-1974. Barabbas. Other TitlesBarabbas (The Thief and the Cross)His Name was Barabbas Topical Terms Motion picture industry--California--Los Angeles--History--20th century--Sources. Form/Genre Terms Business letters. Budgets.Correspondence.Screenplays.Shooting scripts. Occupation Screen writers. Directors (performing arts) Detailed Contents List Series I. Shooting script 1957 1 F1 Shooting script for the film Barabbas1957 1 item (182 p.)

Original typescript manuscript of the shooting script for Kline's film Barabbas with numerous revised pages inserted into script along with extensive annotations and corrections in ink and pencil. The typewriter paper box (Sphinx Business Paper) used to house the script is stored in Box 2.

 2 Box used to house script1957 1 item

Typewriter paper box (Sphinx Business Paper) used to house the script for Barabbas.

 Series II. Correspondence1954–1960

Letters, telegrams, and miscellaneous correspondence exchanged between Kline and various film agents and producers, including Paul Kohner, Charles Feldman, Ray Stark, and Ingo Preminger.

 1 F2 1954 December 18–1957 December 31 1 F3 1958 February 14–1958 December 22 1 F4 1959 January 6–1959 December 22 1 F5 1960 January 3–1960 February 9 1 F6 undated

This folder also contains a revised "Inside Mexico" budget for filming of Klein's movie at Churubuscu Studios in Mexico City.