By RAY KELLY
The cover of the script for Twice Is Too Much by Orson Welles. (Heritage Auctions)
Heritage Auctions has several unique Orson Welles items on the block between now and November 3, including three unpublished scripts and a short story.
Other items up for bid include more than two dozen books, several signed, from the late filmmaker’s private collection.
Also on the block is a revealing 1942 letter from Welles’ longtime lawyer, Arnold Weissberger, to Welles’ former guardian, Dr. Maurice Bernstein, written in the wake of The Magnificent Ambersons and It’s All True fiasco.
In the typed, eight-page letter, Weissberger blames former business manager Jack Moss for much of Welles’ problems, adding that Moss has attempted to undermine him with Welles.
Welles’ leather bound copy of the script for The Long, Hot Summer, cosigned by daughter Beatrice Welles, is also on the auction block. Heritage Auctions has not identified the seller(s) of the unpublished scripts, short story and letter.
The Dallas-based auction house offered the following descriptions of the Welles items it has up for sale:
- The Heroine script (1967). A copy of the script for “The Heroine”, 8.5″ x 12.5″, 23 pages. This film was an adaptation of Isak Dinesen’s story of the same name, about a French aristocratic widow during the Franco-Prussian War. Welles only shot one day of filming for the project (on April 14, 1967). He was unimpressed with the crew’s work, and at the end of the day was given a ridiculously high bill. Instead of paying the bill, Welles simply left the country. The one day’s footage has never been recovered. Very Good condition, with light toning at edges, two holes punched at vertical edge, and light soiling from paper clip.
- It’s All True, Love Story – 1st draft continuity script (1941). First draft of the script for Orson Welles’ unfinished feature film, 8.5″ x 11″, 55 pages, August 8, 1941. The film was meant to be a documentary/docufiction, split into four parts. Welles began the project in July 1941, and “Love Story” was an immigrant love story written by John Fante (based on his own parents). However, midway through production, RKO Pictures went through a management overhaul and the studio refused to continue funding the film. A documentary was made in 1993 about the unfinished film, which includes footage from the first three parts of the film. Sadly, nothing was ever shot for “Love Story”. Very Good Minus condition, with light staining to cover and chipping at edges.
- Twice Is Too Much: A Melodrama in Two Scenes unpublished script. Typed copy of the script, 8.75″ x 11.25″, 28 pages. The story revolves around Frederico Van Loon and Rosa, who may both be suspects in the murder of Katie, Van Loon’s wife. Housed in a light blue paper folder. Very Good condition, with small holes from removed staples and light soiling. Folder is worn.
- Hand on the Balance (revised) short story. A typed copy of Welles’ unpublished work, 8.5″ x 11″, 44 pages, undated. The short story is set in Puerto Rico, about a boatman (Japheth) who encounters an unconscious drunk American (Jed Elliot) on the beach. Very Good condition, light toning and soiling at edges.
- Orson Welles lawyer L. Arnold Weissberger typed letter signed Arnold. 8 pages, 8.5″ x 11″, New York; July 20, 1942. A letter from Welles’ lawyer to Welles’ doctor, Dr. Maurice Bernstein, which discusses Welles’ recent career fiasco and Jack Moss. Moss, who had previously been a magician and film producer, was hired by Welles to be his business manager. However, after the failure of Welles’ films The Magnificent Ambersons and It’s All True, Welles’ career took a large downturn and many blamed Moss. Within this letter, Weissberger makes no effort to hide his dislike for Moss, reading in part:
“Moss knows that I am thoroughly opposed to everything he stands for, and that so long as I have any influence over Orson, he is not safe. He would undoubtedly be willing to do everything he could to undermine me with Orson. Since his management of Orson’s affairs has resulted in such a fiasco, he is obviously on the defensive, and while to me and to you it seems fantastic that he should seek to put the responsibility for the present chaos upon what I did a year ago, the fact remains that that is what he is apparently trying to do.”
Housed in a blue folder titled “Othello.” Weissberger has made a few edits to the typed letter in black ink. Very Good condition, with usual mail folds and light toning.
So are these lost treasures?
It’s All True, Love Story – August 8, 1941 and a partial script of Twice Is Too Much exist in the Lilly Library collection at Indiana University in Bloomington.
The Heroine is part of the University of Michigan Special Collections in Ann Arbor, as well as the National Cinema Museum archive in Turin, Italy.
Whether the revised 44-page short story Hand on the Balance is part of an existing public collection is unknown.
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