Vera Caspary Archive (1920s-1980s) by CASPARY, Vera - 1985

(New York and Los Angeles), 1985. Unbound. Very Good. A large archive collection consisting of manuscripts, letters, and documents belonging to the American novelist and screenwriter Vera Caspary, together with additional materials from Caspary's husband, the film producer Isidor "Igee" Goldsmith; and George Sklar, a leading figure in the theater of social protest during the 1930s, who collaborated with Caspary on several plays, and was a lifelong close personal friend. Vera Caspary is best known for her classic crime novel *Laura*, which was made into an acclaimed 1944 film directed by Otto Preminger. Caspary wrote several other popular crime novels, including *Bedelia* and *Evvie*, and she received awards from the Screen Writers Guild in 1948 for *A Letter to Three Wives* and in 1967 for *Les Girls*.

Born in 1899 in Chicago, Caspary began her lifelong career as a freelance author and screenwriter in 1927. An unconventional, independent woman, she supported herself at a time when few women had careers of their own. The female characters in her novels and plays are strong, emancipated women, and her analyses of what drives her villains and victims alike are objective and evenhanded. In her screenplays, Caspary displayed an apt ear for dialogue and allowed the characters to reveal themselves through their own words and actions. Beginning with her first novel, *The White Girl* (1929), about an African-American woman who moves north to Chicago, where she passes as white, Caspary concerned herself with issues of prejudice and class consciousness in twentieth-century America. In her autobiography, *The Secrets of Grown-Ups* (1979), she wrote: "This has been the century of The Woman and I know myself fortunate to have been part of the revolution ... Those who come after us may find it easier to assert independence, but will miss the grand adventure of having been born a woman in this century of change." (Ann Kneavel, *Jewish Women's Archive*).

The collection contains 16 manuscripts by Caspary: consisting of six collaborative works by Caspary and Sklar, including two playscript versions of *Laura* and the original screenplay version of *Gardenia*, which was later published as a short story by Caspary and made into a film noir *The Blue Gardenia* directed by Fritz Lang (1953). Among the works authored solely by Caspary are six screenplays and stories, including *Night of June 13th*, made into a mystery film *The Night of June 13* directed by Stephen Roberts (1932), and two unpublished novels: *Untitled Novel* (200 leaves) which was intended as the sequel to *Evvie*; and one untitled manuscript (209 leaves).

Also included is correspondence by and to Caspary, including several letters from Isidor Goldsmith and George Sklar, and other writers and friends, including the poet Richard Aldington and journalist George Seldes. Caspary's letters refer at length to past and current literary works in progress and other contemporary literary ideas and works, and related cultural and political issues. Also of interest are references to friends and colleagues who were blacklisted by the motion picture industry. George Sklar was among those blacklisted and Vera Caspary was graylisted. Caspary also corresponded with Sklar's wife Miriam, who was a modern dance teacher, and their daughter Judy Sklar (Vera was the godmother of the Sklar's three children). The collection includes illustrated letters and decorated manuscripts of children's books handmade by Caspary for Judy when she was a child.

Other highlights from the collection include: nine personal journals kept by Caspary from 1945-67; seventeen published books inscribed by Caspary to various close friends; and several photographs, including portraits inscribed by and to her. Among Caspary's financial and estate records is about one bankers box of letters and documents (rights and royalty agreements, etc.) relating to *Laura* (both the novel and stage play).

The collection also contains photographs and personal papers belonging to Caspary's longtime writing collaborator and husband, Isidor Goldsmith. Born in Vienna, Goldsmith went to Britain in the 1930s, where he took over Grafton Films, and produced several British films, including *The Stars Look Down* and *Hatter's Castle*. He collaborated with Vera Caspary during the 1940s, and adapted her novel *Bedelia* to the screen in 1946 (starring Margaret Lockwood). Included in the archive are personal documents from Austria and Britain, letters and contracts relating to his career as a film producer in the United States, and confidential letters written to Vera Caspary at moments of personal crisis.

An historically important collection documenting the life and works of this prominent Jewish-American novelist and screenwriter graylisted by the industry. A detailed finding aid of the archive is available.