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Creator
Baldwin, James, 1924-1987
Call number
Sc MG 969
Physical description
0.83 linear feet (2 boxes)
Language
English
Preferred Citation
[Item], Collection of screenplays on Malcolm X, Sc MG 969, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library
Repository
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

This collection consists of ten early screenplays written for a film on the life of Malcolm X by various authors, including James Baldwin, Hakim A. Jamal, Arnold Perl, Joseph A. Walker, and Calder Willingham.

Biographical/historical information

After the assassination of Malcolm X and the publication of his autobiography in 1965, the rights for a film on his life were acquired by Marvin Worth, a producer, who hired James Baldwin to write the screenplay. Baldwin had a difficult time finishing the screenplay, so Worth hired Arnold Perl to assist; the two completed a 250-page manuscript which was not viewed favorably by Columbia Pictures. Baldwin left the project, and it was sold to Warner Brothers. A few years later, Baldwin published his script and Perl produced a documentary. Other drafts were written by such notable writers as Calder Willingham, Hakim A. Jamal, and Joseph A. Walker. The film was not completed, however, until 1992 when Spike Lee adapted the Baldwin and Perl script.

Scope and arrangement

This collection consists of ten draft screenplays for a film about Malcolm X, all written between 1968-1975. Three of the screenplays were written by James Baldwin with a fourth written by Baldwin and Arnold Perl. Two additional screenplays were written by Arnold Perl, two by Joseph A. Walker, and one each by Hakim A. Jamal and Calder Willingham. These scripts are mostly photocopies, but many contain handwritten edits and revisions, including two of Baldwin's manuscripts. Most are dated.

Arrangement

Arranged first alphabetically by author, then chronologically.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Purchase from Boo-Hooray, July 2019.

Processing information

Processed by Lauren Stark, October 2019.

Related Material

James Baldwin papers, Sc MG 936, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library

The Malcolm X collection: papers, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library

Malcolm X manuscripts, Sc MG 951, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library

Using the collection

Location

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10037-1801
Second Floor