Buñuel/Zachary Scott mss., 1956-1967
Summary Information
Repository
Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
Lilly Library
Indiana University
1200 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, IN 47405-5500
Phone: 812-855-2452
Fax: 812-855-3143
Email: liblilly@indiana.edu
Creator
Buñuel, Luis.
TitleBuñuel/Zachary Scott mss., 1956-1967
Collection No.
LMC 2740
Extent
40 items
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
Consists of papers relating to a
proposed film adaptation of Malcolm Lowry's semi-autobiographical novel
Under the Volcano (1947), to have been directed by Luis
Buñuel and to have starred Zachary Scott.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Biographical Note
Regarded as the "father of cinematic Surrealism," Luis Buñuel (1900-1983) was born in
Calanda, Spain and attended college at the University of Madrid. At Madrid, he
befriended the painter Salvador Dalí and the poet Federico García Lorca. In 1929,
Buñuel and Dalí co-wrote the groundbreaking Surrealist short film
Un Chien Andalou, which also marked Buñuel's directorial
debut. Buñuel went on to direct several internationally acclaimed motion pictures,
including
L'Age d'Or (1930),
The
Young and the Damned
(1950),
The Exterminating
Angel
(1962),
Diary of a Chambermaid (1964),
Belle de Jour (1967), and
The
Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
(1972).
Zachary Scott (1914-1965) was an American actor who became typecast as villains or
enigmatic characters over the course of his career.
The
Southerner
(1945),
Mildred Pierce (1945),
The Unfaithful (1947),
Ruthless (1948),
Flamingo Road (1949),
Shadow on the Wall (1950),
Appointment in Honduras (1955), and
Natchez
Trace
(1960) are among his film credits. Scott also starred in one of
Luis Buñuel's first English-language films,
The Young
One
(1960), and was preparing for the most significant role of his
career: Geoffrey Firmin, the protagonist of
Under the
Volcano,
an alcoholic British consul living his final days in 1939
Mexico. (A letter from Buñuel in the collection reads: "Please tell Zachary that
the Volcano has to be made with him as the Consul
or it will not be made...by me.") In 1965, before production began, Scott died
suddenly of a brain tumor at the age of 51. Lowry's novel would undergo several
attempts by various filmmakers to reach the screen until John Huston's adaptation in
1984. Huston's film, also titled
Under the Volcano,
starred Albert Finney in the role intended for Zachary Scott.
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of papers relating to a proposed film adaptation of Malcolm
Lowry's semi-autobiographical novel
Under the Volcano,
to have been directed by Luis Buñuel and to have starred Zachary Scott. Included in
the collection are correspondence, script treatments, newspaper clippings, and a
contract. The correspondents include Luis Buñuel; his son, Juan Luis Buñuel; Zachary
Scott; and Scott's wife, actress Ruth Ford.
-
Indexing Terms
-
-
Names
-
Bunuel,
Luis, 1900-1983 --Correspondence.
-
Scott,
Zachary, 1914-1965 --Correspondence.
-
Bunuel,
Jean-Louis --Correspondence.
-
Ford, Ruth,
1911-2009 --Correspondence.
-
Scott,
Zachary, 1914-1965.
-
Lowry,
Malcolm, 1909-1957 --Under the Volcano.
-
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Acquired: 2011
Usage RestrictionsPrior arrangements are not necessary before coming to the Library, however,
patrons from out of town are encouraged to communicate with the Library in
advance of their visits to ascertain availability of materials.
Photocopying permitted only with permission of the Curator of Manuscripts, Lilly
Library.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Buñuel/Zachary Scott mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University,
Bloomington, Indiana.
Processing InformationProcessed by Craig Simpson.
Completed in 2011.
Series:
Box 1
Collection
Correspondence, 1964-1969
Script treatment,
Under the Volcano,
undated
(2 folders)
Script treatments,
Under the
Volcano
, by Harvey Breit, undated
Newspaper clippings, 1959-1962
Contract, 1956
Biographical information and photograph of Zachary Scott,
undated
Programs and other materials, undated
