Feature films

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series:

This started as a rewrite of Pistoleers--"My first couple of drafts were set in New York City--then Crocodile Dundee came out and the studio asked me to reset the story in Washington, D. C. to avoid comparison. Against my better judgment I agreed to give it a try and the whole thing (meaning the writing) went downhill after that." Bill Wittliff, February 16, 1989. Includes notes by Wittliff's assistant at the time, Connie Todd.

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series:

Final shooting script has original drawing by Wittliff and is autographed by Wittliff and Willie Nelson. Produced by Nelson and Wittliff. Directed by Wittliff. Script Supervisor Cate Hardman Roach. Film was edited in Wittliff's offices by Eric A. Williams and Stephen Purvis. Slides removed from original sleeves and put in archival sleeves. Marked original sleeves are in front of re-sleeved slides.

Description From the Sub-Series:

6 part series, five of which aired August 1993 on CBS-TV.

Scope and Contents From the Series:

Produced works comprise the bulk of the collection.  It consists of screenplays, notes, publicity, and other production material for the films Bad Company, Kramer vs. Kramer, Still of the Night, Nadine, Places in the Heart, Billy Bathgate, and Nobody’s Fool.

Scope and Contents From the Series: This series consists of story boards, posters, set designs, set drawings, set plans, and framed photoprints that are oversized and do not fit into standard size archival boxes. It includes story boards from Nadine and Places in the Heart; posters from Still of the Night, Billy Bathgate, Bad Company, The Late Show, Places in the Heart, Kramer vs. Kramer, Nobody’s Fool, Nadine (French version),...

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series: The Encino Press file contains posters designed by Bill Wittliff and printed by Encino Press. There are original illustrations by John Groth for John Graves' The Last Running. The manuscript for Larry L. King's That Terrible Night That Santa Got Lost In The Woods is included along with correspondence, editing and original pen and ink scratchboard drawings by the Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, Pat Oliphant. Also contains manuscripts submitted to Wittliff for publication and the...

Series Description From the Series:

The Screenplays are arranged chronologically according to when they were written. The order does not reflect the order in which the films were released. The date following the title in parentheses is the release date. Photographs, film, and videotape may not be duplicated without permission from the Wittliff estate.

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series: Written and co-produced by Wittliff. Starred Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard. Wittliff began as director but was replaced by Richard Pearce. 1985, Lange won Academy Award nomination. The film received the Christopher Award. Kelly Asbury drew story boards for Wittliff when he was director. Publicity contains reviews, congratulations, studio press kit, publicity junket which began in New York because movie opened the 1984 New York Film festival, final report of the screening program,...

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series: Written and co-produced by Wittliff. Starred Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard. Wittliff began as director but was replaced by Richard Pearce. 1985, Lange won Academy Award nomination. The film received the Christopher Award. Kelly Asbury drew story boards for Wittliff when he was director. Publicity contains reviews, congratulations, studio press kit, publicity junket which began in New York because movie opened the 1984 New York Film festival, final report of the screening program,...

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series:

This sub-series contains Wittliff's collection of book catalogs, exhibition catalogs, printing pamphlets and historical society brochures. Invitations to readings, art and literature shows, directories, flyers, articles, clippings and notices are also present.

Scope and Contents

Produced works comprise the bulk of the collection.  It consists of screenplays, notes, publicity, and other production material for the films Bad Company, Kramer vs. Kramer, Still of the Night, Nadine, Places in the Heart, Billy Bathgate, and Nobody’s Fool.

Description From the Sub-Series:

6 part series, five of which aired August 1993 on CBS-TV.

Series Description From the Series:

The Screenplays are arranged chronologically according to when they were written. The order does not reflect the order in which the films were released. The date following the title in parentheses is the release date. Photographs, film, and videotape may not be duplicated without permission from the Wittliff estate.

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series:

A western starring Gary Busey and Willie Nelson. This series contains drafts of the script, costumes, photographs by Wittliff, the script supervisor's files, the editing and sound notes, publicity, distribution, and clippings of reviews and interviews. The archive also contains the dailies on film reels and a 16mm print of the film.

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series: Thaddeus Rose and Eddie was the first script written by Wittliff to be produced. The working title was "Sledge and Eddie," and some of the early drafts are titled as such. Wittliff's agent brought the script to the attention of producers Rod Sheldon and Dan Paulson. The TV movie was directed by Texas director Jack Starrett and starred Bo Hopkins and Johnny Cash. The film aired on the CBS network Friday Night Movies, February 24, 1978 to generally favorable reviews. The production brought...

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series:

A film loosely based on Wittliff’s mother’s life about a young, divorced mother of two sons working as a telephone operator in small-town Texas during World War II. Starring Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, and Eric Roberts. Early drafts are titled "Nita, Henry and Harry."

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series:

Final shooting script has original drawing by Wittliff and is autographed by Wittliff and Willie Nelson. Produced by Nelson and Wittliff. Directed by Wittliff. Script Supervisor Cate Hardman Roach. Film was edited in Wittliff's offices by Eric A. Williams and Stephen Purvis. Slides removed from original sleeves and put in archival sleeves. Marked original sleeves are in front of re-sleeved slides.

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series: The Sundance Institute for Film and Television was founded by Robert Redford to foster emerging talents, often found outside the mainstream of the traditional entertainment industry. For six years during the 1980s, Bill Wittliff served on the Board of Trustees for the Institute, working in particular on the Selection Committee. He also donated his time as a writer's mentor during the June Workshop at Sundance Resort near Provo, Utah and at the Writer's Workshop held during the January...

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series: Thaddeus Rose and Eddie was the first script written by Wittliff to be produced. The working title was "Sledge and Eddie," and some of the early drafts are titled as such. Wittliff's agent brought the script to the attention of producers Rod Sheldon and Dan Paulson. The TV movie was directed by Texas director Jack Starrett and starred Bo Hopkins and Johnny Cash. The film aired on the CBS network Friday Night Movies, February 24, 1978 to generally favorable reviews. The production brought...

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series:

This started as a rewrite of Pistoleers--"My first couple of drafts were set in New York City--then Crocodile Dundee came out and the studio asked me to reset the story in Washington, D. C. to avoid comparison. Against my better judgment I agreed to give it a try and the whole thing (meaning the writing) went downhill after that." Bill Wittliff, February 16, 1989. Includes notes by Wittliff's assistant at the time, Connie Todd.