Screenplays

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."

Series Description From the Series: This series is divided into two subseries. The first represents scripts written by Lansdale, including Dead in the West, Drive in Date, Drive By, and Batman: Perchance to Dream. The Batman files represent the development of a script for an animated teleplay. They include Lansdale's teleplay, revisions by other writers and storyboards The second subseries...

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,...

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.

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

Five folders of works, financial papers, photographs, promotional kits, and clippings, 1984-1986 contain materials from the 1985 film "The Trip to Bountiful." The collection highlights the filming of the movie and includes the screenplay and stage-play (both signed by writer Horton Foote), a copy of the budget, the main titles, photographs taken during the filming, press kits, a long press book giving background on the film, and clippings pertaining to the movie.

Collection Overview From the Collection: Small Manuscript Collections consists of material acquired by the Wittliff either through gift or purchase that are not part of larger collections. They are often indiidual items or small groups of items relating to a particular author, musician, photographer, or topic. Types of material include: manuscripts; letters; photographs; ephemera such as pamphlets, brouchures or cataloges; reports; historical documents; and other printed material. Each item or group of items is assigned a unique...

Scope and Contents

Arranged in alphabetical order by title of screenplay, this series includes typescripts of screenplays based on Crumley’s novels Dancing Bear and The Last Good Kiss, as well others not based on Crumley’s novels.

Scope and Contents From the Series:

Subseries A: Screenplays (undated) Arranged in alphabetical order by author, this subseries includes two screenplays based on Crumley’s novel The Last Good Kiss. Subseries B: Poetry (undated) Also arranged in alphabetical order by author, this subseries includes poetry by Kathy Callaway (1 folder), various authors (1 folder), and unidentified authors (1 folder).

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...

Series Description

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.

Series Description

This series includes writings for The Whole Shootin’ Match, including screenplays, drafts, and synopsis. Was placed as the first series because the bulk of the collection relates to this film- either crew information, publicity related to the film, or the film distribution of this film.

Description From the Sub-Series:

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

Description From the Sub-Series:

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

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.

Series Description This series is divided into two subseries. The first represents scripts written by Lansdale, including Dead in the West, Drive in Date, Drive By, and Batman: Perchance to Dream. The Batman files represent the development of a script for an animated teleplay. They include Lansdale's teleplay, revisions by other writers and storyboards The second subseries...

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:

The film was eventually produced in 2013 starring Robert Duvall.

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.