Typed letters signed (4) : New York, to Harry Hansen of The World-Telegram, 1931 Apr. 25 (item 1), May 20 (item 2), June 1 (item 4), and June 10 (item 6).

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Typed letters signed (4) : New York, to Harry Hansen of The World-Telegram, 1931 Apr. 25 (item 1), May 20 (item 2), June 1 (item 4), and June 10 (item 6).

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/270874902

Asking him to sit on a review committee which will evaluate the film version of An American Tragedy to decide whether or not "it sufficiently carries out the ideology of the book as to hold me free from any person[al] or artistic harm before the world." In this long and angry letter, Dreiser makes the case that the "talking picture" by Paramount Publix misrepresents his novel, presenting a skewed and diminished portrait of the main character, Clyde Griffiths. He worries that "the millions and millions who have never read the book and who may or may not have heard of me will, by this process, be offered a distorted as well as a belittling interpretation of a work which is entitled, on its face, to a far more intelligible and broadening conception of the inscrutable ways of life and chance." Dreiser goes on: "As I read the script ..., I feel that it might as well have been deliberately calculated to misinterpret not only my character and powers as a novelist, but my mental and artistic approach to life itself. I resent this, and ... *no such corruption of this work, under my reading of the contract, can be offered to the public." In the latter three letters Dreiser thanks Hansen for agreeing to serve on the review committee and giving him information on the details of the screening.

4 items (4 p.) ; 26.6 cm.

Pierpont Morgan Library.

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SNAC Resource ID: 7218564

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

Dreiser, Theodore, 1871-1945

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cn737t (person)

Theodore Dreiser was an American literary naturalist and author of two of the most significant works of early twentieth-century American fiction, SISTER CARRIE (1900) and AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY (1925). From the description of The mercy of God : manuscript, [1900-1945?] / by Theodore Dreiser. (Peking University Library). WorldCat record id: 63051908 Editor and author. From the description of Theodore Dreiser papers, 1910-1930. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71009534 ...

Paramount-Publix Corporation.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6z93m23 (person)

Hansen, Harry, 1884-1977

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64f21ms (person)

American author, editor, and journalist. From the description of Typed letters signed (3) : New York World-Telegram, New York, to Edward Wagenknecht, 1936 Jan. 14, 1946 Oct. 3, and 1948 July 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270868099 Writer, literary critic, and editor. From the description of Papers, 1914-1976. (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 52248177 Author and editor; d. 1977. From the description of Papers, 1926-197...