Winter Discovery Auction Nov 14
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/14/2013
Ten onionskin pages, 8.5 x 11, June 11, 1963. Agreement between Steinbeck and David Merrick granting him the rights to turn his Viva Zapata screenplay into a musical. In part: ''The sole author of the motion picture shooting script concerning the story of the life and activities of Emiliano Zapata (hereinafter called the 'Work'); that the said Work is original with and has not been copied or adapted from any other work; that the said Work was used as the basis for the motion picture entitled 'ZAPATA', produced by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation ... the Owner hereby grants to the Producer the sole and exclusive right to cause a dramatic-musical adaptation (hereinafter referred to as the 'Play') to be written based upon and utilizing the said work." Signed on page eight by Steinbeck and Merrick, and signed again on the last page by Steinbeck, being an amendment which reads, in part, "if negotiations and/or agreement with the Authors of the musical play shall require same, the size and prominence of my credits may be reduced to seventy-five (75%) percent of that accorded the Authors of the musical play." Merrick has also initialled the document 25 times. In fine condition, with staple to top left and a bit of light toning and creasing. Accompanied by a typed note (not from Steinbeck), each related to the Zapata contract, to Steinbeck's literary agent, Annie Laurie William, signed by Merrick's lawyer Benjamin Asian
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