Cast list - - Cast list with contact details and agent, no date;
- Photocopy of handwritten draft, no date - - JCL-14-3-1
Casting file - File marked 'Casting' containing curriculum vitae and portrait photographs of actors/actresses
- Louise Beattie; Brenda Bruce; Suzanne Burden; Kenneth Colley; Constance Cummings; Graham Crowden; Robert Eddison; Robert Flemyng; Oliver Ford Davies; Fiona Gillies; Marius Goring; Glyn Houston; Ursula Howells Josie Lawrence; Frank Middlemass; Peggy Mount; Joyce Redman; David Ryall; Charles Simon; Dudley Sutton; Richard Vernon; John Woodvine; Irene Worth - - JCL-14-2-7
Casting file 'Session 1' - File containing curriculum vitae and portrait photographs of the following actors/actresses present as casting 'Session 1':
- Sylvia Barter; Janet Burnell; Neil Conrich; Sean Gallagher; Godfrey Kenton; Preston Lockwood; Elspeth March; Margery Mason; Phillada Sewell;
- Letter to Jack Clayton from Elspeth March enquiring if she might audition for a part in the film, 13 September 1991 - - JCL-14-2-4
Casting file 'Session 2' - File containing curriculum vitae and portrait photographs of actors and actresses for casting purposes:
- Elisabeth Benson; Kay Clayton; Beryl Cooke; Edna Dore; Sheila Gill; James Mansfield; Hilary Mason; Jackie Morrison; Robert Perkins; John Straiton; Gudrun Ure - - JCL-14-2-5
Casting notes - Casting file containing:
- Typescript list of actors/actresses with comments and other possible names added in ink, 11 October 1990;
- Lists of character names with possible actors to be considered 5 March 1991;
- Lists of 'older' actors/actresses in alphabetical order;
- Itinerary for casting interviews, September 1991 - - JCL-14-2-8
Clayton's notepad of rough sketches for camera set-ups - Notepad of rough sketches and notes for camera set-ups [presumably by Clayton], no date c. October - November 1991 - - JCL-14-3-5
Correspondence - Letters from Jack Clayton to the BBC regarding distribution
- Copy of letter from Jack Clayton to Helen Jackson [BBC programme sales] thanking her for allowing the film to be marketed overseas in its original footage, 13 May 1992;
- Copy of letter from Jack Clayton to Linda Stone [BBC Marketing & Programme Development] 'I have had a lovely time making the film for the BBC and now your kindness [again a reference to retention of original footage for overseas sales] and understanding have more than confirmed my belief and trust in that organization and indeed, BBC Enterprises',
13 May 1992 - 2 letters - JCL-14-6-1
Cross plot - 2nd draft - Cross plot -2nd draft, 16 September 1991
[Plan of each day of filming and list of characters with a cross indicating which scenes they are required for] - - JCL-14-3-7
Distribution - Papers relating to the distribution of the film, including correspondence
[Clayton was disappointed that the film was never given proper theatrical distribution. Especially as BBC film drama such as Enchanted April and Truly, Madly, Deeply had gathered considerable international success after being shown in cinemas.
In America it was shown in two parts as part of the Masterpiece Theatre series] - - JCL-14-6
Draft credits - Photocopied draft credits with handwritten amendments, no date - - JCL-14-4-5
Exhibition - Papers relating to the exhibition of the film including preview, press cuttings, BAFTA, film festivals
[The film was screened on BBC Two on 19 April 1992] - - JCL-14-7
Faxed letter from Muriel Spark regarding the script - Faxed letter from Muriel Spark to producer Louis Marks, giving her reaction to the screenplay.
'I don't think for a moment you are going to find sponsors. There is no classic quality. The tone is positively aggressive towards old people, at times sadistic...I fail to see the point in the meeting of old people held in Mortimer's garden. It appears to be merely an excuse for cheap lavatory jokes. At no stage in my life have I known middle class people of any age publicly make a mad dash to the lavatory.'
With regard to the ending she writes
'To give a sense of destiny to the characters, a spiritual edge, why not have a narrative voice at the fade-out, listing what they all died of, precisely as in the book? Why not? What are you afraid of? Reality? I refer you all to the marvellous television movie made of Thomas Mann's 'The Magic Mountain'. Sickness and death and passion, nothing covered up in syrupy sentimentality as in that last awful scene of yours...As you know I have had a lot of experience of adaptations of my work for television, radio and drama, but I have never had this sort of problem before. I assure you that if you want a production, you will have to get this screenplay worked over'. 12 August 1990
[This letter makes reference to comments she has written on a script. Probably JCL-14-1-9] - 2 pages - JCL-14-1-8
File containing letters of thanks from cast - File containing letters and cards to Jack Clayton from cast [mainly giving thanks for their experience of working with him] from actors including:
Peter Eyre; Mary Healey; Emma Richler; Leonard Maguire; Arthur Hewlett; Frank Shelley; Margery Withers; Alan Leith; John Basckomb; Hilda Sachs - - JCL-14-3-9
File containing letters of thanks from cast and crew - File containing letters and cards of thanks to Jack Clayton from cast and crew, including:
- Michael Hordern
'I have never served in a unit so calm, with a calmness and efficiency inspired by its director', 14 December 1991;
- Muriel Pavlow
'I do hope that I can work with you again. I found it such a stimulating happy experience', nd;
also from:
- Remi Adefarasin; Oliver Bayldon; Stephanie Cole; Cyril Cusack; Maurice Denham; Robert Flemyng; Damaris Hayman;
- Christmas cards from Maggie Smith and Zoe Wanamaker
- Letter to cast and crew from Haya Harareet Clayton thanking them for their gift of flowers, 28 October 1991;
- - JCL-14-3-8
File marked 'Definite Cast' - File marked 'Definite Cast' containing curriculum vitae and portrait photographs of actors and actresses who Clayton and team were keen to include in the cast, including:
- Renee Asherson; John Baskcomb; Michael Bilton; Elizabeth Bradley; Jan Carey; Andrew Charleson; Anna Cropper; Aimee Delamain; Maurice Denham; Peter Eyre; Mary Healey; Arthur Hewlett; Barbara Hicks; Alan Leith; Richard Lawry; Jacqueline Leonard; Paul Opacic; Muriel Pavlow; Frank Shelley; Terence Soall; Walter Sparrow; Dominic Taylor; Ann Way; Margery Withers; John Wood [cutting only] - - JCL-14-2-6
File marked 'Music' - File marked 'Music' containing:
- 'Rough Music cues, as at 19 December 1991';
- Final music cues, 6 January 1992;
- Music cues, 7 January 1992;
- Copy of letter to Georges Delerue from Jeanie Sims, regarding music cues and a possible comic version of the romantic theme, 7 January 1992;
- List of music contacts, nd
- - JCL-14-4-4
File regarding Jack Clayton's contract - File relating to Jack Clayton's contract with the BBC including:
- Letter to Louis Marks regarding financial compensation for Jack Clayton during the script's development by Peter Prince, 19 January 1990;
- Letter to Jack Clayton from Douglas Rae Management Ltd outlining the terms of his contract with the BBC, 6 June 1991;
- Letter of agreement between BBC and Jack Clayton [Batya Films], 7 June 1991;
- Information sheets issued by the BBC on freelance contracts and non-staff accident benefit scheme, no date
- - JCL-14-2-1
Filming schedule - Filming schedule including credits; cast in order of appearance; useful contact numbers; location details; daily shooting schedule; maps; no date c. October 1991 - - JCL-14-3-2
First draft screenplay by Peter Prince - First draft screenplay by Peter Prince based on the novel by Muriel Spark; heavily annotated up to page 8, but without any for the rest of the script, March 1990 - 124 pages - JCL-14-1-1
First draft screenplay by Peter Prince - First draft screenplay by Peter Prince [same as JCL-14-1-1] but without any annotation, March 1990 - 124 pages - JCL-14-1-2
General Correspondence - General correspondence relating to the film 1991 - 1994 - - JCL-14-8
General correspondence file - File of general correspondence 1991 - 1993, including:
- Faxed letter to Louis Marks and Jack Clayton from Muriel Spark 'Please convey to Maggie Smith and all the wonderful cast my warmest good wishes for a successful and happy Memento Mori, love Muriel', 11 October 1991;
- Copy of letter to Trevor Noakes [BBC] from Jack Clayton 'Now that shooting on Memento Mori is completed, I feel I must put in writing my extremely high regard for the hard work and enthusiasm displayed by everyone in the production unit, which not only made it possible for us to meet an almost impossibly demanding schedule but contributed to it its being one of the happiest filming experiences of my career', 10 December 1991;
- Correspondence regarding Telluride Film Festival, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. August - October 1991;
- Letter to Jack Clayton from Sir John Woolf 'Thank you very much for all the kind things you said about me yesterday which I very much appreciated', 8 March 1993
- Letter to Jack Clayton from Oliver Bayldon [Production design] 'Thank you to you (and Louis and Remi) for giving me chance to work on Memento Mori - and amazingly win a BAFTA!!! I was wholly stunned. I thought I had misheard. As you know I was quite thrilled to have a nomination and did not consider there was any chance of winning', 10 March 1993
Also - general correspondence on the following:- Alexander Korda's era of film making; Georges Delerue tribute; requests for signed photographs - - JCL-14-8-5
Invitation to BAFTA nominees lunch - Invitation to BAFTA nominees lunch to be held at BAFTA, Piccadilly, London on 28 February 1993 - - JCL-14-7-4
Letter from Heavenly Wilson - - Handwritten letter to Jack Clayton from Heavenly Wilson [wife of actor Scott Wilson] mainly giving news on mutual friends
but she does add 'I wanted to write tonight to tell you that I read Memento Mori and that I understand how excited you must have been to find such a perfect story to film. It is such a wonderful collection of characters and all those great actors you have chosen will be irresistible for an audience. I can't wait to see what you and they will make of it together'. 29 August 1991;
- Included are two photographs of Heavenly Wilson in her garden
- - JCL-14-8-2
Letter from Muriel Spark - -Typewritten and signed letter from Muriel Spark to Jack Clayton expressing her admiration for Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne which she had just seen. 'To me Maggie Smith is always magical. I loved the casting and indeed the whole treatment... Looking forward to more news on Memento Mori, Yours Muriel' 2 April 1991;
- Copy of Jack Clayton's reply. 'I am delighted you liked Judith Hearne and praise from you Muriel is like a feast...I will definitely keep you in touch with any happenings on Memento Mori and look forward to our meeting again quite soon.' - - JCL-14-8-1
Letter to Georges Delerue regarding music for the film - Copy of letter to Georges Delerue from Louis Marks [producer]
'I would be delighted to carry forward the excellent idea of your doing the music for the film. Your comment about the low state of BBC funds is certainly not mis-informed, but I sincerely hope this will not be a barrier to our working together',
11 October 1991 - - JCL-14-2-9
Letter to Jack Clayton from Harry Rabinowitz - Handwritten letter to Jack Clayton from conductor and composer Harry Rabinowitz thanking him for his appreciative note about the recording session for the film. 'I was upset to hear about the death of Delerue; yours must have been the last score written by this wonderfully talented man. His gift for simplicity is very rare these days.' - 1 item - JCL-14-4-6
Letter to Jack Clayton regarding Muriel Spark's comments on the script - - Letter to Jack Clayton from Jeanie Sims regarding Muriel Spark's criticism of the script. Sims expresses her surprise that Spark thought it aggressive or sadistic in tone towards old people 'we have gone out of our way to present the characters in a sympathetic light'. She goes on to defend the 'lavatory device' - so objected to by Spark - on the grounds that it creates the general confusion of characters heading in different directions to allow the introduction of elements to the story line without 'telegraphing' their purpose. Sims is puzzled by Spark's assertion that a poet would be more likely to use certain expletives than others. Sims defends the ending - deemed 'sickly sweet' by Spark as being uplifting and optimistic. She concludes 'Sorry to inflict all this on you - though I hope you'll fiind at least some of it of interest - but now I've got it off my chest I'll be able to sit back calmly and make any required changes with only the most subterranean mutterings!'
14 September 1990;
- Attached to the letter are Sims 'notes on Muriel Spark's page-by-page comments on Memento Mori script', in which she deals with each point and gives her own views, 14 September 1990 - 6 pages - JCL-14-1-10
Letter to Maggie Smith regarding the possibility of her playing Mrs Pettigrew - Copy of letter to Maggie Smith from Jack Clayton which accompanied a script for her perusal.
'Obviously, I would be extremely happy if you liked the idea of playing 'Mrs Pettigrew' and , equally obviously, would appreciate any ideas or suggestions you may have for the part, or indeed, the script as a whole' 12 September 1990 - 1 page - JCL-14-2-3
Letters from Renee Asherson - Folder of six handwritten letters to Jack Clayton from Renee Asherson, including
26 July 1991
'I was so delighted to meet you the other day and thank you for letting me have the script of Memento Mori to read';
17 November 1991
'There is so much that I want to say to you that if I were to write it all it might develop into a novel....Thank you for being such an exceptionally sensitive and helpful director and for giving me the chance to play Charmian'
Undated
'I must write to say how lovely it was to see you and so many of the cast again on Tuesday...I realise how instructive and ? it is to see oneself, I was shocked to catch sight of myself doing exactly what you had asked me not to do, putting my head on one side!! How could I!?. I saw exactly what you meant'
Undated
'It was so thoughtful and kind of you to ring me the other day... I was so relieved and delighted that Charmian had come off after risking me as that rather complex lady' - 6 letters - JCL-14-8-3
Letters of congratulation - File of letters and cards of congratulation to Jack Clayton from the following:
- Postcard of a painting of St Francis of Assisi clutching a skull by Francisco De Zurbaran with a note 'He says it all...to perfection' from Haya Clayton;
- Handwritten letter from Ursula Howells 'It was such a beautiful production wonderfully directed and acted by everyone - but particularly by Renee who was enchanting and faultless', 20 April 1992;
- Signed letter from Eve Arnold 'It was a wonderful and very moving film. Each performance was a gem and what was manifest in the film was the pleasure the cast projected working with you', 7 April 1992;
- Signed letter from Mary Kessel 'Just a little note to congratulate you on the lovely and delightful Memento Mori. Like many others I was riveted, and so much enjoyed the whole thing, not least Georges' music', 24 April 1992;
- Note card from Peter Handford 'It certainly had the Clayton touch, even on the smaller screen - the opening of a whole new career maybe?!?', 26 April 1992;
- Notecard from Wendy Hiller 'To wish you a happy successful journey with the film', no date;
- Signed letter from Angela Allen 'It was so refreshing to see a film that was so well written and directed....I haven't met anyone who did not enjoy your film and you must admit it is very rare these days to get a unanimous vote', 30 April 1992;
- Signed letter from Otto Plaschkes 'It's a really splendid adaptation, a bit lighter than I expected it to be, but that's all for the good I think and with magnificent performances...many many congratulations Jack. It is such a lovely, human movie, one just gave oneself up to it', 13 April 1992
- - JCL-14-7-3
List of suitable actors/actresses - Typescript list of U.K and U.S actors and actresses whose ages range from mid 60s to 90, compiled by Jeanie Sims in May 1985 - 2 pages - JCL-14-2-2
Memento Mori - Papers relating to the different phases of production of the BBC TV film Memento Mori [shown as part of the Screen Two strand]. Including, scripts and story development; pre-production; production; post-production; publicity; exhibition; distribution; general correspondence 1990 - 1991
[Black comedy set in 1950s London. Based on the 1959 novel by Muriel Spark. A group of elderly ladies are being harassed by anonymous phone calls telling them 'remember you must die'. Who is making the calls and why? The victims reflect on their past lives whilst trying to identify the culprit.]
Clayton, when asked about comedy commented 'that's a very specific talent which I don't think I have'. Never the less what was to be his final film was a darkly comic tale for the BBC [television being a medium he had always resisted due to the tight schedule it demanded]. Clayton's name attracted a roll call of talented actors including Maggie Smith [as the scheming Mrs Pettigrew in a very different role from Judith Hearne] and veterans Michael Hordern, Thora Hird, Cyril Cusack, Renee Asherson and Maurice Denham. - 9 boxes - JCL-14
Notes on music - 'Rough music sections as marked on script sent to Georges Delerue, based on cut version as at 18 December 1991' - - JCL-14-4-3
Plan of Olive's flat - Photocopy of plan showing the layout of Olive's flat , no date - - JCL-14-3-6
Post-production - Papers relating to the post-production phase of the film including: editing, post-synching [dubbing], draft credits, music,
1991 - 1992 - - JCL-14-4
Post-production schedule - Single page outlining the post-production period from October 1991 - February 1992 - 1 page - JCL-14-4-1
Post-synching file - File marked 'Post-synching' including:
- Post -synch list as shot, 4 February 1992;
- Handwritten notes on dialogue changes; voices off, no date - - JCL-14-4-2
Pre-production - Papers relating to the pre-production phase of the film including, contracts, casting, schedules, plans January 1990 - October 1991 - 2 boxes - JCL-14-2
Press pack - Screen Two press pack including production information [synopsis, credits, principal cast and crew biographies], 1992 - - JCL-14-5-1
Press release and programme notes for NFT Special Preview screening - - Press release giving details of a special preview of the film at the NFT on 6 April 1992. Followed by a discussion with Jack Clayton and Thora Hird hosted by Quentin Falk;
- Programme notes for the event - - JCL-14-7-1
Press-sheet - Publicity sheet issued by BBC Television, giving a synopsis and excerpts from press reviews, illustrated with photographs, c.1992 - - JCL-14-5-2
Production - Papers relating to the production phase of the film including cast and unit lists, shooting schedules; cross plot; studio plans; correspondence - - JCL-14-3
Production schedule - File including:
- Production schedule, heavily annotated [by Jeanie Sims?] 1 October - 19 November 1991;
- Daily progress analysis, 22 October 1991
[See condition] - - JCL-14-3-3
Programme notes for National Gallery of Art Washington D.C screening - Programme notes for a screening of the film at a Clayton retrospective held by the National Gallery of Art Washington D.C
9 - 23 September 1995 - - JCL-14-7-6
Publicity - Papers relating to the publicity and marketing of the film - - JCL-14-5
Revised Film Schedule - Revised film schedule covering 4 - 20 November including:
- crew list; cast list; at-a-glance filming schedule; location contacts; schedule; maps.
Spiral bound and marked as Jack Clayton's copy, compiled 29 October 1991 - - JCL-14-3-4
'Rough suggested outline for new end structure' - Three typescript pages titled 'Rough suggested outline for new end structure', no date - 3 pages - JCL-14-1-7
Screenplay [small format] - Small format version of the screenplay [same as JCL-14-1-11 and JCL-14-1-12] - 106 pages - JCL-14-1-13
Screenplay by Alan Kelley, Jeanie Sims and Jack Clayton - Screenplay by Alan Kelley, Jeanie Sims and Jack Clayton, without annotation. Marked at top with disclaimer 'The sending of this script does not constitute an offer of a contract for any part in it', no date - 100 pages - JCL-14-1-11
Screenplay by Alan Kelley, Jeanie Sims and Jack Clayton - Screenplay by Kelley, Sims and Clayton, without annotation [same as JCL-14-1-11] no date - 100 pages - JCL-14-1-12
Screenplay by Peter Prince, Jeanie Sims and Jack Clayton - Screenplay by Peter Prince, Jeanie Sims and Jack Clayton, without annotation, 26 July 1990 - 93 pages - JCL-14-1-6
Screenplay 'Version 2' - Screenplay marked 'Version 2', without a title page [presumably a Prince, Kelley, Sims, Clayton draft], some annotation in pencil, 17 July 1990 - 95 pages - JCL-14-1-5
Screenplay. Version I - - Screenplay marked as 'Version I', probably the first draft re-worked by Kelly, Sims and Clayton, no date;
- Attached post it note from ?Jeanie Sims. 'Jack Dear. I personally think this is now rather good. Hope you agree', no date - 101 pages - JCL-14-1-4
Scripts and story development - Papers relating to the development of the script including: various drafts; script notes; reaction to the screenplay by Muriel Spark; script annotated with suggested changes by Spark
An early draft script was completed by Peter Prince in March 1990. This was extensively worked on by Clayton, Jeanie Sims and Alan Kelley. When submitted to Muriel Spark, she was less than enthusiastic. But despite Spark's comments the script remained largely unchanged. As an adaptation, it retains much of Spark's original dialogue, the narrative structure has been tightened, adjusting the order of events to give greater logic and momentum the plot. - 3 boxes - JCL-14-1
Second draft screenplay by Peter Prince - Second draft screenplay by Peter Prince, heavily annotated with yellow post it notes [Clayton/Sims?], May 1990 - 109 pages - JCL-14-1-3
Shooting script - - Shooting script, heavily annotated, revised 10 September 1991, with further revisions 1 October 1991;
- Attached to the script are a floor plan of rooms; list of cast in order of appearance; credits
- 107 pages - JCL-14-1-14
Shooting script marked 'Floor copy' - - Shooting script marked 'Floor Copy' [probably Jeanie Sims' copy] heavily annotated, 10 September 1991, with revisions up to 3 October 1991;
- Attached to the script are dates for dubbing; credits; Schedule of shooting dates [11 October 1991 - 19 November 1991];
List of cast in order of appearance; Cast contact list; Running order - 107 pages - JCL-14-1-15
Telluride Film Festival certificate - Certificate acknowledging participation of the film in the 19th Telluride Film Festival 1992, 4 September 1992
[The film also screened at the Berlin and Montreal film festivals] - - JCL-14-7-5
U.K and U.S Press cuttings - Folder containing British and U.S press cuttings of reviews and billings, April 1992 - October 1992 - - JCL-14-7-2
Script - MEMENTO MORI / SCREEN TWO - Original story: Based on the novel by Muriel Spark - Script type: Post-production, UK transmission version - - SCR-12277
Script - Partial script with annotations by Muriel Spark - Forty pages of a screenplay annotated by Muriel Spark and faxed on 12 August 1990. Spark makes copious suggestions for changes to dialogue and action and is critical of phrases she considers out of character, including the use of swear words; wearing of corsets by Mrs Pettigrew; dashing to the lavatory by various old people which she describes as 'cheap and unrealistic'. She comments that a speech by Mortimer about wanting to help the old people is 'pure treacle'. Of the scene where Charmian reads to Mrs Taylor from her new novel Sparks insists 'Novelists never read their own books to others'. And her final comment regarding the ending is written in bold 'SICKLY SWEET' - 40 pages - JCL-14-1-9