Two letters to Clark from Art Ronnie at 20th Century Fox concerning his attempts to get a story by Clarke published in various magazines, both with notations by Clarke, as well as a 14-page unpublished typed manuscript entitled, “Frankenstein Remembered,” written by Ronnie and Clarke, also notated by Clarke. A letter dated October 14, 1969, reads, in part, “Unhappily, the Times turned down the three page story I boiled this down to. Said there was no room, I knew this from the beginning…But it was worth a try.” At the bottom of the page, Clarke writes, in pencil, “Replied:—I said: Ronnie keep trying—it is good work, and you deserve your writer’s dollars for it. As for me—I’m not disappointed because I no longer care for, or seek publicity on only past performance. I’m more interested in ‘now’ happenings for myself. MC.”
The manuscript recounts the filming and production of Frankenstein, including thoughts on Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, and James Whale. Excerpts include, with Clarke’s handwritten pencil notations in brackets: “James Whale was British and so was Colin Clive. [Boris Karloff and celebrated Mr. Frederick Kerr who played the elderly Baron Frankenstein.]…Jim Whale would say about Colin ‘His voice is like a pipe organ’…[I was twenty-one—a very good year—and Colin’s voice was very near…! Dear unforgettable Colin.]” Later on the story recounts the controversial scene between little Maria and the Monster, including excerpts from the script, “It is the moment when he finds the little girl playing beside a lake in the forest. Unfortunately, the key scene of the monster throwing the girl into the water was scissored when audiences reacted adversley,” with Clarke adding, “She shows no fear. He shows no ferocity. Would he perhaps have been docile if he had not been goaded? But then we would never then have our monster.” Story also recounts working with Karloff in an important scene, “The audience is saying ‘Turn around, Elizabeth!’ But I don’t. [They screamed with me—But my scream made history and was coupled with Fay Wray’s scream when she met up with King Kong.]…I asked Boris if he knew any tricks that would help me. ‘Remember,’ he said ‘when I am coming at you to keep your eye on my up-camera little finger. I’ll keep wiggling it. Then you’ll know it’s only Boris underneath all this makeup…Fortunately for me, Boris didn’t forget to wiggle his finger. [Dear unforgettable Boris.]” On the final page, Clarke adds a short thank you note to the writer, signing “MC.” The pages are all bound together with tape along the left edges, with the final page affixed to the inside of the folder. In fine condition.
Released in 1931, Frankenstein received critical acclaim as one of the year’s best films, as well as recognition as one of the greatest movies of all time. Clarke’s honest revelations about her co-stars and director and fond recollections are obvious as she notates Ronnie’s article. One of the most controversial parts of the film is when the Monster throws little Maria into the water after watching her throwing flowers into the lake, with several state censorship boards cutting the scene in half. Her account of Karloff easing her tension of their scene together is a story not known by many. Amazing and unpublished first-hand memories from the last surviving major cast member. RR Auction COA.
