Classic Movie Scripts and Rare Photos Among New Additions To UNA Archive Collection

Nov. 20, 2009

FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of North Alabama received copies of several movie scripts – including “Casablanca,” Hitchcock’s “Notorious” and “The Wolf Man” – among other pieces of classic movie memorabilia yesterday. The items are donated through the generosity of actress Jessica Rains, daughter of legendary actor Claude Rains, who played in “Casablanca,” “The Invisible Man” and many other films.

Also included among the new archive items are quite a few DVDs – some out of print – plus several posters and rare photos.

The memorabilia was presented in conjunction with an event sponsored by the UNA English Club and Pillar of Fire in which film legend Claude Rains is being honored.

The new archive memorabilia also includes a number of items signed by Jessica Rains, an actress who has appeared in the Oscar winner “The Sting” and Woody Allen’s “Sleeper,” among other films.

The new items also include signed copies of books written by Richard Seff and David J. Skal, and Claude Rains. In addition, there are signed copies of the Rains biography, Seff’s autobiography and Skal’s new best-selling genre study, “Romancing the Vampire.”

In recent years, the UNA archive collection has gained a number of valuable pieces, including an original script from the 1955 Oscar-winning motion picture “Marty” and original scripts from classic television series such as “The Andy Griffith Show” and “McHale’s Navy.” The collection includes rare photos, DVDs, scripts and other memorabilia from such iconic entertainment personalities as George Lindsey, Ernest Borgnine, Norman Lloyd, James Best, George Clayton Johnson and others.