I Am Legend (9/54) - Harry O. Morris Signed 1/1 Artist Proof Art Prints (2009/2024)

 

Original I Am Legend artwork doesn't come up for sale very often, and those pieces I've been able to acquire are very special items in the Archive. While I have search want lists on auction sites should any vintage pieces materialize (which does happen from time to time, as you'll see before the year is out), I also keep an eye out when new publications are released, in case artwork may be available. 

Artist Harry O. Morris first came to my attention when I saw the illustrations he did for R.C. Matheson's first collection, Scars and Other Distinguishing Marks, from Scream/Press in 1987. He went on to be Richard Matheson's artist of choice on numerous publications through Gauntlet Press. In 2008, Gauntlet published Visions Deferred, containing three unproduced screenplays by Matheson, including his own adaptation of I Am Legend. For the cover, Harry did a piece inspired by Stanley Meltzoff's original artwork for the Gold Medal first edition, with Robert Nevill standing at the rim of the pit. I appreciated the callback, and reached out to Harry to see if I could acquire a print of his digital art. Harry was very accommodating, not only generating and signing the 13" x 19" print; he also designated it AP (Artist Proof) 1 of 1. 

In 2012, Gauntlet released the Matheson screenplay as a standalone volume. Edited by my friend and Matheson scholar Mark Dawidziak, I had the honor of providing cover art and stills (from the adaptations of the novel) from my archive. Harry O. Morris once again provided an alternate take on the Meltzoff cover. Only this time, despite my intentions to do so, I didn't reach out to Harry right away.

Flash forward to 2024. I'm working with R.C. Matheson on an expanded reissue of his third short story collection, Zoopraxis, for which Harry provided the original art. In addition to the new stories, R.C. wanted to include some additional new artwork, and that put me back in touch with Harry after 15 years. I reminded him that I had purchased the first print, and asked if he would be so kind to do the same with the second cover, and he graciously agreed. That makes this the newest addition to the archive to be included amongst this year's celebratory offerings. Also 13" x 19" and signed/designated AP 1/1 so I have a matching pair.

I love how the two pieces complement each other, as well as the original cover to I Am Legend. And I know Harry is pleased to have them alongside the other pieces that reside in the archive.

Check back next week for more from my I Am Legend archive!

Creature from the Black Lagoon (9/54) - Universal Classic Science Fiction Filmscripts Volume 2 (1992)

This is one of the most important Creature from the Black Lagoon books in my library, with numerous photos (many of which I had never seen before owning this volume), a detailed production background by Tom Weaver, an interview with on-land Creature actor Ben Chapman, an Arthur Ross script draft, and a reproduction of the original publicity pressbook. 

Upon acquiring this book, I realized that I wanted this kind of volume for all of the movies I loved. 

Check back next week for another item from my Creature collection!

Godzilla (8/54) - Bullmark Zinclon Die-Cast Godzilla (1975)

This is a vintage Japanese Godzilla from Bullmark, molded in die-cast metal with a variety of unique features (particularly for Godzilla!). I am not the original owner, and lucked into this incomplete (albeit attractive) rarity for a very reasonable price some years ago. A few different color variations were produced in the handful of years that these were available; I believe a brownish version preceded this green version by a few years. 

Godzilla's jaw open as you turn his head to the left or right — a bump under his chin causes it to close when turned face-forward.

Here's where it gets interesting. His chest opens out, revealing an interior where a small plane once resided, as well as several missiles that could be fired from two spring-loaded slots by pressing the red levers on his back. 

There is also a telescoping feature that represents... well... I don't exactly know what that's supposed to represent. I guess we'll just have to assume that Godzilla is happy to see you. 

While I wouldn't mind having a complete, boxed example, these can get very pricey. (A decapitated one is currently on eBay for more than $100!)

There are several other Godzilla characters in this Bullmark series — I'd particularly like to pick up the die-cast Gigan that my friend Mark had growing up. But those tend to run even higher than Godzilla!

 Check back next week when I'll feature yet another item from my Godzilla collection.

I Am Legend (8/54) - L'Ultimo Uomo Della Terra 'Collector Edition' Italian DVD (2008)

I was quite excited when I discovered this DVD collector's edition of L'Ultimo Uomo Della Terra, as it contains both the US and Italian cuts of The Last Man on Earth, the first film adaptation of I Am Legend. (And since the film was shot in English, both versions have an English soundtrack.) 

The disc contains a featurette highlighting the differences in the two versions (a few different cuts during the opening, and an extended dialogue sequence with Ruth towards the end of the film).  

The package also includes a 32-page booklet ...

... five still reproductions ... 

... and these reproductions or promotional images. 

There has been quite a bit of speculation about who really directed the film: the credited Italian director Ubaldo Ragona, or US director Sydney Salkow. It's widely known that Matheson removed his name from the script, and the US release bears his pseudonym Logan Swanson alongside William Leicester. The Italian screenplay is credited to Ragona and Furio Monetti (available on the disc as a PDF download). 

Since Matheson's original screenplay has since been published, it's easy to determine that his published draft was somewhat removed from the script that was ultimately shot.

And while I have since upgraded to Blu Ray version of the Italian cut (in order  to preserve it in the best resolution available), the collector's package will always be a keeper!

Come back next week for treasures from my I Am Legend archive!

Creature from the Black Lagoon (8/54) - 1:4 Scale Sideshow Premium Format Statue (1998)

This huge, 1:4 scale statue of the swimming creature might just be my favorite representation of the Creature. It's almost 2 feet tall, and the Creature himself is 2 feet long from his toes to his outstretched claw.

This was one of those products that I knew I had to pre-order as soon as it went on sale. Not only was I sure it was going to sell out, I knew that I would regret it if I was forced to pay a much higher price on the secondary market. I'm pleased to say that 25 years later, I still have no regrets! 

They did a nice job with the details on the base, including rubber vegetation as well as a fish swimming beneath the Creature. 

When we used to decorate a Christmas tree in the front room during the holidays, we would take forced-perspective shots to make it look like the Creature was placing a star atop the tree!

Come back next week to see the next item I dredge up from the black lagoon!

 

Godzilla (7/54) - Godzilla Suit Actor Haruo Nakajima Signed Monster Photobook (2014)

Haruo Nakajima (1929-2017) was the first actor to do the Godzilla suit in 1954, and he continued to do so for the first 12 Godzilla films of the Showa era [not to mention other key suit-performances, including the title roles in Rodan (1956), Mothra (as larvae) (1961) and King Kong Escapes (1967).]

I had met Nakajima-san in 2014, before I had this amazing book of photographs. When he attended a convention in Santa Clara in 2016, I was thankfully able to get him to sign it as well.

The book has numerous great photos from one of my favorite Godzilla films, Godzilla's Revenge. 

Here are two photos of Haruo Nakajima with his Godzilla suit, which I had signed the two times I met him.

Here we are at Monsterpalooza (or Son of) in 2014.

I'll be back next week with to highlight another item from my Godzilla collection!

I Am Legend (7/54) - Rainbow collection of screenplay drafts for the 2007 film (2006)

If memory serves, it all started with an I Am Legend crew hat. I saw an auction listing on eBay, and decided I needed it for the Archive. Fortunately, I wasn't outbid at the last second (in the days before I had adopted using a last-minute sniping tool).

After I received it, I wrote to the seller to thank them, and inquire if they had anything else from the film. The seller told me what her role was on the crew, and said she thought she still had her original script. I asked if she'd be interested in selling that, and a short time later I had it in my possession. 

Now, don't get me started on Akiva Goldsman, but it I was happy to have a production copy of the screenplay in my collection, and it was interesting to see that his first draft referenced not only the novel, but screenplays by Mark Protosevich, who was the writer when Ridley Scott and Arnold Schwarzenegger were attached. 

Not too long after receiving it, I received a message from the seller telling me that she found some additional scripts, if I was interested. Needless to say, when she made me an offer I couldn't refuse, I took them all. 

Less than a month after the first draft, a full Blue revision updated the screenplay credits to not only list Protosevich first, but highlights that his draft was based on the Matheson novel and the screenplay to The Omega Man by John William Corrington & Joyce H. Corrington — an important distinction to anyone who believes the filmmakers returned to the novel as the primary source — remaking The Omega Man was always front and center (hence the final screen credit as well). It also references previous revisions by John Logan, and Neal Jimenez (and twice more Mark Protosevich), before crediting the current revisions to Goldsman. I have a John Logan screenplay, but I've not had any luck tracking down any drafts credited to Jimenez. The Archive is also missing Tracy Torme's draft, which, while not referenced on this script, his involvement is certainly suggested by the presence of his co-producer credit on the finished film. I did have an opportunity to discuss it with him briefly, and he mentioned that he was the one to bring the dog back from the novel. Something that had been absent since The Last Man on Earth. 

I also received a copy of the full Pink script that followed less than a week later. 

Starting with this script, revised pages were collated with the current full version (so my complete Yellow script has the Green revised pages inserted within it). 

I never thought about just how many revisions would require different colored sheets for revisions. Goldenrod, sure. But Buff?

Salmon, Cherry and Tan?

Is Orchard even a color?

Bellini (peach), Blue Marlin, Greyhound, Pumpkin Martini, Absolut Amore, MIdori Sour, and Rose Bambi. At this point, it's easy to imagine what inspired the alcoholic beverage variations...

Lava Flow and Bailey's Irish Cream led us to Purple Chicken(?) and Pink Panther pages.

And it still continued. I have a few Grasshopper pages and even Smurf revisions, though all of those (and the Pink Panther pages) are all printed on white paper. It was a wonder that there was any colored paper left in the world at all by the time they got to these revisions. 

The crew member also included a crew list, with everyone's contact info (I promised not to share any such info, and for that reason I've blurred out even the outdated information in the image below).

Of even greater interest was a preliminary schedule corresponding to the 8/8/2006 Blue Script. 

Now, if you've read this far, you're probably curious about the changes to the screenplay as it evolved through so many revisions. I am working on an article for bare•bones that will document that, though one thing I will share right now — Neville is alive at the end in every one of them.

I'm very thankful that this particular crew member hooked me up with so many important documents for the Archive!

Check back next week, as I reveal even more treasures from the I Am Legend Archive!