Lipton’s Journal/Correspondence of Robert Lindner and Norman Mailer/February 23, 1954

::::::::::::::::::::To Norman Mailer
::::::::::::::::::::February 23, 1954
Dear Norman,
Just receiving your letter was a great relief. I feared that I had spoken out of turn with Ted, and your slight delay in answering my note made me somewhat concerned.
About your book—Norman, it is so good, and has such potential, that I have to urge you not to compromise on it. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I really think just a “new coat of paint” is not sufficient—at least not for you. To fail to give it the intensive attention it requires in this final draft would be to commit a really grave literary sin, but more than this, a crime against yourself. So please keep pushing.
Johnnie told me about your talk with her on the topic “whither Mailer,” and so your remarks about putting in six or so months of work in a woman’s prison didn’t surprise me. During the last few days I’ve given the matter a lot of thought—and I think something can be arranged when you’re ready. Whether it can be done here, near or in Baltimore, will have to be explored further. I don’t know, because the local situation is kind of snafued and riddled with a curious brand of politics. For our sakes, we’d like to have you around it could possibly be arranged. But on the other hand, the opportunity may not exist here, and if it doesn’t, there is an alternative that may be quite satisfactory. I’ll go into the details with you when we get together again. Meanwhile, I think you can rest assured that the idea—so far as I can see—is excellent and possible of realization.
About Neville Brand and the possibility of pushing the Rebel screenplay—I’m delighted you talked with him and anxious to meet him. After I received your letter I wrote to Kay Brown at M.C.A. (they were the agents for the sale of the screenplay that terminated in an inconclusive stalemate) and asked that all outstanding copies of my script be turned over to my agent, Ivan von Auw at Harold Ober Associates. Then I wrote to Ivan and asked him to consider getting in touch with Mr. Wanger. Warner Brothers, you see, own the motion picture rights and I (with Budd Fishel) wrote the screenplay, which anyone who makes the picture has to use. If Wanger or anyone else wants to buy the rights from Warner, I’m sure they’ll sell. For my part, I think an arrangement about the screenplay can be made through the Ober office.
I wonder, Norman, if Brand would want to suggest Rebel to Mr. Wanger? An approach from that side would light a fire under the whole matter. I’d personally like to see the picture made, since it is a valid study of the subject and the only truthful representation of prison life I’ve come across. By the way, apart from all of this I hope Brand and I can get together. He sounds interesting and the kind of guy I’d like to know.
You’ll be glad to know that I’ve done an intensive editorial job on the four stories of my book and followed your good suggestions as closely as I could. Jeanne (who sends her love, natch) is busy re-typing the manuscript in final draft, while I’m finishing the remaining story. I hope to be out in about two weeks, including the preface. Last week I talked with Ted by phone and discovered he had no changes to suggest, so I’m readying final copy. It will be a relief to get the book out so that I can get on to the next job.
Come soon, Norman. I’ll be in New York within the next three weeks and certainly expect to see you and meet your friends. But you should arrange for an early and long visit here. We want you. Meanwhile, our love,
::::::::::::::::::::Bob