Monday, November 08, 2004
NOV 8: KIRK DOUGLAS, EDWARD LEWIS TO RECEIVE MEDAL FOR BREAKING BLACKLIST
Duo will receive Medal for using Dalton Trumbo’s name on “Spartacus” from The Institute of Modern Letters’ founder Glenn Schaeffer and Dean Robert Rosen of UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television. A screening of “Spartacus” will follow.
Legendary actor, writer, producer and humanitarian Kirk Douglas and producer Edward Lewis will be awarded the prestigious Freedom of Express Medal from The Institute of Modern Letters (IML) on Monday, November 8th at 7:30PM at UCLA. According to Glenn Schaeffer, founder of the Institute of Modern Letters, “The Medal is presented to persons who courageously saved the lives and/or careers of persecuted writers. Mr. Douglas and Mr. Lewis are being honored for effectively breaking the infamous “Hollywood Blacklist” of the ‘50’s by fighting to get screenwriter Dalton Trumbo’s name on the credits for the classic film “Spartacus.”
The Medal will be presented to Mr. Douglas and Mr. Lewis by Glenn Schaeffer (Chairman of Mandalay Bay Resorts) and Dean Robert Rosen of The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Preceding the presentation, from 6:30PM until 7:30PM there will be a cocktail reception for guests. Following the 7:30PM Medal presentation, the restored version of “Spartacus” will be screened for a group of UCLA Cinema students and invited guests.
The Institute of Modern Letters is the country’s foremost group rescuing persecuted writers, providing them with funding, shelter and freedom to write without fear of oppression. The IML’s Board members includes Salman Rushdie, Paul Newman, Gore Vidal, Norman Lear, Sting, James Ellroy, A. Scott Berg, Umberto Eco, Scott Steindorff and Russell Banks. Writers who have been aided by the Institute of Modern Letters’ programs include Syl Cheney-Coker from Sierra Leone, Er Tai Gao from China and Fernando Garavito from Colombia.
Kirk Douglas is hailed around the globe as one of the true living legends of the film world, with classic roles in “Champion,” “Paths of Glory,” “Out of the Past,” “The Bad and the Beautiful” and of course “Spartacus” only a few of his countless legendary performances. Edward Lewis’ long list of credits as Producer also includes “Missing,” “The List of Adrian Messenger,” “Seven Days in May,” “The Fixer,” and “Seconds.”
Further information on the Institute of Modern Letters can be found at www.modernletters.org or by calling 702-895-3033. Press Contacts: Warren Cowan/Daniel Bernstein (310) 275-0777.
