To Kill the Duke Read Online Free PDF

The thought of writers he’d enjoyed as a young boy trying to make it in Hollywood now made him chuckle. There was no way Brontë, Melville, Dickens or Hugo would make it as screenwriters.
    “Too wordy. Too full of metaphors and too intellectual,” he said to his empty office, as he put down the big book of female movie stars. He quickly grabbed a piece of scrap paper and made himself a note to try and make
just those
types of films once he had established himself as a movie king maker. Sure, he would have to produce some slop. Sure, he would have to make the big-budget film the investors wanted. Sure, he would have to bow to the wishes of Howard Hughes and maybe even the wishes of the public… and he just might. Because doing so would make him very wealthy; he would then be able to make an artsy film by the authors that he had loved as a young boy.
    Dick Powell presents an international all-star cast starring in the most faithful adaption yet of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece “Les Miserables”
was what he was fantasizing about when that thought was soon interrupted by Miss Burchett’s voice coming over the squawk box.
    “Mr. Powell, Oscar Millard is on the phone. I’ll transfer it to your office.” she said.
    “I’ll take it now. Thanks,” a relieved Dick Powell said as he picked up the phone and started a conversation with the writer of The Conqueror.

    Oscar Millard was a good writer. He was diverse in his screenplays. Everything from a comedy about nuns to an action drama about Navy Frogmen, which had earned him an Academy Award nomination. He’d also written a noirish film and another action film that took place 18,000 miles above where frogmen swim. Now, with his work for The Conqueror , he would really be able to showcase his knowledge of history.
    And Millard was fun, too! He was English and intellectual and was now on the phone. As soon as Powell put his ear to the receiver he heardthe very phrase he detested the most. “You’ll have to hold, sir,” said the voice on the other end.
    “I don’t believe it!” Powell screamed.
    “Hey Dick. It’s me. I was just kidding. I know how you hate to be put on hold. It doesn’t bother me, because I’m a writer you know. We’re always on hold. As a matter of fact, I keep pen and paper close to me when I’m on the phone in this town. You’d be amazed at the writing I get done while I’m on hold. Anyway… I heard you were looking for me?” Oscar said.
    “Big O,” Powell replied. “Where are you?”
    “About to meet MB for lunch,” Oscar said.
    “Who the hell is MB? Do you know how many people have the initials MB?” Powell asked.
    “There is only
one
MB in my book — Marlon Brando,” Millard replied.
    This is good
, Powell thought.
Very good.

    “Dick are you there?” Oscar asked.
    “THE
Brando right? It’s not Marlon Brando the accountant? Or Marlon Brando the plumber?” asked Powell.
    Oscar Millard laughed.
    “Hey O, I’m not joking,” Powell said sternly.
    “Either am I, Dick. It is
THE
Brando. MB knows my work and we have more than a few friends in common. I’m meeting him at his place, which is always a great sign. I’m sure the only distraction will be all the babes lounging around. After he falls in love with the script, what should I do? By the way, didn’t I tell you I was meeting with him? After all, I tailor-made this script for him,” Oscar reminded Dick.
    “I think he will fall in love with the script, after all it’s very good. When he does, tell him I’ll call him. Ask him who he envisions for support personnel on the set. Ask him who he thinks he would like to see in the other roles… especially the leading lady,” Powell said.
    “Will do. Do I tell him about Hughes?” Millard asked his boss.
    “What’s to tell? Hughes knows how to make movies and Brando is part of the movie business.” Dick said. “Good luck.”
    And Powell stayed on the line, long after his screenwriter had hung up. He was sitting there