Collection Summary
Lyon, Francis D., 1905-1996
Francis D. Lyon papers
1935-1994
03068
3.62 cubic ft. (7 boxes)
University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
English
The Francis D. Lyon papers contain correspondence, scripts for film and television productions, business and financial documents, and Lyon's memoir, "Twists of Fate: An Oscar Winner’s International Career."
Biography of Francis D. Lyon
Francis D. Lyon (1905-1996) was an American film and television director and editor. After completing a degree at UCLA and beginning his career in film in England, Lyon moved back to the United States, where he worked as a film editor from the 1930s to the 1950s. In 1948, he and Robert Parrish won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for "Body and Soul" (1947). Lyon began directing movies in the 1950s, and in 1966, he co-founded United Pictures Corporation. He retired in 1970 and, in 1993, published a memoir titled "Twists of Fate: An Oscar Winner’s International Career."
Scope and Content
The collection contains correspondence, including letters from Frank Capra, Gregory Ratoff, Elmo Williams, Hall Bartlett, and Chips Rafferty. Also included are scripts and stories for motion pictures and television productions, including "The Great Locomotive Chase" (1956), "The Oklahoman" (1957), "Tomboy and the Champ" (1961), "Castle of Evil" (1966), "The Money Jungle" (1967), and "Tiger by the Tale" (1970). There are also business and financial documents, manuscripts, including Lyon's memoir, "Twists of Fate: An Oscar Winner’s International Career," personal military information, clippings, and photographs.
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
Copyright Information
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
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There are no known other archival collections created by Francis D. Lyon as of the date of processing.
This material was received from Francis D. Lyon between 1969 and 1995.
Roger Simon processed the collection and updated the finding aid in May 2025.
Item Description, Box Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Access Terms
Bradbury, Ray, -- 1920-2012.
Capra, Frank, -- 1897-1991.
Motion pictures.
Directors.
Storyboards.
Performing arts.
Screenplays.
Television scripts.
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Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Performing Arts
Container List
Series I. Correspondence
1
1935-1938
Letters from Lyon to his family.
1
1942-1943
Includes letters of recommendation for Lyon, who worked for the Bureau of Motion Pictures, Office of War Information. Includes letters from Gregory Ratoff and Frank Capra.
1
1944-1949
Mostly business correspondence.
1
1950-1955
Mostly business correspondence. Includes letters from Hall Bartlett.
1
1956-1959
Mostly business correspondence. Includes a letter from Wolfgang Reinhardt.
1
1960-1963
Mostly business correspondence. Includes letters from Hall Bartlett, Elmo Williams, and Chips Rafferty.
1
1964-1968
Mostly business correspondence. Includes letters from Maxwell Shane and Elmo Williams.
1
1969-1972, undated
Mostly business correspondence. Includes letters from John Dehner and Leonard Maltin.
1
1985-1987
1
Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg
1954-1959, undated
Correspondence regarding acquisition of rights to writings by Beebe and Clegg. Includes copies of contracts for those writings.
1
Lisbon, Portugal
1960-1961, undated
Correspondence regarding and Production Budget and Cost Estimate for a proposed film, “Time Bomb,” which was apparently never produced.
1
Frederick Manfred
1958-1969
Series II. Business & Financial
1
Artransa Pty. Limited
1957
Brochures
1
Airlines
1957, undated
For Qantas, Teal, and Pan Am.
1
Assorted
undated
(1) “‘What is the Academy’ – A Report on the Activities of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences” and (2) “Avondale Studios Pt. Ltd. Present ‘Some Facts About Film’” – compiled by Research and Script Division, Avondale Studios Pty., Ltd., Turrella, New South Wales, Australia.
7
California Institute of the Arts
undated
1
Federal Employment Application – WAE Motion Picture Consultant
1951
1
Market Classifications
undated
2
Pagewood Studios/Films (Sydney, Australia)
undated
7
“A Proposed Plan for High-Quality, Low-Cost Television Film Productions”
1953
“Prepared expressly for Dumont Television Network, Inc.” A bound notebook and three bound sets.
2
Revue Productions, Inc. – Contract – “Chevron Theatre” – Season 1, Episode 41 – “The Vicar’s Vacation”
1952
Lyon and Richard Irving co-directed the episode.
2
Subscription Television, Inc.
1963-1964
2
Supreme Sound Studios
1961, undated
Series III. Publications
2
“Action” (Directors Guild of America) (two copies of one issue)
1970
Includes “Two Camera Shooting Can Cut Costs” by Lyon.
2
“A.I.M. Frontier News” (The Australian Island Mission of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, Sydney, Australia) (one issue)
1957
2
“California Tele-News” (Subscription Television, Inc.) (one copy)
1964
2
“Cinemeditor” (American Cinema Editors, Inc., Hollywood, CA) (one copy of one issue and three copies of one issue)
1951-1952
Lyon is credited as president of American Cinema Editors. Each issue has a report by him.
2
“The Film Producer” (Film Producers’ Association, New South Wales, Australia) (one issue)
1961
2
“Qantas Empire Airways” (one issue)
1956
2
“The Scroll of Phi Delta Theta” (Menasha, WI) (two copies of one issue)
1956
Includes “Success Story … Starring Pete Lyon.”
2
“Subscriber’s Choice” (Subscription Television, Inc.) (three issues)
1964
2
“The U.C.L.A. Magazine” (one issue)
1948
Includes a photo of and a note on Lyons (pg. 14).
Series IV. Scripts & Manuscripts
2
“An Academy Award Winner Answers Some Common Questions”/“‘How Did You Get in the Movie Business?’ Answered by an Oscar Winner” by Lyon
undated
2
-“The Ark of Currawonga”/“The Showman and the Ark”/“The Great Australian Ark”/“The Currawonga Ark The Noah of Platypus Creek” – Film Story Outline by Colin Simpson
undated
2
“Bus Stop” – Season 1, Episode 6 – Script “The Glass Jungle” by Norman Jacob
1961
Lyon directed the episode.
“Castle of Evil”
Lyon directed the movie.
2
Script Outline “Castle of Horror” by Charles A. Wallace
undated
2
Script “Castle of Evil” aka “The Haunting at Castle Montego” by Charles Wallace
1965, undated
Includes revised script pages, handwritten notes and annotations, a shooting schedule, a set breakdown, and a “set and action” list.
3
Script “The Haunting at Castle Montego”
undated
3
Script “The Haunting at Castle Hidalgo” – first draft
undated
3
“Central War Film Index” – A Proposal Prepared by Bureau of Motion Pictures, Office of War Information
undated
Includes an untitled document about spreading “American good-will throughout the world by intelligent use of motion pictures” during and after the war.
“City Down Under” – Film Story Treatment by Donald Haring
1952
Includes a cover letter from Haring.
3
“Close-Ups and Long Shots of Some Famous Film Personalities Edited from My London Reel of 1935-1939” by Lyon
undated
3
“Destination Inner Space” – Script by Arthur C. Pierce
undated
Lyon directed the movie. Includes revised script pages, handwritten notes and annotations, a shooting schedule, and set continuity.
3
“Escort West” – Script
1957, undated
Lyon directed the movie. Includes as inserts “Picture Budget Details” and a list of possible films projects, available actors, and handwritten notes.
3
“The Frank Leahy Show” – Script (American Broadcast Co.)
1954, undated
Probably an episode of “Cavalcade of America” titled “Saturday Story,” which was directed by Lyon and starred Frank Leahy. Includes correspondence, a Call Sheet, a Shooting Schedule, a Staff List, and handwritten notes.
3
“Golden Butterfly” – Story Treatment by Stuart Hamill
undated
3
“The Great Locomotive Chase” – Script by Larry Watkin
1955-1956
Lyon directed the movie. Includes revised script pages and, as an insert, a clipping of an ad for the movie that appeared in “The Hollywood Reporter.”
3
“He Flew Through the Air” by W.P. Lipscomb (two copies)
undated
3
“How Do You Get to Be--?” – TV-show proposal
undated
3
“In the Interests of Efficient Motion Picture Production” by Lyon (two typewritten drafts and one handwritten draft)
1970, undated
3
“Man Tracks” – TV-show proposal
undated
Includes Summary of Temporary Budget and Tentative Budget.
4
“The Money Jungle” – Script “The Silken Trap” by Charles Wallace
undated
Lyon directed the movie. Includes Staff & Crew List, lists of interior sets and exteriors, and a shooting schedule.
4
“The Oklahoman” – Script by Daniel B. Ullman
1956
Lyon directed the movie. Includes revised script pages and, as inserts, stills form the set, including photos of Lyon.
4
The Paramount Studio Club – Little Theatre – Historical Record
undated
4
“Personal Biography of Francis Davis Lyon”
undated
4
“Reckless, Pride of the Marines” – unproduced script by Daniel Mainwaring
undated
4
“Report to Mr. Yates [probably Herbert J. Yates]” by Lyon
undated
“In compliance with your request of January 22nd for a written report on my impressions in general since affiliating with Republic Studios on January 2nd, the following is herewith submitted.”
4
“Skagway” – Script “The Big Spender” by Donald B. Sanford
1959
“Pilot made but not sold.”
4
“Stagecoach to Seven” – Pilot Script – “The Over-and-Under” by Clair Huffaker
1966
Includes a 1966 issue of the newspaper “Canon City [Colorado] Daily Record” that includes a photo and caption from the set. Apparently, the episode never aired.
4
“Tiger by the Tail” – Script “Dead Heat”
1968, undated
R.G. Springsteen directed the movie; Lyon and his brother Earle produced it. Includes shooting schedules, revised pages, handwritten notes and annotations, and a proclamation regarding Ruidoso, New Mexico, where the movie was shot.
4
“Tomboy and the Champ” – Script by Virginia M. Cooke
undated
Lyon directed the movie. Includes handwritten notes and annotations.
“Twists of Fate: An Oscar Winner’s International Career” by Lyon
4
Manuscript
undated
5
Manuscript – revised pages
1989
According to letter sent to Lyon from the American Heritage Center, Lyon asked the AHC to insert the revised pages into the manuscript of the book.
5
Manuscript pages
undated
5
Published book (three copies)
1993
5
Published Book – photocopy
1992-1993
Includes an announcement about the book from the publisher and clippings about the book.
5
Publicity, clippings, and correspondence
1992-1994
5
“Using the Cinerama Camera” by Peter Gibbons
undated
5
“‘West Wind’ – Outline of a Television Series by Jackson Gillis”
1958
Untitled manuscript by Lyon (two copies)
undated
“In the belief that there might be certain value in documenting some situations, anecdotes and personal observances of an American motion picture technician employed as a film editor in London during four very exciting years of modern English history and its rapidly expanding film industry, I have been requested to make this report about my experiences there from 1935 through 1939.”
5
Untitled handwritten manuscripts
undated
Series V. Assorted
5
Academy Awards – 20th Annual Presentation – Program
1948
Lyon and Robert Parrish were nominated for and won for Best Achievement in Film Editing for “Body and Soul.”
6
Clippings
1935-1971, undated
Includes clippings about Lyon, as well as a story, “Boys Will Be Boys,” by Frederick Manfred.
6
Edinburgh International Film Festival – Sixteenth – entry forms and regulations for entering films
1962
King George VI
6
Coronation Map and Details
1937
6
Proclamation of the Accession to the Throne – Program
1936
Includes as inserts several clippings.
6
Handwritten notes
undated
6
Glenn Hughes – Resumé
1963
6
“I Found Joe Barton” – publicity
undated
An Australian made-for-TV movie directed by Lyon.
6
“Masquers Honor Walter Brennan” – Program
1962
6
Military – Francis D. Lyon
1942-1945, undated
6
Photographs
undated
Includes a photo of Lyon and Joel McCrea on the set of “The Oklahoman” and a photo of Lyon with Dick Sargent, Fess Parker, Mitch Kowall, and Jeff York on the set of “The Great Locomotive Chase.”
6
Screen Directors Guild of America – Group Program (small 3-ring notebook)
undated
6
TAA Map of Australia
1956
6
“The World of Ray Bradbury” – The Pandemonium Theatre Co. (Los Angeles, CA) - Program
1964