Konrad Bercovici vs. Charles S. Chaplin and United Artists Corporation court documents, docket number 14-190
Scope and content
Typescript record of the examination before trial of Konrad Bercovici, conducted on March 5 and April 15, 1942; and stenographer's minutes of Bercovici's testimony from the trial, April 17, 1947.
Dates
- 1942-1947.
Creator
- United States. District Court (New York : Southern District) (Organization)
- Bercovici, Konrad, 1882-1961 (Plaintiff, Person)
- Chaplin, Charlie, 1889-1977 (Defendant, Person)
- Nizer, Louis, 1902-1994. (Person)
- Frohlich, Louis D. (Person)
- United Artists Corporation, (Defendant, Organization)
Language of Material
In English.
Biographical / Historical
Konrad Bercovici was a screenwriter who became close friends with actor and director Charlie Chaplin. In this lawsuit, Bercovici claimed that Chaplin had plagiarized from him the idea for Chaplin's film "The Great Dictator." The case went to trial in 1947, with Louis Nizer and Walter S. Beck of law firm Davidson & Davidson representing the plaintiff, and Louis D. Frohlich, Arthur H. Schwartz, and Everett A. Frohlich of Schwartz & Frohlich representing the defendant. The case was settled when Chaplin agreed to pay Bercovici $95,000 in compensation.
Extent
.2 cubic feet. (.2 cubic feet.)
Location of Originals Note
Holder of originals: Originals at the National Archives, New York Region (New York, NY).
Alternate Form Available
Also online.
- Bercovici, Konrad, 1882-1961 -- : Trials, litigation, etc.
- Chaplin, Charlie, 1889-1977 -- : Trials, litigation, etc.
- Plagiarism -- United States.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Repository
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca NY 14853
607-255-3530
607-255-9524 (Fax)