December 23, 2012
FIVE BRADBURY PROJECTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT
1). In his last years, Bradbury told me he intended to write a new science-fiction novel. He’d started on an idea about a group of Catholic cardinals who travel into the deeps of space to prove the existence of God.
2). Bradbury moved across genres. Did he ever write a Western? Yes. But he didn’t finish it. He started a short story about a “ghost horse” for film director John Huston.
3). For the yet-to-be-published collection Nightmares and Daydreams, Bradbury intended to use “Blue Shadow” by his friend Jean-Michel Folon as the cover art. A signed lithograph of this artwork hung in Bradbury’s den.
4). One of the last essays Bradbury wrote, through dictation to me, was a sweeping history of his career in urban design. The piece was titled “The Pomegranate Architect.”
5). Bradbury spoke often about his dreams of designing a Museum of Animation History for the Walt Disney Company. The entryway would be a long hallway with life-sized lenticular drawings of Disney characters lining the walls. The characters would walk down the hall with the tourists as they entered the building.
Ohhhh, how I would loved to have seen the Bradbury/Huston film, “Ghost Horse!”
Is there a laydown date for Nightmares And Daydreams?
On that same subject – I came across a 1981 screen treatment for a sequel to “The Day The Earth Stood Still.” It is entitled, “The Evening Of The Second Day,” is set at Christmas, and is allegedly penned by Ray Bradbury. Is it legit?
What wonderful ideas! I’m glad Ray spent all his life doing what he loved and left so many stories for us to enjoy — and left us these wonderful dreams.
Andy–I don’t think Ray wrote a lot of it, but a Bradbury/Huston Western utilizing the fantastic would have been marvelous indeed!
As for the sequel to “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” Ray never told me that he wrote treatment for a sequel, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t do it. Phil Nichols, who occasionally posts comments, might know the answer to this as he focuses heavily on Ray’s film work. Phil, are you out there?
Cathy–
It’s great to hear from you! Congratulations on the great contribution to “The Report into the Loss of the SS Titanic.” What fascinating work you do! Keep me posted on recent or future publications! I hope you will also visit my other blog–www.samweller.net.
Happy New Year!
Hi Sam, yes I’m here!
I believe the screen treatment Andy refers to is genuine. Ray briefly mentioned it in some interview in the 1980s, such as one in STARLOG magazine in September 1986. I have seen two treatments online, both dated 1981, and stylistically they look like Bradbury compositions.
I don’t recall seeing these treatments in manuscript form at the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies (where copies of many of Ray’s scripts are held), but I will be looking for them on my next visit, whenever that may be.
Since this has come up, I might very well blog about Ray’s Klaatu sequel – so keep your eyes on http://www.bradburymedia.co.uk over the next week or so!
- Phil
Thank you so much, Phil.
Andy