Conspiracy/Complicity
Note: Closely related pair of drama documentaries for television, the first (Conspiracy) dramatizing the Conference of German government ministers and SS officers held at Grosse Wannsee, near Berlin, January 20, 1942, to coordinate the proposed "Final Solution" to the Jewish Question, the second (Complicity) concerning the American response to the news filtering out of Europe about that "Final Solution," and especially the Conference of Allied officials on the refugee problem held in Bermuda, April 19-28, 1943. The first was shot at Shepperton Studios in England to Mandel's script by HBO in collaboration with the BBC, directed by Frank Pierson, and broadcast in the US by ABC, May 19, 2001, in the UK by BBC2, January 25, 2002; the second remains a project. The material consists of: script files, mostly by Loring Mandel, a few (earlier-dated) by David Edgar, with drafts commented by screenwriters, producers, director, research staff, and consultants; a small number of production files concerning Conspiracy; and a large amount of research material, including photocopies and printouts from electronic media of primary and secondary sources on the Conferences and their background, interviews with participants in the events, and answers by researchers to queries raised by the scripts.

Script Files
Scope and Content Note: The arrangement of the scripts is roughly chronological; it does not attempt to separate out materials relating to one of the programs from those relating to the other (as there was, for a time, a plan to combine the two into one program, and many scripts were written with that in mind, such a division would not work). Separate from the bulk of the scripts is a set from a CD-ROM in Final Draft Pro format (for the CD-ROM, see below), opened and printed with the Final Draft free reader.

CD-ROM Scripts

Description of CD-ROM and full listing of files on it

Printout of 01102_1342/CONSPIRACY/conspiracyWGA.fdr (last modified 8/15/01): script of Conspiracy, undated

Printout of 01102_1342/CONSPIRACY/AsAired.fdr (last modified 10/25/03): script of Conspiracy, undated

Printout of 01102_1342/CONSPIRACY/AsAired-2.fdr (last modified 10/28/03)" script of Conspiracy without scene numbers, undated

Printout of 01102_1342/CONSPIRACY/AsAired-Done-Numb.fdr (last modified 10/29/03): script of Conspiracy, by Loring Mandel, with scene numbers, 2001 May 19

Printout of 01102_1342/CONSPIRACY/AsAired-Done.fdr (last modified 10/30/03): script of Conspiracy, by Loring Mandel, without scene numbers, 2001 May 19

Printout of 01102_1342/CONSPIRACY/Consp-Stage-1RevB2.fdr (last modified 8/26/05): script of stage version of Conspiracy, undated

Scripts on Paper

"David Edgar Script" (handwritten on first page): untitled script of Complicity, undated

"Complicity, by David Edgar [...] 1C January 2, 1996": script of Complicity, 1996"

"1st D of David Edgar after Pierson meetings" (handwritten on first page): untitled script of Complicity, undated

Complicity: script summaries and revisions, 1996 August

"Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee, written by Loring Mandel, 1st Draft, 11/6/96": script of Conspiracy

"Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee, written by Loring Mandel, 1st Draft, 11/14/96": script of Conspiracy

"Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee": script of Conspiracy, "Draft 2, 12/18/96," including notes, computer printout with emendations added in red in the file

"Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee, an Original Screenplay by Loring Mandel, Draft 2, 12/18/96": script

"Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee, written by Loring Mandel, Second Draft, 12/18/96": script with notes

"Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee, by Loring Mandel, December 18, 1996"

"Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee": computer printout script of Conspiracy, the second draft version with beginning of notes, and suggestions added in red in the file

"Pt 1" (handwritten on first page): untitled script of Complicity, "First Assembly Draft 5/22/97," with notes, with handwritten emendations

"FRP-Pt 2": untitled script of Complicity, "First Assembly Draft 5/22/97," with notes, emendations, comments and suggestions add in red in the file (FRP = Frank Pierson)

"Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, First Draft, 6/7/97": script, without notes

"Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, with Notes & Appendix, First Draft, 6/7/97": script

Complicity, one-line script emailed by Loring Mandel to Frank Pierson, 1997 June 18

Complicity: budgeting script outline, 1997 July 8

"Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, With Endnotes, Second Draft, 7/20/97": script

Post-it note with "Mid-revision unformatted" on first page, marked "Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee," with the first part running directly on to "Complicity" on page 118, "Second Draft 7/20/97" on last page before notes: script combining the two parts, with notes, and handwritten comments and suggestions

Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee" [crossed out] "Combining 2 Shows" handwritten on the first page: script, basically of Complicity, with a brief resuming introduction drawn from Conspiracy, last page has "Second Draft 7/20/97

"Cut 1-99 pgs, Complicity" (handwritten on the first page): script of Complicity more or less as above, but with the introduction incorporated into the page count: script, undated, without notes

"Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, Second Draft, 7/20/97": script, without notes but with Appendix, incorporating the transition from Conspiracy envisaged in the two preceding versions

"Conspiracy (new opening 7/21/97) (first and last page, 12/18/96 draft), Complicity (Second Revision, 7/21/97) by Loring Mandel": script, essentially of Complicity, with an introductory résumé of Conspiracy, with notes and Appendix

"Complic-FRP" (handwritten on first page): script of Complicity, "Third Draft, 9/3/97," without notes, with handwritten suggestions and comments

"Conspiracy and Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, Third Draft with Endnotes, 9/4/97": script of Complicity

"Conspiracy and Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, Third Draft, 9/4/97": script of Complicity

"Conspiracy; The Meeting at Wannsee" (crossed out on first page): undated script of Conspiracy, the opening pages (the material used to make the introductory part of the versions of Complicity, above) crossed out in the file, with notes and handwritten suggestions

"Conspiracy and Complicity, by Loring Mandel, September 5, 1997": combined script, without notes

"Conspiracy/Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, Third Draft, 10/17/97, With Endnotes": combined script

"Conspiracy/Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, Third Draft, 10/17/97": combined script

"Conspiracy/Complicity, by Loring Mandel, October 17, 1997, LM/3": combined script

"Complicity: The Meeting at Bermuda, written by Loring Mandel, Fourth Draft, 3/28/98": script of Complicity

"Complicity: The Meeting at Bermuda, written by Loring Mandel, Fourth Draft, 3/28/98, With Endnotes & Bibliography": script of Complicity

"Conspiracy and Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, With Endnotes and Bibliography, Revised Fourth Draft, 4/27/98": combined script

"Complicity (The Meeting at Bermuda)" (halfway down first page in folder, numbered 115-i.e., from a combined script): script of Complicity, "Rev. Fourth Draft 4/27/98," with notes (the notes are half to the Conspiracy part of the script)

Conspiracy (The Meeting at Wannsee)" (first page) "Complicity (The Meeting at Bermuda)" (page 121): combined script, "Rev Fourth Draft 4/27/98

"Conspiracy/Complicity, by Loring Mandel, with Endnotes and Bibliography, April 28, 1998, LM/5," with "Ani's Notes (5/28 & 29/98)" handwritten on the first page: hand annotated version of the 4/27/98 draft of the combined script

"Conspiracy/Complicity, by Loring Mandel, with Endnotes and Bibliography, April 28, 1998, LM/5," with "FD notes & CC notes" handwritten on the first page: annotated version of the 4/27/98 draft of the combined script

"Conspiracy/Complicity, Preface by Frank Pierson, April 28, 1998": typescript of essay with three-page bibliography

"Conspiracy/Complicity, by Loring Mandel, with Endnotes and Bibliography, April 28, 1998, LM/5, Interim Draft-June 2, 1998": combined script

Conspiracy, one-line schedules for a proposed May 2,000 shoot, 6/16/98 to 7/1/98

"Complicity, The second section of the complete Conspiracy/Complicity script, written by Loring Mandel, with Notes, Draft July 24, 1998": script

"Complicity, The second section of the complete Conspiracy/Complicity script, written by Loring Mandel, with Notes, Draft July 24, 1998": script with some handwritten notes and some comments entered in red in the file

"Conspiracy/Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, With Endnotes and Bibliography, Revised Fifth Draft, 8/27/98": combined script

"Conspiracy/Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, Revised Fifth Draft, 8/27/98": combined script

"Conspiracy/Complicity, by Loring Mandel, with Endnotes and Bibliography, August 29, 98, LM/6": combined script

"Conspiracy/Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, with Endnotes and Bibliography, Sixth Draft, 9/9/98": combined script

"Conspiracy/Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, Sixth Draft, 9/9/98": combined script

"Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee, an original drama by Loring Mandel, received 4/19/2000": script of Conspiracy, with endnotes and bibliography

"Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee, written by Loring Mandel, Third Draft, 9/13/00, received 9/13/00": script of Conspiracy

"Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee, by Loring Mandel, September 13, 2000, Annotated for Legal Review, September 26, 2000, Andrea Axelrod": script of Conspiracy, with handwritten numbered query points marked in it

"Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee, Written by Loring Mandel, Third Draft, 9/13/00, received 9/13/00": script of Conspiracy, with handwritten notes

"Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee, Written by Loring Mandel, Third Draft, 9/13/00, received 9/13/00," with "meeting notes" handwritten on the title page: script of Conspiracy, with handwritten notes

"Conspiracy, The Meeting at Wannsee, by Loring Mandel, September 13, 2000, Scene numbered, September 26, 2000": script of Conspiracy, with scene numbers

"Conspiracy: The Meeting at Wannsee," with "Dated 20-Oct-00" typed in the header throughout: Script of Conspiracy

"Conspiracy, The Meeting at Wannsee, Screenplay by Loring Mandel, Director: Frank Pierson, Green Revisions. Dated 25-10-2000, Blue Revisions. Dated 24-10-2000, Pink Revisions. Dated 23-10-2000, Shooting Draft October 20, 2000"
Note: Revised pages of the Conspiracy script, mostly green.

Various revised pages of the script of Conspiracy, 2000 October-November

"Conspiracy, The Meeting at Wannsee, Screenplay by Loring Mandel, Director: Frank Pierson, Salmon Revisions. Dated 14-11-2000, Yellow Revisions. Dated 30-10-2000, Green Revisions. Dated 25-10-2000, Blue Revisions. Dated 24-10-2000, Pink Revisions. Dated 23-10-2000, Shooting Draft October 20, 2000"
Note: Revised version of the Conspiracy script, complete, with most pages green, pink or yellow revises, and with handwritten notes and queries.

"Conspiracy, The Meeting at Wannsee, Screenplay by Loring Mandel, Director: Frank Pierson, Double White Dated 16-11-2000, Salmon Revisions Dated 14-11-2000, Lilac Revisions Dated 31-10-2000, Yellow Revisions Dated 30-10-2000, Green Revisions Dated 25-10-2000, Blue Revisions Dated 24-10-2000, Pink Revisions Dated 23-10-2000, Shooting Draft Dated 10-10-2000, Scene Numbered 26-09-2000"
Note: Script of Conspiracy.

Folder titled "Hand Notes to Edit for On Air": untitled undated script of Conspiracy with handwritten comments

Folder titled "Edits on Full Script," first page with "Conspiracy, written by Loring Mandel, An HBO Film, Initial Air Date: 5/19/01",
Note: Script of Conspiracy with handwritten emendations, the most important marked by colored tags.

Conspiracy, revisions of the voice overs and narration, 2001

Complicity": script of Complicity marked "Loring Mandel, D1-02-non, 2/27/02"

Complicity": script of Complicity marked "Loring Mandel, D1R-02, 4/14/02"

"Complicity, written by Loring Mandel, Draft* 1, 4/26/2002"
Note: Script of Complicity, with notes.

"Complicity, by Loring Mandel, First Rev. Draft, 6/26/2003"
Note: Script, with notes.

"Complicity, by Loring Mandel, First Rev Draft, 7/10/2003, received Jul 10 2003"
Note: Script of Complicity, without notes.

Folder labeled "D1 Rev (b)- script, with notes, 2003," first page with "Complicity, by Loring Mandel, First Rev Draft, 7/10/2003"

Conspiracy: various undated lists of scenes, mostly by Loring Mandel

Wannsee: proposal for a stage version of Conspiracy, undated

Comments on the Scripts
Note: At each stage in the writing of the scripts of both Conspiracy and Complicity, the drafts were circulated to other members of the production team, to the producing company, HBO, and to experts in the field approached as consultants. All such comments are grouped here. Identifiable drafts of scripts on which commentators have made hand-written comments, or with such comments inserted into the word-processing file, are located with the corresponding script draft above.

Comments by miscellaneous commentators, including: Michael Berenbaum, Christopher Browning, Colin Callender, Kim Hershman (of HBO Legal Department), A. Mollo, Peter Zinner, Stanley Sheinbaum, and various unidentified authors

Comments by Andrea Axelrod
Note: See also Andrea Axelrod research folders.

Comments by Frank Doelger

Comments by David Edgar
Note: Includes letters on the script to David Edgar from Paul Darter.

Comments by Steven Haft

Comments by Loring Mandel

Comments by Alasdair Palmer

Comments by Frank Pierson

Major Primary Sources: Interviews
Note: For interview with Jan Karski, see Box 16, Folder 2.

Interview with John W. Pehle

Interviews with Gerhart Riegner (includes documentation on Riegner's life, and copies of documents relating to his activities in the 1940s)

Major Primary Sources: Protocols

Wannsee Conference (January 1942), Protocol: English translation, various versions

Proceedings of the trial of Adolf Eichmann, Jerusalem, photocopied extracts, 1961

Bermuda Conference (April 1943), Proceedings, copies of minutes (from typed U.S. Government documents)

Bermuda Conference (April 1943), copies of associated US Government cables

Bermuda Conference (April 1943), Protocol: photocopied pages from a published version

Major Primary Sources: Other Documents

Documents concerning Breckinridge Long and related State Department records

Documents copied from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library

Major Secondary Sources

Arthur D. Morse, While Millions Died, A Chronicle of American Apathy (New York: Ace Publishing photocopy, 1968): photocopy

David S. Wyman, ed., America and the Holocaust, A Thirteen-Volume Set documenting the editor's book "The Abandonment of the Jews" (New York: Garland Publishing, 1990), Volume 1: Confirming the News of Extermination, photocopy of contents list; Volume 2: The Struggle for Rescue Action, photocopy of contents list; Volume 3: The Mock Rescue Conference: Bermuda, photocopy of parts of the book

Research Files by Subject
Note: Notes by researchers and photocopies of documentation discovered by those researchers (much of this is probably the work of Andrea Axelrod).

Bibliography

Chrononology

Andrea Axelrod Research Files
Note: Notes, correspondence and photocopies of documents discovered by researcher Andrea Axelrod.

Classified: notes and documentation on: Fate of Participants

Biographies of Wannsee and Bermuda Conference Participants

Research on Breckinridge Long

Miscellaneous Research topics, unclassified

Ani Gast Research

Research correspondence by Ani Gasti

Research: General

Research: photocopies, clippings, web printouts

Production Files

Writer's agreement between Loring Mandel and HBO Films, with its various revisions, 1996-2003, WGA script registrations, and other legal correspondence

HBO Correspondence, mainly arrangements, schedules, and minutes of production meetings

Shepperton Studios shoot of Conspiracy arrangements for travel to and accommodation in England, Loring Mandel personal expenses during the shoot, contact lists for technicians, cast list, rehearsal schedules, and call sheets 2000 November

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous Loring Mandel notes, correspondence, schedules, correspondence, concerning the production

Frank Pierson notes and correspondence

Conspiracy, pre-airing screenings in New York and Washington: Loring Mandel itineraries and expenses

Conspiracy, loose photocopies and clippings, reviews of U.S. broadcast, 2001 May

Conspiracy, reviews of U.S. broadcast, May group of photocopies and printouts sent to Loring Mandel by Sondra Simon, 2001

Conspiracy, Emmy Awards, 2001
Note: Loring Mandel's itineraries and expenses relating to the Awards ceremony; tickets and other papers associated with the ceremony; the award certificate; the Awards ceremony program booklet.

Conspiracy, Emmy Awards, congratulatory letters and cards received by Loring Mandel in association with the awards, 2001

Conspiracy, Writers Guild of America and Peabody awards

The Butcher of Prague, by Steve Garvin, film script on the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, 1993 August

Legal-Sized Files: Script Files, Sources and Research, Reviews

Schedules for a combined shoot of Conspiracy and Complicity, 1997 July

Interviews with Jan Karski

Bermuda Conference (April 1943): photocopies of U.S. and British government documents

Miscellaneous Research by Andrea Axelrod

Miscellaneous photocopies

Conspiracy, clippings, photocopies and printouts, reviews of British broadcast, 2002 January