The Henry S. Noerdlinger papers span the years 1945-1960 (bulk 1950s) and encompass 1.3 linear feet. The collection contains research and correspondence for THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956) and a small amount of research material for SAMSON AND DELILAH (1949). The collection also contains audiotapes of talks and panel discussions relating to Noerdlinger's research for THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, a research handbook for an unproduced film, and scripts for a documentary made by Noerdlinger. There is no material on Noerdlinger's personal life or on his years at MGM, nor is there any information concerning THE UNCONQUERED (1947) or THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (1952).

Henry S. Noerdlinger (1905-1985) was a Swiss-born film researcher and historian. Following his brother, Victor, a casting director, into the film industry, he got a job as a translator at MGM. Noerdlinger left the MGM Research Department in 1945 to work for Cecil B. DeMille. During his tenure on DeMille's staff, he did research for SAMSON AND DELILAH (1949), THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956), and other DeMille films. After DeMille's death, Noerdlinger completed a documentary film and later became head of the West Coast office of the National Education Association.