Comet Over Broadway Original screenplay for the 1938 film screenwriter Mark Hellinger's bound copy with a typescript draft and a TLS from Bette Davis
1938133673Burbank CA: Warner Brothers 1938. Final Draft script for the 1938 film. From the library of producer Mark Hellinger who wrote the film's screenplay bound in red three-quarter leather with gilt titles and designs marbled endpapers raised bands trimmed edges and Hellinger's name in gilt on the front board. Also included is a typescript on onionskin stock with the title and credits for Hellinger and story writer Faith Baldwin on the front wrapper in holograph ink. Finally laid in is a typed letter signed by Bette Davis dated March 31 1939 on Davis' stationery thanking Hellinger for kind words regarding her film "Dark Victory" 1939 and discussing her dismay with the script for "Comet Over Broadway" and her resulting decision to part ways with the film. <br/><br/>Mark Hellinger's first screenplay for Warner Brothers. His other credits include the noir antecedent "The Roaring Twenties" 1939 screenwriter "It All Came True" 1940 producer and his notable series of foundation noir films "High Sierra" 1941 associate producer "The Killers" 1946 producer and "The Naked City" 1948 producer. <br/><br/>Based on a story by Faith Baldwin published in "Cosmopolitan" in 1937 about Eve Appleton Francis wife of garage owner Bill Appleton Litel and aspiring actress. Bill gets into an argument with an actor over Eve and accidentally kills him. Eve takes her infant daughter and tries to make her way on Broadway while Bill is imprisoned. Set in New York. <br/><br/>Bound script:<br/><br/>Noted as FINAL on the distribution page dated 3/28/38 with credits for Hellinger Robert Buckner N. Brewster Morse Fritz Falkenstein and Frank Cavett on the following page flatsigned by Walter MacEwen. Distribution page present with receipt intact. 155 leaves mimeograph duplication dated August 19 1938 and August 22 1938 screenwriters' credit page. Pages and binding Near Fine. <br/><br/>Typescript:<br/><br/>Blue wrappers. "Comet Over Broadway by Mark Hellinger / after a story by Faith Baldwin" in holograph ink on the front wrapper. Title page present with credits for screenwriter Hellinger and story writer Baldwin. 78 leaves typed watermarked "MILLERS FALLS." Pages Near Fine wrapper Very Good plus bound with two gold brads. <br/><br/>Bette Davis letter and envelope: <br/><br/>Light soil and a closed tear to the envelope. Letter folded horizontally else Near Fine. Warner Brothers unknown books
Royal Books, Inc. · États-Unis750,00 $US≈ 634,57 €
