Screenwriter and playwright Hugh Whitemore’s (1936-2018) annotated working copy, from his library. The text has been extensively annotated throughout in green and red ink, in preparation for an unrealised screenplay, with numerous marginal lines, underlinings, and verbal notations. The underlinings are generally used to indicate important information regarding characters, settings, and key plot points (“thick Norfolk accent”; “important material about Pip”), whilst the verbal annotations provide directions and production notes, for example: “as Robb explores hook with his fingers – hear footsteps – door opening – then bucket clang”; “bridging scene in Mini”; “Street bridge? Ext Albert Hall, with crowds”; “short scene with Joanna? – or mother, ref. to black eye”; “shots of racecourse. Tannoy announcements. Credits & Pre-credits”). Many notations concern the nitty-gritty of adapting the printed work for the screen, with sections crossed through to indicate their deletion, minor alterations to the text with the insertion of new dialogue, and added descriptions of settings: “pub”, “changing room”, “Axminster’s House. (Terrace?)”. There is also a character list in green ink to the front pastedown, and notes to rear flap of the dustwrapper in black and green ink listing scenes and settings. Together, they form a fascinating insight into the process of converting a novel into a screenplay.
This, the second novel by the British steeplechase jockey and crime writer Dick Francis, was ultimately never adapted by Whitemore, although a BBC radio production was broadcast in 1972. Whitemore himself enjoyed a successful career in film and television, with many noted productions to his name, including ‘Concealed Enemies’ (1984) and ‘The Gathering Storm’ (2002) – the scripts of which both won Emmy Awards – as well as ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ (1975), ‘84, Charing Cross Road’ (1987) and ‘Utz’ (1992).
First edition, second impression. Publisher’s original green cloth with titles in gilt to the spine, in dustwrapper. A very good copy, the binding square and firm. The contents with a hint of toning are otherwise excellent throughout. The dustwrapper with tanning to the spine and rear panel and a fingernail-size chip to the upper left corner of the front panel is otherwise very good and remains un-clipped.
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