PRODUCTIONS

[Prince Littler, extensive theatre propietor.] Four Typed Letters Signed and one Typed Note Signed to theatre historian W. J. Macqueen-Pope, on topics including productions of ?Oaklahoma?, ?The King and I? and ?Plain and Fancy?.

Author: 
Prince Littler [born Jules Richeux] (1901-1973), extensive theatre proprietor, Managing Director of the Stoll, Associated and Moss Theatre groups [W. J. Macqueen-Pope (1888-1960), theatre historian]
Publication details: 
The five items between 1950 and 1956. On letterheads of Stoll Theatres Corporation Limited, Stoll Offices, London Coliseum, WC2, and Cranbourn Mansions, Cranbourn Street, London WC2.
£180.00

For more information on writer (one of West End theatre?s ?most dominant and successful landlords?) and recipient (the foremost British theatre historian of the twentieth century), see their entries in the Oxford DNB. The five items (the TNS is Item Three, the others are ALsS) are in good condition, lightly aged; Item Five with slight paperclip damage to a margin. Each folded once. All five signed ?Prince Littler? and addressed to ?Popie?, two at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, one at 9 Oakdale, London N14, and one at Coventry House, Coventry St, W1.

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[ Frank Pettingell, English film actor. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Frank Pettingell') to 'Mr Capur', witha movie still of Pettingell in the Gainsborough Production 'Take My Tip' .

Author: 
Frank Pettingell [ Frank Edmund George Pettingell ] (1891-1966), English film actor [ Gainsborough Productions ]
Publication details: 
Letter on letterhead of Highfield Lodge, Wise Lane, Mill Hill, N.W.7. [ London ] 26 August 1945. Movie still: Renown Pictures Corporation Limited, Gainsborough Production [ 1937 ].
£80.00

ONE: Letter. 2pp., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged. He apologises for the delay in returning 'Purple Dust', explaining that he has only recently learnt 'definitely that the film will claim me until the end of October'. He asks Capur or his secretary 'to call in any time at the Theatrical bookshop in your court - I cannot remember the name of the shop - nor its proprietor except that his first name is Barry. [ i.e.

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[ Unmade British film noir based on the Burke and Hare murders, apparently intended as a vehicle for Sir Donald Wolfit. ] Typed screenplay of 'The Body Snatchers by John Lemont and Leigh Vance', 'Treatment by Bill Strutton'.

Author: 
John Lemont (1914-2003), Canadian director; Leigh Vance (1922-1994), producer; Bill Strutton (1918-2003), Australian screenwriter; Zodia Productions, London [Sir Donald Wolfit; Burke and Hare murders]
Publication details: 
'A Master Film Treatment for Zodiac Productions | Copyright: Zodiac Productions Ltd: 171, Shahftesbury Avenue, London, W.C.1.' Undated [ circa 1958 ].
£400.00

[1] + 62pp., folio. On rectos only. Bound with metal studs into yellow card covers, with the spine reinforced with cloth tape. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Loosely inserted is a five-page carbon typescript describing 'Approximate number of costumes necessary'. Also inserted is a typed page beginning with an 'Extract from letter from Sir Donald Wolfit: 8.7.58. | At the moment it looks like an opening date in the second half of September out of London for six or seven weeks first. Mr. Laurence Irving will be in touch with you in the near future for a preliminary discussion'.

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[ Lajos Bíró, Alexander Korda's scenario chief at London Film Productions. ] Unpublished typescript of '"Hollywood of Course" A Play In Three Acts By LAJOS BIRO'.

Author: 
Lajos Bíró [ Lajos Biro ] [ born Lajos Blau ] (1880-1948), Austro-Hungarian novelist, playwright and screenwriter who worked for Alexander Korda at London Film Productions
Publication details: 
'Copyright 1942 by British and Continental Plays Ltd.'
£400.00

168pp., 4to. Pages typed in black and red (by Active Secretarial Bureau, Wardour Street) on versos only. Bound in grey card wraps, with red tape spine. Typed title on cover, with circular red label of 'British and Continental Plays Ltd'. The main characters include the unnamed members of a continental royal family, together with 'Baroness Sibyl Konigsmark' and 'Section-Leader Grumb', and the scene is set at an Old Castle and Summer Palace, and 'Late in June of the year 1941. Three o'clock p.m.' and periods shortly following.

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Nine items relating to the film 'Antonio Gaudi, The Unfinished Vision', from the estate of its producer Michael J. Cooper, including a treatment by Cooper, a story outline with covering artwork, a signed contract, a legal letter and five receipts.

Author: 
Michael J. Cooper [Prof. Juan Bassegoda Nonell; Hedger Wallace; Mark Wenborn; John Alaimo; Fernando Rey]
Publication details: 
Mostly from Cooper's company: Michelangelo Productions Ltd., 50 Gray's Inn Road, London. 1973 and 1974.
£320.00

Regarded as lost for 35 years this drama documentary, directed by John Alaimo, was discovered in a Barcelona bank vault in 2009, and has recently been released on DVD. The nine items are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. One: 'Gaudi | Treatment by Michael J. Cooper | April 1974'. [i] + 4pp., foolscap 8vo, in plastic folder. Two: 'Story Outline' for 'Antonio Gaudi | The Unfinished Vision | A Special Television Film Production'.

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