Southern, Terry

Original Film Script: "The Private War of Wolsey Fickett"

London, England: Terry Southern/ Fitzroy Films Ltd., n/d (Circa 1963). First Edition. Bound Sheets. A complete early film script by Terry Southern (1924-1995), the acclaimed Beat-&-Beyond novelist & screenwriter. Based on an original story by Robert Carrington (b. 1928) & his then-wife Jane Howard Hammerstein Carrington (1934-2022), screenwriters of note who collaborated on acclaimed films including Wait Until Dark (1967), this undated script was written by Southern during the early 1960s & never (yet) filmed. The plot appears to be a semi-satirical spy-caper adventure set during World War II featuring British agents, German officers etc. Southern would soon proceed to such legendary works as the novel Candy (with Mason Hoffenberg, 1964, see our item No. 4470), the co-writing of dialogue for the Stanley Kubrick classic film Dr. Strangelove, & more which were fully produced & have taken their place in our contemporary culture. This script dates approximately to the beginning of Southern's period in "swinging" London which began at the behest of Kubrick & ushered his most successful phase. Tack-bound sheets in red covers, first & presumably only printing. From the collection of Kevin Ring, publisher of the indispensable Beat Scene magazine & many other outstanding productions (many available here), & our good friend "across the pond" in the UK. A unique rarity of great importance to collectors & devotees of Southern & his legacy. In near-fine condition with mild-to-moderate rubbing to front & back thick paper leather-textured red covers; moderate wear & some bumps, creases & mostly closed, short tears at edges & corners of same with very slight loss of paper; two tiny puncture-holes from binding tacks at right margin of blank red back cover; moderate browning, rubbing, scratching & occasional spotting to all four edges of text block (including spine). Interior near-fine with significant loss of paper at blank upper right area of title page (all printed areas intact as shown in image); mild browning, occasional spotting to page leaves; tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; circular tops of binding tacks slightly rusted with light bleeding-impressions onto blank red inner front cover. Near Fine. [Item #5168]

Price: $1,000.00