Four drafts of the screenplay for the science fiction classic, Invaders From Mars originally written by John Tucker Battle (who received story credit), and revised by other writers: 1. Typed Carbon, 96 pp, 4to, [Los Angeles], n.d. [but c.1950], housed in tan folder with label on upper cover identifying title as “The Invaders,” with label of Arthur Gardner to inside cover. Arthur Gardner was a struggling producer in the early 1950s who must have attached himself to the original project, but who was not involved with the final film. In this draft, the basic concept of the film is present but many scenes are vastly different from final version. 2. Mimeographed Manuscript, 88 pp, 4to, n.p., n.d, housed in tan “William Morris Agency” covers, script untitled but listing John Tucker Battle as author. Revised from previous draft. 3. Mimeographed Manuscript, 103 pp, 4to, Beverly Hills, CA, n.d., housed in National Pictures Corporation covers, titled “Invaders From Mars” (but no author listed), with penciled annotation to upper cover, “Please don’t show this around.” This version is more polished and suspenseful, and much closer to the filmed version. 3. Mimeographed Manuscript, 109 pp, 4to, Beverly Hills, CA, September 17, 1952, housed in National Pictures Corporation covers, the shooting script for the film including blue and pink revision pages, no writer credit on manuscript but facsimile insert of production credits lists Richard Blake as screenwriter, with a note that Blake is suspected as a pseudonym for a collaboration of producer Edward Alperson and director William Cameron Menzies Wear to all copies. A fascinating look at the development process of the 1950s.
Four drafts of the screenplay for the science fiction classic, Invaders From Mars originally written by John Tucker Battle (who received story credit), and revised by other writers: 1. Typed Carbon, 96 pp, 4to, [Los Angeles], n.d. [but c.1950], housed in tan folder with label on upper cover identifying title as “The Invaders,” with label of Arthur Gardner to inside cover. Arthur Gardner was a struggling producer in the early 1950s who must have attached himself to the original project, but who was not involved with the final film. In this draft, the basic concept of the film is present but many scenes are vastly different from final version. 2. Mimeographed Manuscript, 88 pp, 4to, n.p., n.d, housed in tan “William Morris Agency” covers, script untitled but listing John Tucker Battle as author. Revised from previous draft. 3. Mimeographed Manuscript, 103 pp, 4to, Beverly Hills, CA, n.d., housed in National Pictures Corporation covers, titled “Invaders From Mars” (but no author listed), with penciled annotation to upper cover, “Please don’t show this around.” This version is more polished and suspenseful, and much closer to the filmed version. 3. Mimeographed Manuscript, 109 pp, 4to, Beverly Hills, CA, September 17, 1952, housed in National Pictures Corporation covers, the shooting script for the film including blue and pink revision pages, no writer credit on manuscript but facsimile insert of production credits lists Richard Blake as screenwriter, with a note that Blake is suspected as a pseudonym for a collaboration of producer Edward Alperson and director William Cameron Menzies Wear to all copies. A fascinating look at the development process of the 1950s.
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Create an alert![[INVADERS FROM MARS.]](https://images2.bonhams.com/image?src=Images/live/2008-01/25/7601242-4-1.JPG "Source: Bonhams London")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
