Heart of Darkness Orson Welles' Revised Estimating script. ...

Description

Heart of Darkness Orson Welles' Revised Estimating script. (1939) Vintage original Orson Welles studio bound and bradded 174-multi-color revision page Revised Estimating Script for the unproduced film Heart of Darkness adapted by Welles from the Joseph Conrad novella of the same title. Considered the "first" feature screenplay ever written by Welles at RKO. Welles had planned to shoot the film in about 165 long panning shots, representing the point of view of Conrad's main character, "Captain Marlow" as he journeys in an old stream boat down a long jungle river in Africa in a quest to find "Mr. Kurtz" and some clue to the meaning of life. In a creative 10-page prologue to the film, Welles illustrates, through voice over and image, what the audience will encounter in his unconventional POV perspective shooting. In part: "INTRODUCTION. After regular RKO trademark title, followed by Mercury title, FADE OUT. DARK SCREEN. WELLE'S VOICE. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Orson Welles. Don't worry. There's just nothing to look at for a while. You can close your eyes, if you want to, but - please open them when I tell you to.....First of all, I am going to divide this audience into two parts - you and everybody else in the theater. Now, then, open your eyes." There were many elements contributing to the scrapping of the ambitious film. The ongoing war in Europe cut down on projected studio revenues and making the back lot into African rivers for the central boat trip was too expensive. It has also been suggested that, confined by his restrictive POV format, Welles abandoned the project. Welles' longtime colleague John Houseman offers insight in his autobiography Run Through, writing in part: "The attractions were obvious; so were the difficulties...Joseph Conrad had used all sorts of subtle literary devices; the evil that destroyed him [Kurtz] was suggested and implied but never shown. In the concrete medium of film no such evasion was possible. Kurtz's life and the actions that led to his downfall must be dramatized and shown on the screen. Orson was aware of this, but he had not given it much thought...it was left to me to develop Welles's ideas into some kind of first-draft motion-picture script...worried by the ambivalence of my own feelings for Orson and in my anxiety to give him what he wanted, I found myself unable to give him anything at all. And Orson, who was beginning to have his own doubts about the project, had the satisfaction of feeling that he had, once again, been betrayed." When RKO pulled the plug on the project, Welles went on to make "Citizen Kane." The crème colored cover is typed title, dated 30 November 1939 and the estimating information "Number of pages 184, Number of Speeches 944". With Revised Estimating Script" inkstamp. Presented in a vintage board bound black folder. In vintage very good condition.

Heritage Auctions provides as much information as possible but strongly encourages in-person inspection. Condition statements are offered as general guidance only, not as complete representations of fact, and do not constitute a warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted but may be visible in the photos, which are considered part of the condition report. Lots estimated at $1,000 or less are not de-framed for inspection, and we may be unable to provide additional details for lots valued under $500. Heritage does not guarantee the condition of frames and is not liable for damage to frames, glass/acrylic coverings, original boxes, display accessories, or artwork that has shifted in the frame. All lots are sold "AS IS" under our Terms & Conditions of Auction.