Personal book-bound script for Gentleman's Agreement (20th Century-Fox, 1947). ...

Description

Personal book-bound script for Gentleman's Agreement (20th Century-Fox, 1947). Vintage original 144-page revised shooting final script dated June 3, 1947, with blue revision pages dated to July 7, 1947. Screenplay by Moss Hart, adapted from Laura Z. Hobson's best-selling 1947 novel of the same title. The present script was custom-bound for Mr. Peck's personal library in full burgundy calf with title and Mr. Peck's name stamped in gilt on the front board. Spine stamped in gilt with five raised bands. Decorative endpapers. With 20 gelatin silver glossy 7" x 9" production stills from the film tipped to pages bound-in. Spine is slightly sun faded with rubbing along the edges. Boards lightly scuffed and corners rubbed. Front board is slightly bowed. Page 142 has a chipped tear to the center fore edge with some insect damage in the right border. Some of the stills show some irregular toning. Very Good.

The film was controversial on its release because of the subject of prejudice and Anti-Semitism prevalent in New York City and its surrounding affluent communities. Samuel Goldwyn and other Jewish studio executives tried to convince Darryl Zanuck not to make the film for risk of aggravating tensions as well as running up against Hays Code enforcer, Joseph Breen, known to have made disparaging remarks about people of Jewish descent. Mr. Peck's agent at the time advised him against taking the role for risk of endangering the young man's career. Despite the challenges of producing the film, Mr. Peck received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and it was also nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Dorothy McGuire, Best Supporting Actress, Anne Revere, Best Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. The film won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress, Celeste Holm and was one of the top-grossing films of 1947. In 2017 the film was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Please note that while not a studio presentation script, the present script was custom bound for Mr. Peck's personal library and features his name stamped in gilt on the front board.

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