Unsigned handwritten manuscript detailing dialogue and scenes from Stagecoach on both sides of one 6.75 x 8.5 sheet of Ford’s personal stationery with his Hollywood address at 6860 Odin imprinted at the top. Ford pens six different small portions of dialogue and scene description, and reads, in part: “Plummers leave Oriental. Black cat crosses path—younger Plummer hysterically shoots cat. Luke reproves him ‘Keep yo’ nerve.’ (Plummers = Luke: Matthew & John?…Buck to Curly: ‘Suppose I hafter charge half-fare for the kid.’…Hatsfield = Escape sequence ‘I overheard your conversation. I took the liberty of saddling a horse.” In fine condition, with a rough left edge, a couple of staple holes, and a few light folds and creases. The consignor notes that this manuscript was given by Ford’s son to the editor of his father’s biography.
Released in 1939, Stagecoach, which follows a group of strangers riding on a stagecoach through dangerous Apache territory, starred John Wayne in his breakthrough role as “The Ringo Kid.” Before production, Ford shopped the project around to several Hollywood studios, all of which turned him down because he insisted on using rookie actor John Wayne in a key role in the film. Wayne had appeared in only one big-budget western, The Big Trail, which had been a huge box office flop. Ford approached independent producer Walter Wanger about the project. Wanger had the same reservations about producing an "A" western and even more about one starring Wayne; Wanger said he would not risk his money unless Ford replaced John Wayne with Gary Cooper. Ford refused to budge; it would be Wayne or no one. Eventually they compromised, with Wanger putting up a little more than half of what Ford had been asking for, and Ford gave top billing to Claire Trevor, a far better-known name than John Wayne in 1939.
Ford’s gamble paid off. In a year which saw the release of such classics as Robin Hood, Gone With the Wind, and The Wizard of Oz. Stagecoach not only won the Academy Award for its now-famous score, but went on to be recognized as one of the top ten Westerns of all time. Ford’s notes, offered here, are a real part of Hollywood history! RRAuction COA.
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