The V.I.P.s [Very Important Persons]

Anthony Asquith (director)
Terence Rattigan (screenwriter)
Anatole de Grunwald (producer)
Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton (starring)

Beverly Hills, CA: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer [MGM], 1962. Draft script for the 1963 film "The V.I.P.'s," seen here as "Very Important Persons," which has been struck through with "The V.I.P.'s" written above in manuscript pencil. Rubber-stamped FILE COPY, and number 5974 on the front wrapper. Notations to dialogue throughout, in manuscript pencil, red pencil, and blue and black ink.

A star-studded drama, based loosely on screenwriter Rattigan's friend, actress Vivien Leigh, and her attempt to leave her husband, Laurence Olivier. In a New York airport, at the V.I.P. lounge, Frances Andros (Taylor) is seen off by her husband, Paul (Burton), who is unaware that she plans to leave him for an aging international playboy named Marc Champselle (Louis Jourdan). Several other persons are stuck in the lounge (due to foggy weather), including an Australian businessman and his secretary, a filmmaker and his young starlet, and a duchess.

Taylor's jewelry in the film came mostly from her own collection, and this is Taylor's and Burton's second film together ("Cleopatra" was released in the US before "The V.I.P.s," but was released after it in the UK) . Margaret Rutherford won an Academy Award for her supporting role.

Set in New York and shot on location in England.

Pale blue titled wrappers, rubber-stamped production No. 5974, dated November 20th 1962, with credits for producer de Grunwald and screenwriter Rattigan. Title page not present. 186 leaves, mimeograph duplication, with pink, blue, white, yellow, orange, and brown revision pages throughout, dated variously between 20.11.62 and 8.4.63. Pages Very Good plus, wrapper Very Good plus bound with two gold brads.


[Book #131486]