The Ugly American

Universal City, CA: Universal Pictures, 1959. First Draft screenplay for the 1963 film.

Best on the best-selling 1958 novel by Burdick and Lederer, about Americans in Vietnam and the struggle for the US in combating the country's Communist politics. Brando plays a scholar named Harrison MacWhite, who becomes ambassador to Sarkan, a southeast Asian country in the midst of civil war. He realizes that the anti-American sentiment towards Communism symbolizes his own longing for self-determination and nationalism. Released early the same year as the assassination of JFK and the escalation of the Vietnam War.

Green titled wrappers, noted as FIRST DRAFT SCREENPLAY on the front wrapper, rubber-stamped production No. 8378, dated May 21, 1959. Title page present, noted as First Draft Screenplay, with credits for screenwriter Stern. 160 leaves, Multilith duplication. Pages about Fine, wrapper about Fine bound with three gold brads.

[Book #129017]