The Most Dangerous Game

Irving Pichel and Ernest B. Schoedsack (directors)
James Ashmore Creelman (screenwriter)
Richard Connell (story)
Joel McCrea, Fay Wray (starring)

Culver City, CA: RKO Radio Pictures, 1932. Screenplay archive for the 1932 film. Archive consists of a Revised Final script and a typescript rewrite of the film's opening sequence onboard a yacht. The rewrite credits an unknown screenwriter named "Eliscu." Based on the Richard Connell short story first published in "Colliers" in 1924.

A rare set of scripts for a groundbreaking film. A deranged millionaire, living on an island, arranges for a yacht to be shipwrecked on his shores, whereupon he arranges for the survivors to be hunted. Decades ahead of its time, and almost iconoclastic in the cynicism of its subtext, Pichel and Schoedsack used ideas from their film "Gow the Headhunter (1931), and predicted their classic "King Kong" (1933), and dozens of other films that would follow using a theme of man being the hunted rather than the hunter.

Revised Final script:

Tan titled wrappers, noted as REVISED FINAL SCRIPT on the front wrapper, rubber-stamped PLEASE RETURN TO STORY DEPT. / RKO STUDIOS, Inc. / WEST COAST," dated May 13, 1932, with credits for story writer Conell and screenwriter Creelman. Title page integral with first page of text, with credits for Connell and Creelman. 123 leaves, with last page of text numbered 123. Mimeograph duplication, on onionskin stock, some leaves tan and others white. Pages Near Fine, wrapper about Near Fine, bound with three gold brads.

Opening Yacht Sequence script:

Blue titled wrappers, noted as OPENING YACHT SEQUENCE on the front wrapper, rubber stamped "Property of RKO STUDIOS, Inc. / Return to Scenario Dept. Files," dated July 2, 1932, with credits for story writer Conell and screenwriter Creelman, further noted as ELISCU CHANGES / Ciopied by RKO Stenographic Dept." Title page integral with first page of text, with credits for Connell and Creelman. 15 leaves, with last leaf of text number 123. Typescript, on onionskin stock. Pages Near Fine. A few small chips to the edges fragile wrapper, else about Near Fine.

Criterion Collection 46.


[Book #136754]