Song of Russia [Russia]

Culver City, CA: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer [MGM], 1943. Draft script for the 1944 film, here under the working title "Russia," with annotation in manuscript ink above title of "Song of," amending it to its release title, date annotation in manuscript pencil on top right, and "Rerun," "Mar 9 1943" stamps to the lower right, all on front wrapper.

Annotations in manuscript pencil on verso of front wrapper on screenwriter revision check sheet printed on verso of wrapper. Bold annotations in manuscript pencil on recto and verso on ten leaves, likely written by a child, some responding to the action of script, some appearing unrelated. One annotation of page number, and one of a name, not in the same hand as above, both in manuscript pencil, and two copied annotations of revision dates in script. Laid in is an additional page 85, dated 3/3/85, and a newspaper clipping, circa 1944, of a photo of two Army personnel with mortars.

Famed conductor John Meredith (Robert Taylor) tours Soviet Russia shortly before the 1941 invasion by NAZI Germany, falling in love with sweet peasant girl Nadya (Susan Peters).

A positive portrayal of the Soviet Union during the wartime alliance with the US, which, after the end of the war, would be cited by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) as an example of "pro-Soviet propaganda films" made by Hollywood. Cited and derided by Ayn Rand during her 1947 testimony before HUAC.

Set in the Soviet Union.

Yellow titled wrappers, noted as COMPLETE on the front wrapper, rubber-stamped production No. 195, dated 1-15-43, with credits for screenwriters Paul Jarrico and Richard Collins. Title page integral with first page, dated 3/13/43. 124 leaves, with last page of text numbered 107. Mimeograph duplication, rectos only, with pink and white revision pages throughout, dated variously between 1/15/43 and 4/5/43. Pages Near Fine, wrapper Very Good plus, with light soiling and cello tape to verso and recto of rear wrapper and closed tear at spine of rear wrapper, bound with two gold brads.

[Book #148600]