The Long, Hot Summer

Los Angeles: Twentieth Century-Fox Television, 1964. First Draft script for the pilot episode of the 1965-1966 television series, which originally aired on September 16, 1965 on ABC.

Based on the 1958 film directed by Martin Ritt, which was in turn based on the 1931 novella "Spotted Horses," the 1939 short story "Barn Burning," and the 1940 novel "The Hamlet" by William Faulkner. The series followed the Varners, a wealthy Mississippi family whose patriarch is forced to confront the newly arrived young son of his former rival, who challenges the Varners' control over the town.

Set in the fictitious town of Frenchman's Bend, Mississippi.

Red titled wrappers, noted as FIRST DRAFT on the front wrapper, dated October 7, 1964. Title page present, dated October 7, 1964, noted as FIRST DRAFT, with credits for screenwriter Earl Hamner, film screenwriters Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr., and story and novel credits to William Faulkner. 63 leaves, with last page of text numbered 58. Multilith duplication on eye-rest green stock, rectos only, with blue, pink, green, and yellow revision pages throughout, dated variously between 12/3/64 and 12/21/64. Pages Near Fine, wrapper Near Fine, bound with two gold brads.

[Book #152455]