Ain't That America

N.p. N.p., 1984. Second Draft script for an unproduced film, using the hook from singer-songwriter John Cougar Mellencamp's 1983 song "Pink Houses" as its moniker. Annotation in manuscript ink on the title page, noting copy No. 20.

An unproduced drama about unemployed steelworkers in western Pennsylvania, by acclaimed screenwriter and director Frank Pierson. Pierson was the writer of "Dog Day Afternoon" (1975, winner of the Academy Award for Best Screenplay) and co-writer of "Cool Hand Luke" (1967), "Cat Ballou" (1965), and "A Star is Born" (1976), among many others. Pierson served as the President of the Writers Guild of America, West, for two terms in the 1980s and 1990s, and was also associated with the American Film Institute, the Academy of American Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Sundance Film Festival.

Considered by many to be one of the best unproduced, still-unfilmed screenplays, written in the wake of an April, 1984, "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" magazine article about the spate of films about American milltowns. A xerographically duplicated copy of the article, as well as a 1985 newspaper special report on Pittsburgh's laid-off steel workers, is included with the screenplay on offer.

Orange untitled wrappers. Title page present, dated June 7, 1984, noted as SECOND DRAFT, with credit for screenwriter Frank Pierson. 133 leaves, with last page of text numbered 132. Xerographic duplication, rectos only. Pages Very Good plus, wrapper Near Fine, with light offsetting on the last page of the script. Bound internally with three gold brads.

[Book #159116]