Blade Runner

Burbank, CA: Brighton Productions / Warner Brothers, 1980. Draft script for the seminal 1982 science fiction film. Copy belonging to special effects designer William Shourt, with "Shourt Works" written in manuscript pencil at the top right corner of the front wrapper.

Though not credited, this is the last draft submitted by the film's first screenwriter, Hampton Fancher, and is dated the day after Fancher left the project (though he returned later for rewrites) and the writing chores were handed to David Webb Peoples. Principal shooting began on March 9, 1981.

This version of the film ends differently than the cut released in 1982, showing Deckard alone by the end of the film. This draft also makes clear that Deckard knows he is a replicant, reflecting on that knowledge in more detail than any filmed version would later show.

Based on the 1968 novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick. A classic of the genre, building on the claustrophobic, dystopian vision director Ridley Scott previously established in "Alien" (1979), and setting a new standard for science fiction cinema.

Set in Los Angeles, shot on location in London and Los Angeles.

Buff titled wrappers. Title page present, dated December 22, 1980, with an annotation in manuscript ink noting copy No. 229. 142 leaves, last leaf numbered 140. Xerographic duplication, rectos only. Pages and wrapper Very Good plus, with some brief staining to the wrappers and some curl at the corners from use. Bound with two gold brads.

National Film Registry. Carson and Connolly, Destroy All Movies. Ebert III. Grant US. Penzler 101. Rosenbaum 1000. Silver and Ward Neo-Noir. Spicer US Neo-Noir.

[Book #160170]