John Loves Mary

N.p. N.p., Circa 1949. Draft script for the 1949 film. Specially bound copy belonging to producer Jerry Wald, with his name in gilt on the spine, and his annotations in manuscript ink on the cast pages, identifying actors. Ten reference photographs from the film bound in variously among the script pages.

Jerry Wald is best remembered for his long and successful association with Warner Brothers as both a screenwriter and producer of a number of notable films, including "Mildred Pierce" (1945), "Humoresque" (1946), "Key Largo" (1948), and "Flamingo Road" (1949). In the 1950s he moved to Twentieth Century-Fox, and was the producer there for "An Affair to Remember" (1957), "Peyton Place" (1957), and "Sons and Lovers" (1960).

Based on Norman Krasna's 1947 play. A returning GI marries his best friend's English girlfriend in order to get her into the US, intending to divorce her shortly afterwards to allow her to marry his friend. He discovers soon afterwards, however, that his friend is already married, leaving him stuck with his new bride.

Bound in light blue cloth with navy quarter leather binding, with five raised bands and gilt titles on the spine. Title page present, undated, with credits for playwright Norman Krasna and screenwriters Henry and Phoebe Ephron. 160 leaves, with last page of text numbered 148. Mimeograph duplication, rectos only, with pink revision pages throughout, dated variously between 1/29/48 and 2/23/48. Pages Near Fine, binding Good, moderately worn and toned on the leather.

[Book #161389]