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THERE ARE MANY STORIES from which fine motion pictures have been made. The reader may wonder, therefore, on what basis the twelve in this book have been selected. The explanation lies in that difficult-to-define but universally understood phrase, literary merit. Good plot, characterization and, to some extent, mood, can be transferred from printed page to screen, but fine writing, subtleties and excellencies of style, word cadence and rhythm remain locked in the written text. Moreover, they play no part (except a psychological one) in the choosing of a story for screening. Here are twelve stories which possess the double virtue of having proved good film material and, at the same time, having stood the test of literary quality. Preceding each is a brief history of the motion picture which was fashioned from it. There is a bookplate on the first page. The book is slightly skewed with no stains or marks otherwise. There are no tears or ripped pages. All orders shipped protected in a box.