MANUSCRIPT. Original working manuscript of 'You Only Live Twice.'

[FLEMING, Ian] DAHL, Roald [1916-1990]

Published by No place [1966]

About this Item

[James Bond films] Original manuscript first draft of Roald Dahl's screenplay for the screen adaptation of Fleming's You Only Live Twice, with Dahl's signature boldly across the title leaf. This is the most substantial Roald Dahl manuscript to exist in private hands and to come on the market in decades. Approximately 244 unbound leaves, yellow writing paper, feint ruled, written on one side of the leaf by Dahl in pencil in screenplay format, housed in a custom-made cloth chemise with red morocco-backed solander box. Some erasures, some passages excised, a few leaves with additional sections taped in, minor creasing to leaf edges. Overall in remarkably well-preserved near-fine condition. Roald Dahl [1916-1990], was born in Wales of Norwegian parents, named after polar hero Roald Amundsen. A certified Royal Air Force 'ace', he was a friend and wartime colleague of Ian Fleming, and would often meet in New York with Fleming and mutual pal, the Old Etonian Ivar Bryce, (who was, at the time, Britain's only member the O.S.S.). Following the war Dahl worked on the official government report of the B.S.C. network's activities, and remained friends with 'real James Bond' Sir William Stephenson, Bryce and Fleming. His first children's book was The Gremlins, and by the 'sixties he was one of the world's best-selling authors. His most famous book 'Charlie and The Chocolate Factory' was published in 1964. Following Ian Fleming's death, Dahl was brought in by the James Bond film producer Cubby Broccoli to adapt their friend's original novel for the big budget 1967 movie. Following the success of this venture he was hired once again by the filmmakers for their next Fleming adventure, 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. Many critics have commented on how much the finished screenplay of You Only Live Twice owed to Dahl's invention, rather than Fleming's novel. In fact, Dahl's script set a template for the Bond film series, and his story structure would be re-used extensively in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). Ex-Adrian Harrington Ltd, September 2008. Jon Gilbert, The Schøyen Collection: Ian Fleming & James Bond, 2020. MS6505. Seller Inventory # 71652

Bibliographic Details

Title: MANUSCRIPT. Original working manuscript of '...

Publisher: No place [1966]

Binding: Hardcover