[Screenplay]: The Handmaid's Tale

PINTER, Harold. (ATWOOD, Margaret)

Published by Daniel Wilson Productions, New York, 1989

About this Item

Screenplay. "Draft 1/17/89, Revised by V. S." Bradbound in stiff white printed wrappers with white, pink, and blue sheets, totaling 102 pages. Mixed collations with some non-consecutive page numbering and inserted or replacement pages suffixed with "A" or "B." The white pages are not dated but the pink pages are noted "Rev. 1/17/89" and blue noting "Rev . 1/24/89." Near fine with light wear to the wraps but with the internal pages fine and unmarked. The adaptation of Atwood s novel proved exhausting for Pinter who started work on it in 1986. He completed three drafts of the script, all while struggling with how best to tell the visual story of a book told entirely from the interior thoughts of the main character. After the original director had been replaced in 1988 by Volker Schlöndorff, who would ultimately complete the film, Pinter was essentially done with the project, suggesting Atwood step in with any changes going forward and opening the door for others such as Schlöndorff to tinker with his work. The final script retains Pinter s name though he himself distanced himself from it and chose not to publish the first three versions. This draft appears to be from that later period following Pinter's departure and consists of a mix of Pinter s third and final draft, represented by the white pages, and changes made by Schlöndorff (and possibly Atwood) in pink and blue. What s more, each of the colored pages have asterisks at the right margin, likely indicating the newest changes. We have not extensively compared this script to the final version but note there are numerous differences throughout. *OCLC* locates two earlier drafts of this screenplay but none dated "1/17/89." Rare. Seller Inventory # 470502

Bibliographic Details

Title: [Screenplay]: The Handmaid's Tale

Publisher: Daniel Wilson Productions, New York

Publication Date: 1989

Binding: Softcover

Condition: Near Fine