Stanley Kubrick Dalton Trumbo Howard (1 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. Tom Van Sant (illustrator). 1st Edition. [28pp, coated stock]; bound with printed endleaves into illustrated laminated boards, secured in printed french-fold jacket; 292 x 221 x 7 mm. Front endleaf as tp; rear endleaf a six-panel triptych foldout (with individual paintings of the lead actors). Jacket title: "Universal Takes Time to Try Harder". First such test press-kit in the industry (resulting from the use of an Eye Camera at six test engagements beginning 22 February 1960). "The test engagements on Spartacus were a new approach to a 'fact-finding media' never before used in the film business and could be of tremendous benefit for the future both to distribution and exhibition. I want to thank the enterprising exhibitors who assisted Universal in carrying out these tests to a successful conclusion. Hi Martin [front flap]." As a result of these preview screenings, all but one of the numerous battle scenes (filmed in Spain with a cast of 8000 Spanish infantry), were cut, to the director's undying dismay (Kubrick contemptuously disowning this his one movie without creative control). However the film, released 7 October 1960, rapidly became the all-time top grossing Universal picture (until 1970). Both the original writer, Howard Fast (who wrote the book in prison, jailed for refusing to "name names"), & screenwriter Dalton Trumbo (who had to use the name Sam Jackson to get on the studio lot), had been blacklisted throughout the Fifties (two of the infamous Hollywood Ten), the project representing their unexpected redemption (thanks to Kirk Douglas; & JFK who crossed a picket line to see the film). Directed by Stanley Kubrick, produced by Douglas & starring Laurence Olivier, Tony Curtis, Peter Ustinov (who won an Oscar), Jean Simmons & Charles Laughton, the film remains one of the epic indie success stories in Hollywood history, in part a veiled comment on McCarthyism. White jacket, a trifle toned about the edges, bears only two minor tears at foot. The sole other defect is a worn fore-edge on the terminal panel of the triptych foldout (ironically, depicting the star & director, Kirk Douglas). An extremely significant press-kit volume, elusive in dj.