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A substantial collection of material from Richard Gordon's estate, comprising: approximately 75 typescript screenplays, a complete draft typescript of an unpublished Autobiography, roughly 17 groups of speeches, lecture notes & radio broadcast typescripts, and a large, attractive official 1961 Penguin Books Promotion Plan for the launch of his Doctor series. Filling roughly 2 large archive boxes. Most of the screenplays are signed by Gordon or have his name to the front, some are annotated, and there are related notes. The Autobiography is complete, 178 pages, approximately 39,000 words. It is undated and loose in a folder with a label from literary agents Curtis Brown Ltd to the upper cover, and a note "not for publication" to both label and first page. It is racy and entertaining, employing the use of pseudonyms for discretion, and takes Gordon through his medical training, early career, war years and post-war experiences as a ship's surgeon, finishing at the point his new life as a full-time writer began. Presumably it was intended to be volume one of a prospective series of memoirs that never came to fruition. His agent, Charles Pick perhaps felt that much of the material covered similar ground to that already fictionalised in the earlier Doctor titles. Of particular importance are working screenplays and notes for the first four Betty E. Box produced Doctor films, written by Nicholas Phipps: Doctor in the House (1954), a first treatment from February 1953, an annotated draft screenplay from July 1953 & shooting schedule; Doctor at Sea (1955), a Film Treatment, Shooting Script and Schedule; Doctor at Large(1957) a 3-page manuscript Skeleton Script by Gordon, Second Draft Screenplay, Semi-Final Script and Shooting script; and a Screenplay of Doctor in Love (1960), with minor annotations by Gordon. All of which were hugely successful, the first three making a star of Dirk Bogarde, and Doctor at Sea is notable for including Brigitte Bardot's first English speaking role. Also present are screenplays for the final 2 films in the series: Doctor in Clover (1965) and Doctor in Trouble (1969), both produced by Betty Box. Filling a large archive box are rehearsal scripts for the 1970s & 1990s television adaptations: 20 (of 26) episodes of Doctor in the House; the complete 28 episodes of Doctor at Large; 4 (of 13) episodes of Doctor at Sea; and 4 (of 7) episodes of Doctor at the Top. The series writers included many famous names, among them: John Cleese, Bill Odie and Barry Cryer. There are also shooting scripts and draft screenplays for Gordon's non-Doctor novels, The Captain's Table and Nuts in May. The Penguin Promotional Plan is an impressive volume, measuring approximately 37.5 by 26.5cm, 16 card pages, comb-bound between blue vinyl covered boards, replete with Penguin logo to the upper board. It sets out the intended advertising onslaught and includes sample covers, with some striking artwork and the Penguin of the period suitably medically accessorised presenting and highlighting important areas. Loosely inserted is a typed & signed note from Janette Peel on Penguin Books headed notepaper requesting the volume be sent: "to Dr. Ostlere". At this juncture it is hard to say who had the greater fame, the Doctor books and films were already hugely successful, and Penguin were evidently keen to secure Gordon for their stable, however Penguin were riding high themselves as an iconic brand, still in the afterglow of the Lady Chatterley Trial, and it would surely have been any young(ish) writer's dream to have that charismatic penguin associated with their work. A substantial and important collection of material relating to one of the great British publishing, cinema and television successes of the mid-twentieth century, which brought together some of the most talented actors, writers, editors and producers of the period. Further details can be provided upon request.
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