SCRIPT GARY COOPER WILLIAM WYLER's FRIENDLY PERSUASION, SIGNED by MARJORIE MAIN

Description

WYLER, WILLIAM, ROBERT WYLER, JESSAMYN WEST FRIENDLY PERSUASION - THE FILM. Friendly Persuasion. Screenplay by Jessamyn West and Robert Wyler. Based on the Novel by Jessamyn West
. Hollywood, CA: Allied Artists Productions, Inc., 1955. First Edition. Original 144 page temporary shooting script with color rewrite pages, dated July 1, 1955, for the Oscar nominated William Wyler directed film Friendly Persuasion. The film’s original title ‘Mr. Birdwell Goes to Battle’ as printed on the front cover has been crossed out with ‘Friendly Persuasion’ written in pencil in an unknown hand just above it. This copy was actress Marjorie Main’s working copy for her role as the widow Hudspeth and is signed by her on both the front cover and title page and has her annotations in the text. Her performance was well-received, earning her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Bradbound in printed covers. Near fine copy with some faint darkening around the edges of the covers and with a couple of tiny tears. The final screenplay was written by Michael Wilson, although he did not receive an immediate screenwriting credit because he was on the Hollywood blacklist at the time of the film’s release. His credit was finally restored in 1996. Friendly Persuasion was directed by William Wyler, principally starring Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire, and Anthony Perkins. The film tells the story of a Quaker family with Gary Cooper as the family patriarch Jess Birdwell, set in southern Indiana during the American Civil War and the way the war tests their pacifist beliefs. William Wyler received the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and the film was nominated for 6 Oscars; Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Perkins), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound Recording, and Best Music - Original Song. Anthony Perkins won a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer - Male, and it was  nominated for Best Actor - Drama (Cooper), and Best Supporting Actress (Main). Marjorie Main (1890 - 1975) was an American character actress and singer, best remembered for her role as Ma Kettle in the Ma and Pa Kettle movies.