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Great Expectations (Original script for the 1939 play) by Charles Dickens (novel); Alec Guinness (playwright, starring) - 1939

by Charles Dickens (novel); Alec Guinness (playwright, starring)

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Great Expectations (Original script for the 1939 play) by Charles Dickens (novel); Alec Guinness (playwright, starring) - 1939

Great Expectations (Original script for the 1939 play)

by Charles Dickens (novel); Alec Guinness (playwright, starring)

  • Used
N.p.: N.p., 1939. Draft script for the 1939 play. Carbon typescript on onionskin. With the name of actress May Hallatt in holograph ink on front wrapper, and holograph annotations in pencil throughout. We could not verify her involvement in the 1939 production, although it seems reasonable to infer from this script that the prolific stage and screen actress indeed had been, possibly as stand-in for the role of Miss Havisham, as many of the annotations in the script relate to that character.

In 1939, during a period of unemployment, Alec Guinness, with the aid of his wife, artist, playwright, and actress Merula Sylvia Salaman, began writing a stage adaptation of the 1861 Charles Dickens classic. Upon completion, Guinness shared the manuscript with friends, who decided to form an actor's cooperative, the Actor's Company, with the intention of putting on the production. It was also at this time, September 1939, that Great Britain declared war on Germany, commencing World War II.

The play premiered in December 1939, under the direction of George Devine, at Rudolf Steiner Hall. Marius Goring performed the role of Pip, with Martita Hunt as Miss Havisham, Yvonne Mitchell as the young Estella, Roy Emerton as Magwitch, and Vera Poliakoff as the adult Estella. Guinness and Salaman, sitting opposite one another on stage, were the narrators as well as performing the roles of Herbert Pocket and Biddy, respectively. The play received favorable reviews, particularly from Sunday Times critic James Agate, and did reasonably well, but the strain of the war prevented it from moving to a larger theatre and the production, as well as the Actor's Company, went bust.

The following year a new production of Guinness' "Great Expectations" began, but was then abandoned when Guinness refused to take part.

Guinness credits the play for having drawn him from the stage onto film. Upon Salaman's insistence, an actress friend of hers, Kay Walsh and her husband, then thirty-one-year-old film editor, David Lean saw the production, which directly inspired Lean to take the story to the screen and make the classic 1946 film, with Guinness and Hunt reviving their stage roles for the screen.

Brown titled wrapper. Title page present, with credits for author Charles Dickens and playwright Alec Guinness. 122 leaves, with last page of text numbered 34. Carbon typescript on onionskin stock, rectos only. Pages Near Fine, wrapper Very Good plus, some creasing and damp staining, bound with ribbon.
  • Seller Royal Books, Inc. US (US)
  • Book Condition Used
  • Quantity Available 1
  • Publisher N.p.
  • Place of Publication N.p.
  • Date Published 1939
  • Keywords Play Scripts | Literature

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Great Expectations

Great Expectations

by Dickens, Charles

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780460873352
ISBN 10
0460873350
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1
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Seattle, Washington, United States
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Everyman Paperback Classics, 1994. Paperback. Acceptable. Missing dust jacket; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Great Expectations (A Stepping Stone Book)
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Great Expectations (A Stepping Stone Book)

by Dickens, Charles

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Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780679874669
ISBN 10
0679874666
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Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
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Random House Books for Young Readers. Used - Good. . . All orders guaranteed and ship within 24 hours. Your purchase supports More Than Words, a nonprofit job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.
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Great Expectations (Wordsworth Classics)
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Great Expectations (Wordsworth Classics)

by Charles Dickens

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  • poor
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - POOR
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781853260049
ISBN 10
1853260045
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Toledo, Ohio, United States
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Wordsworth Editions Ltd. Paperback. POOR. Noticeably used book. Heavy wear to cover. Pages contain marginal notes, underlining, and or highlighting. Possible ex library copy, with all the markings/stickers of that library. Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, and dust jackets may not be included.
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Great Expectations (Penguin Classics)
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Great Expectations (Penguin Classics)

by Charles Dickens

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780141439563
ISBN 10
0141439564
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Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
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Great Expectations (Bantam Classics)
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Great Expectations (Bantam Classics)

by Charles Dickens

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Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780553213423
ISBN 10
0553213423
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Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
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Bantam Classics. Used - Good. . . All orders guaranteed and ship within 24 hours. Your purchase supports More Than Words, a nonprofit job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.
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Great Expectations (Arcturus Paperback Classics)
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Great Expectations (Arcturus Paperback Classics)

by Charles Dickens

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  • good
  • Paperback
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Used - GOOD
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781848373198
ISBN 10
1848373198
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Packages. Paperback. GOOD. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. Possible ex library copy, will have the markings and stickers associated from the library. Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, may not be included.
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Great Expectations (Wordsworth Classics)
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Great Expectations (Wordsworth Classics)

by Charles Dickens

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - GOOD
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781853260049
ISBN 10
1853260045
Quantity Available
9
Seller
Toledo, Ohio, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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Wordsworth Editions Ltd. Paperback. GOOD. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. Possible ex library copy, will have the markings and stickers associated from the library. Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, may not be included.
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Great Expectations

by Dickens, Charles

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780553212341
ISBN 10
0553212346
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1
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Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
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Bantam Classics. Used - Good. A sound copy with only light wear. Overall a solid copy at a great price!
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Great Expectations (Penguin Classics)
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Great Expectations (Penguin Classics)

by Charles Dickens

  • Used
  • Acceptable
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Edition
Revised
ISBN 13
9780141439563
ISBN 10
0141439564
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7
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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Penguin Classics. Revised. Acceptable. Acceptable. Heavy wear. Ship within 24hrs. Satisfaction 100% guaranteed. APO/FPO addresses supported
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Great Expectations (Penguin Classics)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Great Expectations (Penguin Classics)

by Charles Dickens

  • Used
  • Acceptable
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Edition
Revised
ISBN 13
9780141439563
ISBN 10
0141439564
Quantity Available
8
Seller
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£3.28

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Classics. Revised. Acceptable. Acceptable. Ship within 24hrs. Satisfaction 100% guaranteed. APO/FPO addresses supported
Item Price
£3.28