STRANGERS ON A TRAIN: HITCHCOCK ALFRED: (1899-1980) British Film Director, Academy Award winner. An

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN: HITCHCOCK ALFRED: (1899-1980) British Film Director, Academy Award winner. An

An important signed script from one of Hitchcock’s ‘five best films’

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN: HITCHCOCK ALFRED: (1899-1980) British Film Director, Academy Award winner. An exceptional original multiple signed Final screenplay and shooting schedule for Alfred Hitchcock's psychological thriller film noir Strangers on a Train (1951), signed by Alfred Hitchcock in bold black fountain pen ink to the head of a preliminary page entitled Cast of Characters, also adding his famous profile caricature in his hand alongside his signature, further signed by several cast members comprising Farley Granger (Guy Haines), Laura Elliott (Miriam Joyce Haines) and Patricia Hitchcock (Barbara Morton; interestingly listed as Barbara Burton in the script). The mimeographed screenplay, dated 18th October 1950, comprises 153 numbered pages, printed on the recto only, and also includes numerous instructions for shots etc., some of the scenes marked 'Already Shot', with approximately eight differently coloured pages interspersed throughout, dated between November and December 1950, indicating various changes that were made during the shooting of the film. The verso of the final page of the screenplay features a pencil sketch of a pair of adjoining bedrooms, exactly matching the layout of Bruno and his mother's house where he receives a visit from Guy Haines. The shooting schedule comprises 116 numbered pages, the first dated 29th September 1950, again printed to the recto only, providing extensive details of locations, timings of shooting (day or night), cast and wardrobe changes, scene numbers and short resumes of action, essential props ('Lighter, Money…..handkerchief….Police protection', 'Tennis Rackets', 'Carnival setup', 'Merry-Go-Round' etc.), with various annotations in an unidentified hand ('Now out', 'Budget meeting 10/2' etc.). The whole bound with two brass paper fasteners and with the original blue paper front cover (the lower part torn away and with tape stains to the edges) and with the original title page (similarly torn to the base) annotated 'Hitchcock' in pencil to the upper right corner. Contained within a plain black cloth clamshell box. A rare and important document relating not only to Hitchcock, the 'Master of Suspense' and one of the most influential film directors in the history of cinema, but also to the career of the American-British novelist and screenwriter Raymond Chandler. Some expectant light overall age wear, G Strangers on a Train was produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock and is based on Patricia Highsmith's novel of the same name. Starring Farley Granger, Ruth Roman and Robert Walker, the film also feature appearances by Leo G. Carroll, Patricia Hitchcock (the director's daughter) and Laura Elliott (later known as Kasey Rogers). The film's story concerns two strangers who meet on a train, a young tennis player and a charming psychopath, the latter suggesting that as they both want to 'get rid' of someone they should 'exchange' murders, and that way neither will be caught. The psychopath commits the first murder and then tries to force the tennis player to complete the bargain. Having secured the rights to Patricia Highsmith's novel (her first) for $7500, Hitchcock proceeded to find a suitable screenwriter, but was turned down by a number of writers including John Steinbeck, Thornton Wilder and Dashiell Hammett. The director then turned to Raymond Chandler, who had earned an Oscar nomination for his first screenplay, Double Indemnity. Chandler took the job despite his opinion that it was 'a silly little story', however the writer was a notoriously difficult collaborator and his relationship with Hitchcock deteriorated rapidly, with Chandler becoming openly combative towards Hitchcock. Chandler completed a first draft, then wrote a second, without receiving any response from Hitchcock. When Chandler finally heard from the director in late September 1950, it was to notify him of his dismissal from the project. However, much later, and nearer the release of the film, there was to be one point of agreement between Chandler and Hitchcock: they both acknowledged that since virtually none of Chandler's work remained in the final script, his name should be removed from the credits. Hitchcock preferred the writing credit of Whitfield Cook and Czenzi Ormonde, but Warner Bros. wanted the prestige of the Chandler name and insisted that it remain. Hitchcock, accompanied by cast and crew, filmed on the East Coast of America from 17th October 1950, shooting at Penn Station in New York City, the railroad station at Danbury, Connecticut, and in various locations around Washington D.C. At the end of the month they were back in California, and the present script would appear to date from this time, with much of the rest of the shooting taking place on the soundstages at Warner Bros., including many seemingly exterior and on-location shots that were actually done inside in front of rear-projection screens. Strangers on a Train marked something of a renaissance for Hitchcock, after several years of low enthusiasm for his late-1940s output, and the film has been described by some critics as one of Hitchcock's five best films.