MARK OF THE HAWK (THE HAWK) (1957) Final draft script 1956

Original Final script for the 1957 film, here under its early working title, “The Hawk.” Universal City, CA: Universal Pictures, 1956. One of Sidney Poitier’s very early major film roles, and an important specimen of the early days of his legendary career.

A well-intentioned and well-educated African named Obam (Sidney Poitier) returns upon completing an education in London to fill a political post, and discovers unrest between the white-dominated government and a group of native rebels led by his brother. Poitier, not surprisingly, embraces the idea of negotiation over his brother’s more violent ideas. One of the first American films to address the problem of racial equality and its internal political ramifications from a minority perspective. Set in British colonial Africa, shot on location in England and Nigeria.

Blue studio wrappers, noted as FINAL SCRIPT on the front wrapper, marked production No. 800. Distribution page present, with receipt intact. Title page integral with the distribution page, noted as copy No. 113, with credits for screenwriter H. Kenn Carmichael and story writer Lloyd E. Young. 105 leaves, mimeograph, with white and yellow revision pages throughout, dated variously between 5/9/56 and 7/7/56. Pages VERY GOOD+, wrapper GOOD-VERY GOOD, with some light stains and creases, bound with two gold brads.

COLLATION (Note: all revision pages yellow unless otherwise noted) (Note: skips pages 58, 59, 74, 75, 76, 95, 96): [distribution page], [“NOTE 1,” 7/9/56], 1, 2 (7/7/56), 3, 4-7 (white, 5/9/56), 8, 9 (white, 5/14/56), 10 (white, 5/9/56), 11-13, 14 (white, 5/9/56), 15 (7/7/56), 16, 17-19 (7/7/56), 20 (white, 5/14/56), 21 (white, 5/9/56), 22-23 (7/7/56), 24 (white, 5/14/56), 25-27 (7/7/56), 28 (white, 5/9/56), 29 (7/7/56), 30 (white, 5/9/56), 31 (7/7/56), 32 (white, 5/9/56), 33-34 (7/7/56), 35 (white, 5/14/56), 36-37, 38 (7/7/56), 39-40 (white, 5/9/56), 41 (7/7/56), 42, 43 (white, 5/14/56), 44-45 (white, 5/9/56), 46-48 (7/7/56), 49, 50-51 (7/7/56), 52-53 (white, 5/9/56), 54 (7/7/56), 55 (white, 5/9/56), 55a (white, 5/9/56), 56 (white, 5/14/56), 57 (7/7/56), 60-63 (white. 5/9/56), 64-65 (7/7/56), 66 (white, 5/9/56), 67-68 (7/7/56), 69 (white, 5/9/56), 70 (7/7/56), 71 (white, 5/14/56), 72 (white, 5/9/56), 73 (7/7/56), 77-79 (7/7/56), 80 (white, 5/9/56), 81 (white, 5/14/56), 82, 83-84 (7/7/56), 85 (white, 5/9/56), 86 (7/7/56), 87-88 (white, 5/9/56), 89 (7/7/56), 90 (white, 5/9/56), 91-93 (7/7/56), 94 (white, 5/9/56), 97-98 -(7/7/56), 99 (white, 5/9/56), 100-103 (7/7/56), 104 (white, 5/9/56), 105-106, 107-109 (7/7/56).

Out of stock