SAROYAN, WILLIAM. 1908-1981. Mimeographed manuscript of The Human Comedy, 246 pp, February 4, 1942, bound in blue MGM wrappers, fading and wear to wrappers, pages thumbed. WITH: Mimeographed manuscript, screenplay of The Human Comedy by Howard Estabrook, 131 pp, August 12, 1942, in blue wrappers with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Script Department label on cover, stamped 'Temporary Complete,' and 'File Copy' (twice), notes in pencil: 'Clarence Brown - / Aug. 31.', 'B4924.' Occasional notes in pencil throughout in an unknown hand. Provenance: the Richard Manney Collection. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright/novelist William Saroyan was originally hired by Louis B. Mayer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to write and direct The Human Comedy, but its excessive length-246 pages, approximately four hours of screen time-proved unwieldy. M-G-M bought Saroyan's contract out and had screenwriter Howard Estabrook significantly rewrite the script. (Estabrook's 131-page screenplay was shortened for the completed film.) Dissatisfied with Clarence Brown's hit film version of Estabrook's adaptation, Saroyan wrote a novelization of his original treatment which was intentionally timed for concurrent release with the film. Despite Saroyan winning an Academy Award® for Best Writing, Original Story for The Human Comedy, the author adamantly never allowed another of his novels to be made into a theatrical film during his lifetime. Lot to be sold without reserve. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ¤ Bonhams or one of its affiliated companies within the Bonhams Group owns the lot in whole or in part or has an economic interest equivalent to an ownership interest in the lot. ¤ Unless indicated by the ¤ symbol next to the lot number (or bearing an explicit statement such as 'No Reserve' or 'Without Reserve'), which denotes no reserve, all lots in the catalog are subject to a reserve. The reserve is the minimum hammer price that the seller is willing to accept for a lot. This amount is confidential and does not exceed the low estimate value. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing