Movie Catalog, V-Z
425. VIDOR, King. A Tree is a Tree. NY: Harcourt, Brace (1953). The memoirs of this director of more than fifty films, among them Northwest Passage, Billy the Kid, An American Romance, La Bohéme, The Champ, Wedding Night, The Texas Rangers, The Citadel, Duel in the Sun and The Fountainhead. This is a publisher's complimentary copy, with slip laid in, and is inscribed by Vidor. Additional gift inscription below Vidor's. The boards show slight wear at the corners; a near fine copy, lacking the dust jacket. With 16 pages of photographs.
426. VONNEGUT, Kurt, Jr. Welcome to the Monkey House. London: Jonathan Cape (1969). The uncorrected proof copy of the first British edition of these short stories, a collection reprising most of the stories in Canary in a Cat House plus fourteen others. "Next Door" and "The Euphio Question" were filmed. Signed by the author in 1997 with a self-caricature. Wrappers creased; light foxing to foredge and rubbing to folds; very good in wrappers.
427. VONNEGUT, Kurt, Jr. Slaughterhouse Five. London: Jonathan Cape (1970). The uncorrected proof copy of the first British edition of Vonnegut's masterwork. Signed by the author with a self-caricature in 1997. Spine- and edge-darkened with a few creases and a small ink spot at the spine base. Very good in wrappers. A very scarce proof; we have only seen one copy of the American edition and two copies of this edition offered on the market.
428. -. Same title, the video (Universal City: MCA, 1984). The video version of the 1972 film based on Vonnegut's novel, directed by George Roy Hill. Fine, even rewound, in a box signed by Vonnegut.
429. -. Same title, the large print edition (Thorndike: G.K. Hall, 1998). Signed by the author with a self-caricature in 1998. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
430. VONNEGUT, Kurt, Jr. Happy Birthday, Wanda June. NY: Dell (1970). The uncorrected proof copy of one of Vonnegut's scarcest titles, a play that opened off-Broadway in 1970 and later made it to Broadway for a successful, although relatively short, run. Filmed in 1971. The trade edition (published under the Delacorte name with a 1971 copyright date) has an introduction by Vonnegut that does not appear in the proof. Crease to rear cover, a few short horizontal tears to spine, minor surface soiling; very good in wrappers. Scarce; not noted in the bibliography, although the bibliographers did note the existence of proofs that they had seen.
431. -. Same title, the script for Vonnegut's play, which ran in New York from October 7, 1970 to March 14, 1971. (Hollywood: The Wanda June Co./The Filmakers Group, 1971). This copy is identified on the front cover as a "Rehearsal Script" and dated March 25, 1971 -- presumably for a different production of the play than its New York run. 8 1/2" x 11" sheets, printed on rectos only. Claspbound in cardstock covers; faint coffee ring on rear cover; near fine. Signed by the author on the front cover, with the added comment: "Genuine Relic." Rare.
432. VONNEGUT, Kurt, Jr. Between Time and Timbuktu. NY: Delacorte/Lawrence (1972). A "space fantasy" for television, created by David O'Dell from works by Vonnegut, and then given to Vonnegut to "fart around with" (his words). Vonnegut does not count this as one of his own publications, but he did write a preface for the book, actually two. Included here with a copy of the first edition is Vonnegut's carbon typescript for the original preface, not used in the published edition. The published version is about the television production and the advantages of novels over films: this unpublished version is about Vonnegut and his "Molly Bloom Period," during which he agreed to do and write many things he did not do and write. "How could I [write] with a pillow over my head?" Three stapled pages; fine. The book is fine in a fine dust jacket, and one of Vonnegut's most elusive titles, both because of its "perfect-bound" construction and a first printing one would suspect was smaller than those of his novels. For both:
433. -. Another copy. Inscribed by Vonnegut to his publisher, Seymour Lawrence. The relationship between Vonnegut and Lawrence began with Slaughterhouse Five, as Vonnegut writes in the text of that book: "And somewhere in there a nice man named Seymour Lawrence gave me a three-book contract, and I said, 'Okay, the first of the three will be my famous book about Dresden.'" This book is inscribed: "Sam - If they/ will buy this/ they will buy/ anything, right?/ Cheers for Joel/ Schick [the book's designer] and/ creative publishing." Signed in full. Sunning to the cloth at the spine crown; else fine in a near fine dust jacket. An excellent association copy.
434. VONNEGUT, Kurt. Slapstick. Franklin Center: Franklin Library (1976). The closest he claims to have come, at that time, to writing an autobiography, and the first of his books to be issued in a limited edition. (There was also a limited edition done by the trade publisher). This is also the first of his books to be authored under the name of Kurt Vonnegut rather than Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., which he explains in the introduction written specially for this edition, along with a few ideas on dignity, language and leather bindings. Leatherbound, all edges gilt, silk ribbon marker bound in. The film, Slapstick of Another Kind, starred Jerry Lewis, Madeline Kahn and Marty Feldman. Fine.
435. -. Same title, the uncorrected proof copy of the trade edition (NY: Delacorte Press/Seymour Lawrence, 1976). Very good in green wrappers. The cover, the title page and the copyright page still bear the name Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. There was a later issue in yellow wrappers that dropped the "Jr."
436. WAKEFIELD, Dan. Going All the Way. NY: Delacorte/Seymour Lawrence (1970). His highly praised, humorous first novel, about coming of age in Indiana, where the author grew up. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Basis for a highly praised independent film in 1997 with Ben Affleck, which won a Special Citation at the Sundance Film Festival.
437. WAKEFIELD, Dan. Starting Over. NY: Delacorte/Seymour Lawrence (1973). The uncorrected proof copy of his second novel. Inscribed by the author. Filmed by Alan Pakula from a script by James L. Brooks. With Burt Reynolds, Jill Clayburgh, Candice Bergen and, briefly, Kevin Bacon. Near fine in edge-sunned tall wrappers. Uncommon.
438. WALKER, Alice. The Color Purple. NY: HBJ (1982). Her Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning novel, a surprise bestseller that was made into a film by Steven Spielberg that starred Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover. The Color Purple had a relatively small first printing, being published at a point in Walker's career when she was firmly established as a "mid-list" -- i.e., literary but not very commercial -- author. It was on the strength of the sales of this book, which were partly but not wholly fueled by the awards and later by the movie, that Walker came to be a household name and one of the very few literary authors whose books are bestsellers upon publication by virtue of their large first printings. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
439. -. Same title. A later printing. Inscribed by the author to another African-American female poet. A nice association copy of Walker's breakthrough book, which established her as a major literary voice of our times and helped herald a renaissance of writing by African-American women. Remainder stripe; very near fine in a price-clipped dust jacket worn at the spine crown.
440. -. Same movie. The Color Purple. Burbank: Warner Bros., 1985. A book of color photographs taken by Gordon Parks and John Shannon during the filming of The Color Purple. With comments by Walker, Spielberg, and the cast. Produced for distribution to Academy members prior to Oscar nominations, of which the film received eleven. Fine in printed wrappers.
441. WALLER, Robert James. The Bridges of Madison County. (NY): Warner (1992). A publishing phenomenon -- a first novel by an unknown writer that, despite a modest first printing, gained a word-of-mouth following until it became a phenomenal bestseller, after which it was filmed by Clint Eastwood, starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. This is a fine copy in fine dust jacket, signed by the author.
442. -. Same title, the advance reading copy. Fine in wrappers.
443. WARD, Robert. Cattle Annie and Little Britches. NY: Morrow, 1978. The second novel by Ward, who had previously written the countercultural tale, Shedding Skin, and later wrote Red Baker and a number of highly praised mystery-thrillers, including The Cactus Garden. Lamont Johnson directed Burt Lancaster in the film adaptation, which also starred Rod Steiger and was the film debut of Amanda Plummer. Light foxing to top edge and bowing to front board; near fine in a fine dust jacket.
444. (WARHOL, Andy). KOCH, Stephen. Stargazer. Andy Warhol's World and His Films. NY: Praeger (1973). A review copy of this look at Warhol's films and the culture of celebrity surrounding him and his work. Inscribed by Koch. Slight foredge bump; else fine in a fine dust jacket. Illustrated with photos from a number of the films.
445. -. Same title, the reprint in wrappers, which states "second printing, 1974" on the copyright page and has a review slip laid in indicating that the publication date is April 9, 1975. Inscribed by Koch. Near fine in wrappers.
446. WELDON, Fay. The Life and Loves of a She-Devil. NY: Pantheon (1984). The uncorrected proof copy of the first American edition of this novel, filmed as She-Devil with Meryl Streep and Roseanne Barr. Also the basis for a British mini-series. Fine in wrappers.
447. WELLS, H.G. The Invisible Man. London: Pearson, 1897. Perhaps the most famous of Wells's early, influential "scientific romances," which gave birth to the field of science fiction and which were credited by George Orwell with opening up the possibility for speculative literature to effectively explore the possible futures in store for humankind. Cloth faded on spine and slight wear to the extremities there, front hinge slightly tender, still about a near fine copy, without dust jacket, presumably as issued. A nice copy of a scarce and important novel, basis for the 1933 film classic with Claude Rains.
448. WELLS, H.G. The War of the Worlds. London: Heinemann, 1898. Another of his early, seminal science fiction novels. More famous for the Orson Welles radio adaptation, but the 1953 film version won a special effects Oscar. A first binding state, without ads, simultaneous with copies that have the earliest ads. Rear hinge strengthened; else fine. A very attractive copy.
449. WELSH, Irvine. Past Tense. (South Queensferry): Clocktower Press (n.d.)[1992]. His first book, a pamphlet printed in an edition of 300 copies, comprising four stories from a novel-in-progress, which turned out to be Trainspotting. The film adaptation of Welsh's novel was one of the most highly praised movies of the year, winning numerous awards and earning an Oscar nomination for its screenplay. Fine in stapled wrappers.
450. -. Same movie. HODGE, John. Trainspotting. The Screenplay. NY: Hyperion (1996). The uncorrected proof copy of this award-winning screenplay based on Welsh's novel. Hodge won a British Academy Award and a London Film Critics Circle Award, as well as the Oscar nomination. Fine in wrappers.
451. WEST, Nathanael. Miss Lonelyhearts. NY: Liveright (1933). The first major novel by a writer whose short career and limited output are in dramatic contrast to his influence on American letters. This is the first issue: of a total edition of 2200 copies, only 800 had been issued when the publisher went bankrupt and the printer refused to deliver the balance of the order. They were later released under the Harcourt Brace imprint. A very scarce book and an American classic, filmed in 1933 as Advice to the Lovelorn and again in 1958 as Lonelyhearts. Abrasion rear pastedown, possibly from the removal of a library circulation envelope; slight spine slant, one corner bump, and some sunning to the cloth; a very good copy, with the front flap of the dust jacket laid in. Copies in dust jacket of this title are almost impossibly scarce these days, with the price running well into five figures when they can be found.
452. WHARTON, William. Birdy. London: Cape (1979). The British edition of the author's pseudonymous first book, which won the National Book Award for best first novel and was made into a well-received movie by Alan Parker that starred Nicholas Cage and Matthew Modine. Tiny spot to top stain; else fine in a fine dust jacket.
453. -. Same title, the proof of the British edition. Fine in a near fine proof dust jacket.
454. WHARTON, William. Dad. NY: Knopf, 1981. His second novel, a moving story of a man coming to grips with the death of his father. Filmed with Ted Danson and Jack Lemmon. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
455. -. Same title, the uncorrected proof copy. In-house opinion written across front ("Probable best seller...") along with print run. Near fine in tall wrappers.
456. WHARTON, William. A Midnight Clear. NY: Knopf, 1982. Advance review copy of his third book, a World War Two tale of a temporary holiday rapprochement between soldiers on opposite sides of the conflict that goes stunningly, tragically wrong. Fine in a fine dust jacket with publisher's promotional card laid in. Ethan Hawke starred in the highly praised film; he also appeared in Dad.
457. WILLIAMS, Charles. Dead Calm. NY: Viking (1963). A suspense novel in the noir genre, much later made into a movie with Sam Neill and Nicole Kidman. Fine in a very good dust jacket, with several small edge chips and some internally tape-repaired.
458. WILLINGHAM, Calder. Rambling Rose. NY: Delacorte (1972). A humorous novel, basis for the Martha Coolidge film with Laura Dern and Robert Duvall, for which Willingham wrote the screenplay. Dern and her mother, Diane Ladd, were both nominated for Oscars for their performances. Near fine in a spine-darkened dust jacket with moderate soiling; about very good.
459. WINTERSON, Jeanette. Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. NY: Atlantic Monthly Press (1987). The first American edition of the author's highly praised first novel, winner of the Whitbread Prize. Only issued in wrappers. This is the first issue, which states "First Edition" and "First printing," does not have a number line, and has a price of $6.95. Two creases to front cover; near fine. Filmed for the BBC; Winterson wrote the screenplay.
460. -. Same title, the uncorrected proof copy of the first American edition. Fine in wrappers.
461. WOLFE, Tom. Manuscript of "Good Buildings." No date, circa 1984. Two drafts, 9 pages and 25 pages. This piece first appeared in Esquire in June, 1985, as "Proper Places" and later much of the text was incorporated into Wolfe's The Bonfire of the Vanities. The first draft is a ribbon copy typescript with extensive holograph revisions by the author in pencil and ink. Much of this material was edited out of the later draft. The second draft is also ribbon copy typescript, again with many holograph changes by the author. "Good Buildings" is a critique of New York in the mid-1980s, part of Wolfe's satirical savaging of the upper crusts of New York's elite society and its peculiar, passionate concerns. As a writer who has skewered the modern art world and the wealthy "radicals" of the late 1960's, Wolfe wields a much-feared pen, and The Bonfire of the Vanities was both eagerly and fearfully awaited as the publishing event of the year. Presumably nothing short of exhuming the actual skeletons in the closets could have lived up to the hype that it generated and so the book, and even more so the subsequent movie, was viewed as a minor disappointment, almost an anticlimax. Nonetheless, Wolfe writes with scathing insight and fearsome accuracy and this manuscript is an excellent example of the writer sharpening his pen as he works. The sheets are fine.
462. -. Same movie. The Bonfire of the Vanities. NY: FSG (1987). The uncorrected proof copy of his huge bestselling novel of New York, in which Wolfe tried to prove wrong his own dictum that fiction is dead because it can't live up to the weirdness of everyday life. Brian De Palma directed Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis and Melanie Griffith. A two-inch slice to the lower front spinefold; a near fine copy in wrappers of this bulky proof.
463. WOLFF, Tobias. This Boy's Life. NY: Atlantic Monthly (1989). The uncorrected proof copy of the first book of memoirs by this acclaimed and award-winning fiction writer. Made into a well-received movie with Robert De Niro, Ellen Barkin and Leonardo DiCaprio. Near fine in wrappers.
464. YERBY, Frank. The Saracen Blade. NY: Dial, 1952. Historical novel by this master of the genre. Previous owner name otherwise fine in a very attractive pictorial dust jacket which is lightly edgeworn but still very good. A nice copy of this early book. Yerby's early titles have become quite scarce, particularly in nice shape. The film starred Ricardo Montalban.