Writer’s original silent film script THE SCARLET LADY Lya de Putti, Don Alvarado - with revised pages Start Price USD 49.99 Current Price USD 49.99 Time Left - Bid Count 1 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, August 23, 2008 End Time Saturday, August 30, 2008 Location Tucson, AZ See more about 'Writer’s original silent film script THE SCARLET LADY ' Description Here is a rare opportunity to see how a silent film is developed. In addition to the screen treatment (49 pages) there are 29 pages of revisions. Director Alan Crosland and screenwriter Bess Meredyth had already worked together on “Don Juan” and “When a Man Loves”, both starring John Barrymore, when they again joined forces in 1928 with “THE SCARLET LADY” (written under the title “The Scarlet Woman”), starring Lya de Putti and Don Alvarado. Story: Lya, a beautiful Russian revolutionary, seeks refuge in the estate of Prince Nicholas, hiding under his bed from the brutal Cossacks. Nicholas and Lya fall in love, but Nicholas learns from his valet that Lya was once the mistress of Zaneriff, a hated Red leader. Denounced by Nicholas, Lya returns to her people and becomes a terrorist. When the Reds seize the palace, Nicholas disguises himself as a servant; Lya recognizes him but does not betray him to his unwitting captors. Nicholas' true identity is eventually discovered, and he is sentenced to be shot; Lya shoots Zaneriff instead and rescues Nicholas, escaping with him to freedom. A Hungarian stage star and classical dancer, Lya de Putti entered films in the early 1920s and had a featured role in F W Murnau's "Phantom" (1921) before making an impression as Desdemona opposite Emil Jannings in "Othello" (1922). For a piece of trivia, Liza Minnelli patterned her appearance in "Cabaret" after De Putti. Don Alvarado was born Don Page but had his name changed by Jack Warner. A handsome "Latin Lover" type of the late silents and early talkies, he later found success in Western roles. The 49-page story treatment is written on onionskin paper, and dated May 4, 1928. In addition, there are revised pages from page 21 – 49 on thicker paper. On the top of the first revised page is typed: “Revised pages for “The Scarlet Woman” (to replace onion-skin pp. of the same no.) Condition: PLEASE NOTE the first page of the onionskin script is damaged, with a piece missing from the top and frayed edges (see photo). However, no text is missing. The rest of the onionskin script is in generally good shape, with some bent corners, but the print is clear and readable. The revised pages are in good condition with no tears or crumpled pages. The pages are not bound and there is no cover. In addition, just for fun, I include an 8 X 10 photograph of screenwriter Bess Meredyth taken in 1928, the year that she wrote “The Scarlet Lady”. Please note the photo was not taken on the set of “Scarlet Lady” set: it is of Meredyth and her new husband, director Michael Curtiz on the set of his first American film “Noah’s Ark”. Place a Bid!