About this Item
used hardcover in a dust jacket. jacket is slightly worn about the edges, but with no tears and not price clipped. pages and binding are clean, straight and tight. there are no marks to the text or other serious flaws. Seller Inventory # 1374396
Bibliographic Details
Title: Bernard Shaw and Gabriel Pascal (Selected ...
Publisher: University of Toronto Press September 1996
Publication Date: 1996
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: VG-
Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
About this title
After movie-makers in England bungled film versions of Bernard Shaw's How He Lied to Her Husband and Arms and the Man, producers and directors in Germany and Holland botched those based on Pygmalion, and a Hollywood screenplay desecrated The Devil's Disciple, Shaw took a chance on Gabriel Pascal and gave him permission to produce a movie version of Pygmalion in England. The contract was signed on 13 December 1935 and Pascal, a charming, flamboyant Hungarian emigre with relatively little experience in cinema, did the playwright proud. Shaw's gamble paid off in this Pygmalion, which, to this day, is usually claimed to be the best film version of any of his plays.
This first collection of the correspondence of Bernard Shaw and Gabriel Pascal contains 268 letters, the greatest portion of which have not been previously published. They provide an intimate, behind-the-scenes view of the film industry's day-to-day workings and of the art of movie-making, from the signing of the first contract between Shaw and Pascal, to Shaw's death in 1950.
The letters reveal the great extent to which Pascal, unlike his predecessors, scrupulously kept Shaw informed of what he did. We learn about whom Pascal negotiated with, the merits of association with certain individuals or businesses, contract problems, the backbiting and backstabbing of the industry, difficulties with casting, and progress throughout the filming. Shaw accepted and embellished some of Pascal's ideas for production, and vehemently disagreed with others. Their correspondence highlights the differences in personality between the two men. Shaw was ever the astute businessman, while Pascal was the eager artist. Shaw the methodical mastermind contrasted sharply with Pascal the entrepreneur with many projects under development, few of which came to fruition.
Most important, however, the letters, postal cards, and telegrams collected here reveal how Pascal fought for the integrity of Shavian cinema; how, as a director, he tried to create films that were true to their dramatic sources; and how, in partnership with Pascal, Shaw's cinematic writings flourished.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Store Description
Magus Enterprises, Inc, an S Corporation.
1408 NE 42nd Street. Seattle, WA 98155
magus@seanet.com 206-633-1800
Chris Weimer and Hanna McElroy, owners
We accept payment for AbeBooks transactions only through methods accepted by AbeBooks.com. All items may be returned within one week of receipt if not as described for full refund of purchase price with prior notification. All items will be shipped within 3 business days of receipt of order via USPS media mail unless otherwise specified. Internatio...
More InformationShipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.
Payment Methods
accepted by seller