The Flying Irishman (Original screenplay for the 1939 film)

Culver City, CA: RKO Radio Pictures, 1938. Final Draft script for the 1939 film. INSCRIBED in manuscript ink on an inset page preceding the script by actor Gene Reynolds, who played a young Douglas Corrigan in the movie: "For Art / From Corrigan-as-a-boy / Gene Reynolds / Mar - 71." With blue and white revisions pages (including some detail for montage sequences). Copy originally belonging, to an unidentified cast or crew member "(Mr. Starkey"), with that persons' manuscript pencil annotations throughout.

Based on the true story of Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan, an aviator who "accidentally" flies to Dublin, Ireland. Corrigan plays himself, (truncated) a man hell-bent on becoming a pilot by any means necessary, cobbling together a single-engine, one-passenger plane with a door held shut with baling wire. When his plane is understandably grounded for being too dangerous, he appeals for, and is eventually given, a temporary license to fly his plane west to Long Beach, California. Instead, determined to prove his reputation through feats of aviation, he reroutes in-air and makes a 28-hour flight to Ireland—facetiously insisting, upon landing, that he thought he was flying to California.

Shot on location in California.

Housed in green 1970s standard card report wrappers, with titled label attached. Title page present, dated NOVEMBER 12, 1938, stamped as FINAL SCRIPT, with credits for screenwriters Ernest Pagano and Dalton Trumbo. 145 leaves, with last page of text numbered 139. Mimeograph duplication, rectos only, with blue revision pages throughout, dated variously between 11/14/38 and 11/23/38. Pages Very Good plus, with some minor tearing and fading, lacking original wrapper, bound internally with silver prong binding. (Inventory #: 146082)