Conspiracy (Working Title for Sands O' Life) - film treatment, 1946-11-15
Scope and Contents
The Vicki Baum correspondence and film typescript consists of four typed letters signed "Vicki" on "Vicki Baum" letterhead, along with an unpublished draft for a film titled "Conspiracy (Working Title for Sands O' Life)." The correspondence is addressed to Baum's publisher Malcolm Johnsohn and his wife Mathilde Whitridge Johnson. Baum wrote the first three letters in 1943 and the fourth letter in 1946. The draft of the script for "Conspiracy (Working Title for Sands O' Life)"--authored by Baum--is dated November 15, 1946. Baum wrote the script in short story format without dialogue (and is thus a "treatment" in script parlance). Cary Grant and Dorothy McGuire were sought for the lead roles in this script. David 0. Selznick's Vanguard Films, Inc. purchased the script in 1946 and assigned the production of the film to Dore Schary, but the film was never actually made.
Dates
- Creation: 1946-11-15
Creator
- From the Collection: Baum, Vicki, 1888-1960 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Extent
From the Collection: 0.02 Linear Feet (1 pamphlet binder)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
General
An unpublished film treatment titled "Conspiracy (Working Title for Sands O' Life)" -- authored by Baum in 1946. OCLC indexed this unpublished script with three copies worldwide—all in Germany. This script is not listed in the American Film Institute catalogue, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, or in imdb.com.
According to the New York Times, this script was purchased November 25, 1946, by David O. Selznick's Vanguard Films, Inc. and assigned to Dore Schary for production. Selznick, who is best known as the producer of Gone with the Wind, announced in the Times that he wanted the lead male role to be played by British-American actor Cary Grant. Dorothy McGuire, who was under contract to Vanguard, would play the lead female role. Exactly why the movie did not come to fruition is unknown.
A summary of the plot of Baum's story follows. The young wealthy Lord Earl of Haddonsfield travels to Malaysia, and it is reported that he died. Years later, a man appears claiming to be the same Earl of Haddonsfield. Is he or is he an impostor looking to claim the Earl's wealth? A court case follows to set the record straight. The highlight comes when the returned Earl correctly recites the engraving of a poem on a locket he gave to his true love and the court proclaims him the true Earl. Towards the end of the script we learn that the Earl's fiancée had slipped the poem to him because she preferred the "new" Earl to the one who left many years back. Even the faux Earl's mother realizes that her son is an impostor because he does not have a telltale scar. Yet, they all look the other way to keep the lineage and fortune intact. The grand conspiracy played out exactly as the family's attorney Ogglethorpe planned.
This note was adapted from the seller of the material, Mark Funke Bookseller.
Repository Details
Part of the USC Libraries Special Collections Repository
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles California 90089-0189 United States
specol@usc.edu