The Girls of Pleasure Island. Originally Titled ‘Pleasure Island’. Screenplay by F. Hugh Herbert. Based on the Novel ‘Pleasure Island’ by William Maier
1952 · Los Angeles
by HERBERT, F. HUGH (ELSA LANCHESTER)
Los Angeles: Paramount, 1952. Actress Elsa Lanchester’s original 118 page final white shooting script with many rewrite pages in blue and goldenrod for the film ‘The Girls of Pleasure Island’, originally titled ‘Pleasure Island’, written by F. Hugh Herbert and based on the novel ‘Pleasure Island’ by William Maier. The script is dated May 15, 1952. Bound in are 8 mounted stills from the film, 6 of which show Miss Lanchester in her role as Thelma. Hardbound in full gilt-stamped red leather with “Pleasure Island” and Elsa Lanchester’s name stamped in gold on the front board. Minor indentation to the front cover and a few dark spots to the leather at the rear board, else fine. The film was directed by Alvin Ganzer and the screenwriter, F. Hugh Herbert, and co-starred with Miss Lanchester Leo Genn, Don Taylor, and Gene Barry. The film takes place in the spring of 1945, just as WWII is coming to a close and tells the story of a British gentleman (Leo Genn) who lives on a South Pacific island with his three beautiful daughters and the housekeeper Thelma (Elsa Lanchester). Much to their surprise one day 1,500 Marines arrive to transform the island into an aircraft landing base, which leads to plenty of romantic opportunities for the girls and plenty of headaches for their father and housekeeper who has raised the girls since childhood. Elsa Lanchester (1902 - 1986) is best known for her role in James Whale’s The Bride of Frankenstein, and was married to Charles Laughton. (Inventory #: 21593E)