Film Book

Customarily the path of good fiction in the U. S. runs from East to West. A book is published in Manhattan and the story sold to Hollywood. Last week witnessed the process reversed. Out of Hollywood came a scenario, The Mighty Barnum, in book form.

The idea is credited to Publisher Pascal Covici of Covici, Friede. Visiting Hollywood last summer he watched the filming of The Mighty Barnum with his good friend, Author Gene Fowler. Publisher Covici secured rights to print the script of The Mighty Barnum in book form. The producers. Twentieth Century Pictures, Inc., asked nothing but the publicity from simultaneous release of book and film. Author Fowler and Co-Author Bess Meredyth were to split 15% of the gross sales.

Not to be confused with drug-store novelized editions of cinemas. The Mighty Barnum is the first film script published and sold as a book. Price: $2.00. It is complete with stage directions, camera & sound details, author's notes. Sample scene, at P. T. Barnum's disastrous banquet to Singer Jenny Lind:

223 INTERIOR: Banquet Hall, Close Shot at Head of Table

Including Barnum, Walsh, Lind, the Swedish Consul and Mayor. Barnum is still on his feet. He is pouring out another glass of champagne. Now he raises it triumphantly and looks at Lind.

BARNUM at the top of his voice: Now let me propose a toast to the lovely Swedish Nightingale.

. . . He gives a world's record burp. GESUNDHEIT!

CUT TO: 223A INTERIOR: Banquet Hall-Close Shot at Society Group Including Mr. Astor

They all look astonished. On SOUND TRACK is a second lusty burp. . . .

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