Abbey Memorabilia
I’m not much on collecting expensive memorabilia, primarily because of the often ridiculously high prices. But if I see something unusual, especially if it relates to my favorite Abbey works or subjects, I may bite.
Just tonight I found such an item, a 1962 “Showman’s Manual” for the movie Lonely Are The Brave, starring Kirk Douglas. The film was of course based on Abbey’s 1956 novel, The Brave Cowboy, the story that introduced the Jack Burns character, a character that would appear multiple times in other works under various guises. A first edition of that book will set you back $5000.
Easy come, easy go.
The description from the seller:
“12pp. 12″x18″. Showman’s Manual . Profusely illustrated with scenes from the film. This is the 12 page motion picture industry trade booklet for theatres to help them promote the film version of Edward Abbey’s novel The Brave Cowboy. The Brave Cowboy was filmed in 1962 as Lonely Are The Brave starring Kirk Douglas as the brave cowboy, Jack Burns, and a stellar supporting cast including Walter Mathhau, Michael Kane, Gena Rowlands, and Carroll O’Conner. Profusely illustrated with photos of all the cast, and stills from the movie, and several different versions of the movie poster. Several articles discuss everything from Kirk Douglas ordering the set closed during his fight with the one-armed man (shades of The Fugitive) to a story about the author Edward Abbey’s cameo appearance in the film and Abbey ‘s statement that this would be his “first and last film row”. Curioulsy [sic] the scene must have been excised from the final film, as no one has ever spotted the distinctive looking author in the film! Another interesting article talks about bulldozing a road to the top of Needle Peak in the Sandia Mountains, outside of Albuquerque (or Duke City in the film) to shoot the scene in the movie wherein the Brave Cowboy (Kirk Douglas) shoots down a helicopter. No word on whether the late author monkey wrenched the bulldozer. Some wear and creasing, minor closed tears, otherwise very good.”
You can click on the pic for a larger view, and once it’s in my hands, I’ll scan and post more info.