ALONG CAME JONES (Oct 30, 1944) Film script by Nunnally Johnson, adapted from novel by Alan Le May

Hollywood: International Pictures, October 30, 1944 [with revisions on through 12/27/44] Vintage original film script, 11.5 x 9″ (29.5 x 23 cm.), 122 pp. Creasing and wear to extremities of yapped edges of wrappers, near fine in very good wrappers.

John Ford’s 1939 STAGECOACH led to a gradual revitalization of the Hollywood Western. ALONG CAME JONES is one of a small number of films made during WWII in which Western themes began to be reworked and revisited. The film was adapted by Nunnally Johnson from the 1944 novel Useless Cowboy by Alan Le May. It was the only feature film produced by Gary Cooper during his long film career. 

Easygoing Melody Jones (Gary Cooper) and his friend George Fury (William Demarest) wander into a town. Jones is mistaken for a wanted bandit named Monte Jarrad (Dan Duryea), which causes him no end of trouble. Meanwhile, the real Jarrad is hiding out in the home of his girl, Cherry de Longpre (Loretta Young). At first, she tries to use the newcomer to distract the townsfolk, but as she gets to know Jones her feelings start to change.

The film spoofs many Western film cliches as well as the Western persona that Cooper played in previous films, such as the lead character being unable to shoot straight and partial to singing “silly songs” while riding his horse.