PURSUIT TO ALGIERS [“THE FUGITIVE”] (Jul 28-Aug 4, 1945) Screenplay by Leonard Lee

Vintage original script by Leonard Lee, an unspecified but revised pre-production draft of this adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes/Dr. Watson characters to the screen. Inserted revises on blue paper span the period July 28-August 4, 1945. 113 leaves (modified somewhat by revised inserts). Quarto, white and blue stock. Brad-bound in mimeographed wrappers. A few small chips and tears at wrapper edges, lower wrapper recycled from another contemporary script (at the time, due to wartime paper conservation), pencil signature on wrapper and first leaf, FINE in VERY GOOD+ wrappers.

The film, directed by Roy William Neill and starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, involves their protection of the heir of Rovenia after the King of that nation was assassinated. Although well over one hundred and fifty adaptations of Sherlock Holmes to the screen are known, beginning with SHERLOCK HOLMES BAFFLED (1903), the Rathbone-Bruce portrayals have become almost canonical, beginning with THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (March 1939), and concluding with the twelfth in sequence, DRESSED TO KILL (1946), for which Lee also served as writer (De Waal 5157).