Four Different Treatments for the film "Tabu: A Story of the South Seas

Beverley Hills: Feldman-Blum Corporation / MGM, 1934. Softcover. Near Fine. Four different film treatments by Murnau and Flaherty of the story "Turia," which was eventually filmed as the movie *Tabu*. Each is mimeographed leaves printed rectos only and bradbound into blue wrappers with title in type. Condition ranges between very good and near fine.

Details as follows, in what is likely chronological order:

1. *Turia: An Original Story*. Beverly Hills: Feldman-Blum Corporation. 15pp. Feldman-Blum Corporation label on front wrap and wrappers a little toned, near fine.
2. *Treatment of Original Story Turia*. Beverly Hills: Feldman-Blum Corporation. 40pp. Feldman-Blum Corporation label on front wrap and wrappers a little toned, small, tape repair at top corner, very good.
3. *Treatment of Original Story Turia*. [Beverly Hills: Feldman-Blum Corporation?]. 40pp. Small nicks and creases on front wrap and first leaf or two, near fine. Same amount of pages as the previous item, but completely rewritten, with much more dialogue.
4. *Tabu*. Culver City: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Copied in the M.G.M. Script Department Feb. 2, 1934. 17pp. M.G.M. label and stamped "Complete" both on the front wrap. A relatively sparse but clean and coherent prose narrative.

Four dramatically diverse attempts to clarify the plot of the story that was eventually made into Murnau's last film: *Tabu: A Story of the South Seas*. Both Murnau, probably best known for the masterpiece of German expressionist film *Nosferatu* (1922), and the famed documentary film pioneer Robert J. Flaherty agreed to collaborate on the "docufiction" film set in Bora Bora, but rather famously fell-out over creative differences, with Murnau finishing the film himself. Although the film won an Oscar for best cinematography, it was a box office disappointment. Murnau died in an auto accident just two weeks before its release. Formerly from the Collection of Waring Jones.