Skip to main content

This auction has ended. View lot details

You may also be interested in

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

Lot 866

A group of Tod Browning's working treatments of The Revolt of the Dead

30 November 2016, 12:00 EST
New York

Sold for US$1,875 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Popular Culture specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Ask about this lot

A group of Tod Browning's working treatments of The Revolt of the Dead

Comprising a typed manuscript, The Revolt of the Dead / The Revolt of the Savage, 97 pp, including alternate versions of various pages, annotated in pencil and blue pencil; a version of pp 16-19, annotated, with cover sheet on legal paper reading, "These pages have been / copied and inserted / into the script- / Numbers of pages changed / from page 16 on-" in pencil and "10/2/32" in red pencil; 11 pp of autograph notes on legal paper in pencil, with cover page reading "Revolt of the / Dead / Notes" in pencil; a clipped 1932 American Weekly article, titled "Surprising Performances of the Tibetan 'Mystics'"; with a manila envelope labeled "Revolt of the Dead" in red pencil, and "Mr. T. Browning / 1st rough draft" and "10/26/32" in pencil. The Revolt of the Dead, also referred to as The Revolt of the Savage, is an unfilmed treatment by Tod Browning featuring many elements from his earlier works, especially his then-recent hit Dracula (1931). This heavily annotated treatment's first act has an African setting akin to the exotic locales of previous Browning films like West of Zanzibar (1928). Its morbid, gory storyline deals with an evil witch doctor who can possess and command the dead. The story structure strongly echoes Dracula; in both projects, an evil supernatural force travels from a foreign country to London to spread its power; the heroes' love interests in both are possessed by the villains; and both feature a climactic staking (in the case of The Revolt of the Dead, a gruesome crucifixion). Also, a central character in this treatment, Boris Odeschalchi (or Boris Zwsbisko), is a student of the occult and described throughout as Hungarian, perhaps indicating that the role was tailored for Browning's Count Dracula, Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi; notably, this character dies and returns from the dead. Another character is nearly identical to Dracula's Dr. Van Helsing and named "Dr. Von Hecklemetz." A very rare example of a working copy of a Browning horror treatment.

Additional information

Bid now on these items

An Omega Pocket Watch Engraved to Spencer Tracy from Joan Crawford Date: c. 1937

Gary Moore: A Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar, known as 'Stripe', 1959,

Marianne Faithfull: Two Passports and a Selection of Personal Ephemera, Qty

Bernie Krause (b. 1938) Day & Night in Gombe, 2025

Marianne Faithfull: A diary, a large collection of archival notes and lyrics, and other personal items, Qty

Marianne Faithfull: A Selection of Personal Books, with inscriptions, Various publishers and dates, Qty

Marianne Faithfull: A large collection of personal correspondence, Various dates, Qty

Marianne Faithfull: A Large Collection of Photographs, some professional and some personal,

Marianne Faithfull: A Large Annie Leibovitz campaign poster of Marianne Faithfull for GAP, 1990,

Anita Pallenberg (Italian, 1942-2017): Work on paper, titled "Babylon", 1994, 2

Marianne Faithfull: a Dyptich by Giuseppe Romeo, titled "Falsehood I" and "Falsehood II", Paris, 1995-96, 2

Carrie Fisher (1956-2016): Her personal trunk, Gifted to Marianne Faithfull,