“Chinatown” A Screenplay.

TOWNE, Robert [Hugh Hefner].

Item Number: 103425

Santa Barbara: Neville Publishing, Inc, 1983.

First edition of the screenplay for Roman Polanski’s 1974 neo-noir film Chinatown starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. Octavo, original full yellow cloth. Presentation copy, one of 350 numbered copies, this is marked ‘Presentation Copy’ and inscribed by the author on the colophon to the founder of Playboy Magazine, Hugh Hefner, “4/9/83 Hef, I wish you the happiest of birthdays & think of you as even more of a romantic fool than Gittes, or than any of the romantics with whom I identify. Much love, Robert.” Laid in is an autograph note on Towne’s letterhead which reads, “Hef- As usual I’m fighting deadlines. This edition was just published by some eccentric rare book company in Santa Barbara – I wrote an introduction you might enjoy. Love – R.” With Hefner’s bookplate laid in and a letter of provenance from the Hugh M. Hefner 1991 Trust. Hugh Hefner’s library reflected the wide scope of his interests, including his special interest in movies, music and art, and the talents of his many close personal friends including books by Shel Silverstein, David Halberstam, and Helmut Newton among others. In fine condition. An exceptional association.

Towne's screenplay for Chinatown centered around private detective J. J. "Jake" Gittes who becomes entangled in a series of disputes over southern California water rights in the late 1930s. The film, directed by Roman Polanski, was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry in 1991.