Lancaster,Osbert — The Littlehampton Bequest

John Murray This is a Fine Copy of this hardcover book in yellow cloth with gilt title lettering to spine,in a Near Fine dust-jacket that has NO chips or tears to the extremities of the wrapper.Not price clipped.The book has a firm binding with no hinge weakness.This copy was acquired from the impressive private library of Film Director Roy Ward Baker who started in the film industry as a gofar boy,but worked his way up to the level of as assistant director on Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes (1938).He served in the Army during World War II, transferring to the Army Kinematograph Unit in 1943. One of his superiors at the time was novelist Eric Ambler who insisted on Baker being given his first big break directing The October Man, from an Ambler screenplay, in 1947.Ambler also adapted Walter Lord's A Night to Remember for Baker's 1958 screen version.His next two films, The Weaker Sex and Paper Orchid (1949) were popular but overshadowed by the success of Morning Departure (1950), also featuring John Mills.Baker worked for three years at Fox where he directed Marilyn Monroe in Don't Bother to Knock 1952. He returned to the UK in 1953 and continued to work on films.He worked for television during the 1960s. He directed episodes of The Avengers, The Saint, The Persuaders and Minder,8vo 94pp First UK Edition 1st Impression Size: 8vo - over 5¾" - 6'' Tall Fine Near Fine First Edition 1st Printing London 8vo