Rango : Posse from Hell [large format pre-production TV series script / portfolio]

[Spartan Productions, 1959], 1959. First Edition. Hardback. A large format publication in fair to good condition. It is spiral-bound in elaborately blind-tooled full leather. There is some wear to the top of the spiral spine. In a portfolio leather folder with imitation cowhide on the front cover. The portfolio folder is somewhat edge-worn. The pages are impressively produced on colour-illustrated stiff card, with slight dulling around the edges. Some of the introductory and credit pages have separated from the binding and have become brittle and edge-worn. Remains particularly well-preserved overall. Futher images, and additional bibliographic information available on request. ; 8vo 8"" - 9"" tall; 0 pages; Pre-production or proposal portfolio for a western TV series entitled 'Rango' featuring the script for a presumed pilot episode 'Posse from Hell', with a selection of proposed storylines for future episodes. Three pages of production credits indicate that this item was published in 1959, by Spartan Productions, with Blake Edwards credited as director. Gordon Oliver is credited in the leading role of Rango. Clair Huffaker is credited as writer, indicating that the script is based on his 1958 novel, 'Posse from Hell'. This novel was eventually adapted into a Universal film in 1961 starring Audie Murphy and directed by Herbert Coleman. Also included is the album cover for the original theme music written by Hank Mancini. Unfortunately the LP is lacking. Hank (Henry) Mancini was involved in a dispute regarding the 1961 film with Universal's music director, Joseph Gershenson, who reused the music scores from This Island Earth (1955) and It Came from Outer Space (1953), rather that the original music. Therefore, it appears that Rango: Posse from Hell was the pilot for a proposed TV series that was eventually adapted into a film produced by Gordon Kay and Edward Muhl for Universal. In the film version Rango's name is changed to Banner Cole. There was also a 1967 Western/Comedy TV series called Rango. Other than the title of the main character, there does not appear to be any link to between these productions, although is is possible some elements may have been adapted. Subjects: Film -- Westerns -- TV series -- Scripts -- 1950s -- 1960s -- Television -- History -- United States. Physical description: Unpaginated. Impressively colour illustrated throughout. 38 x 54cm.