An archive of five Elstree Studios reader's report for Evelyn Waugh's novels. Comprising: 1. MEN AT ARMS. 2pp. Typed on rectos only. Dated 24th September 1952. "This book is the first part of a trilogy that Mr. Waugh intends to write, and I feel that when the other two books are written, there might be possibilities of making an amusing film of military life. Unfortunately, this one book is not sufficient to form the basis of any film material." 2. SCOOP. 4pp. Typed on rectos only. Dated 11th September 1956. The report is based on an anonymous screenplay: "Good story idea here, poorly scripted. Reader suggests that with tougher, brighter scipting [sic — scripting] this story - taken from the Evelyn Waugh novel of the same name - might make a good movie. Recommended - but with emphasis on need for more vigorous, more sophisticated script." 3. DECLINE AND FALL. 7pp. Typed on rectos only. Dated 10th October 1963. The report is based on an anonymous screenplay and concludes: "This is a charade that appears feeble and uninventive". The report has additional opinions appended to it which argue that the present script is unsuitable for film adaptation, but that "scripted by someone of the calibre of Brian Forbes and with an actor who has the necessary youth, charm, and naivety to make the character of 'Pennyfeather' both likeable and credible, it might well prove a success." 4. UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. 5pp. Dated 6th November 1961. "In spite of its high literary virtues, I can't see this subject as film material." 5. THE SWORD OF HONOUR TRILOGY. 8pp. Dated 29th November 1961. "There is, quite definitely, not sufficient in any one book of this Trilogy for a film. I do not think the three put together would prove a good basis for a picture... If the second and third volume had been even as lively as the first (or better still more so) a film story might have been possible. As it is, however, the story becomes steadily more and more downbeat as it progresses."
 
Five Elstree Studios reader's report for Evelyn Waugh's novels. Film production companies have been basing themselves at Elstree since 1914, and in most cases, their archives have been dispersed, lost or destroyed. This unique and hitherto unknown document from surviving ABPC reader reports has not been seen since its composition seventy years ago and has never before been offered for sale.