The Ugly American by Lederer, William J. & Eugene Burdick - 1958

New York:: Norton,, 1958. FROM THE LIBRARY OF FILM LEGEND MARLON BRANDO AND PROFUSELY NOTATED THROUGHOUT BY HIM. First published in 1958, The Ugly American became a runaway national bestseller for its slashing exposé of American arrogance, incompetence, and corruption in Southeast Asia. Based on fact, the book's eye-opening stories and sketches drew a devastating picture of how the United States was losing the struggle with Communism in Asia. Brando, the political idealist, saw in the story the chance to portray a man losing confidence, however misplaced, and coming to a fuller, truer consciousness of himself and the world; the perfect vehicle for him. As he wrote in his autobiograhy: "I played a U.S. ambassador, a vain and seemingly well-intentioned man who was sent to a fictional country in Southeast Asia and brought with him all the misconceptions and self-interest of the American ruling class." The movie received good reviews among them: "As you might well expect, Mr. Brando is at the top of his form when the script and George Englund's direction are most firm and plausible." Bosley Crowther, New York Times. Reading through the book with Brando's copious notes and comments is a fascinating look into the mind of one of America's greatest actors at work.. First Edition. Red Cloth. Excellent/Excellent. 8vo..