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A John Ford Handwritten Letter, Circa 1958.... (Total: 1 )

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A John Ford Handwritten Letter, Circa 1958.... (Total: 1  )
A John Ford Handwritten Letter, Circa 1958. Written in pencil on both sides of three pages of Batjac letterhead, to "Duke," not dated, a sarcastic note about a snafu involving Ward Bond sabotaging Orson Welles for the lead role of "Mayor Frank Skeffington" in Ford's 1958 film, "The Last Hurrah;" reading in part "...we (Cohn, Ford etc) made / tentative arrangement with / Orson Wells [sic] -- an actor of repute / & some disrepute -- to play the / part of Skeffington.../ The following morning Mr / Cohn & Mr. Kahane received on / their desks (messenger service) / a huge pile of documents / about Well(e)s Communistic or sub- / versive activities (alleged). / These were sent by an actor who had said all over town / that he was to play the part / -- a Ward Bond." Ford continues on with "....you also / know my integrity in making films & / also my ideas of justice -- you / are not guilty until proven so -- / (and the jury is not necessarily / Ward Bond)." After a few more words on the subject, Ford ends the letter, complaining that Welles didn't make a meeting because "the dear / boy had a slight fever, upset, etc / So fuck him / Coach / fuck Bond, too;" overall, a funny letter, especially knowing the role ended up going to Spencer Tracy. (Please go to our website to see images of each piece.)11" x 8 1/2"