25661

Great Hollywood Letter with Much on David Selznic

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Great Hollywood Letter with Much on David Selznic
<B>Great Hollywood Letter with Much on David Selznick by Novel "Gone With the Wind" Author Margaret Mitchell</B></I> Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949), an American novelist born in Georgia, won the Pulitzer Prize for her epic book <I>Gone With the Wind</B></I> about life in the South during the Civil War era. Typed letter signed, 2 pages, 28" x 15," August 25, 1941, Atlanta, Georgia. Ornately framed Mitchell letter to Ruth Campbell of the <I>Knoxville Journal.</B></I> The two page letter is double matted with red and gray, with an antiqued silver frame. The letter, written on Mitchell's personal stationery, is dated August 25, 1941. The letter reads, "Dear Ruth: It was good to have your letter and know that the column is booming and that you have a sinful bathtub which makes you feel like Lillian Russell. Pictures of Lillian lead me to believe that you would have to put on at least sixty pounds to compete with her. She had Diamond Jim Brady to feed her four-inch beefsteaks. While I am sure Knoxville produces a number of interesting individuals, I doubt if there is a Diamond Jim there. Of course you know I was pleased to hear that you hope to finish your book before Christmas. Yes, I know that dreadful feeling of finishing a chapter at night and then tearing it up in the morning. It is like the cat who fell in the well and climbed up three feet each night and fell back four feet each morning. And now, about Hollywood and Mr. Selznick and the script writers. You asked me to be frank and state what my policy is in such matters. When <I>Gone With the Wind</B></I> was first sold to Mr. Selznick, and for three years thereafter, I was deluged with sweet young things who thought I was producing the film singlehandedly in the back yard and who believed I could get them into the film. There were also a number of writers, directors, set designers, musicians and dress designers who thought I had the drag with Mr. Selznick and could get them into his employ. This belief, however, was far from the truth. I sold the movie rights and said I would have nothing to do with the film, I had an agreement with the Selznick company that I would never send anyone to them with a letter of introduction and, in return for this, the Selznick company promised not to send anyone to me or bedevil me in any way. To tell the truth, a letter from me would have been of no value at all, for the movie people know my sublime ignorance about all movie matters. They would probably have been polite about a letter of recommendation from me -- and would have filed it. From the foregoing you will see why I cannot write you a letter of recommendation to Mr. Selznick. Moreover, my information is that since <I>Rebecca</B></I> ( I think that was his last picture) the Selznick Studios have been practically closed down and many people laid off. I have seen by the papers that Mr. Selznick has been in the East for some months. I have seen no intimations that he intends to open up on a new picture any time soon. I believe he had <I>Joan of Arc</B></I> and <I>Jayne Eyre</B></I> in the back of his mind but the war or something caused him to shelve them. I cannot vouch for the truth of this information, for I have had no direct contact with Mr. Selznick since the night of the <I>Gone With the Wind</B></I> premiere. I probably know less about Hollywood than any person alive, as I do not even read movie magazines, so I have no exact notion as to how one goes about getting a job as script writer. However, one of my novelist friends went to Hollywood on a special assignment (and barely escaped with his sanity and the lining of his stomach) and he told me that his literary agent got him the assignment. If you have an agent, why not see if he can swing the deal for you? If I could give you a hand up on this matter it would give me a lot of pleasure, but I can't because it's one of those difficult situations I am in -- somewhat akin to my policy on autographs. Louise Mackey married Jake Carlton last week. He used to be on the <I>Journal</B></I> and is now a captain in the army. The press parties were lots of fun and I wish you had been here. Love to you, Peggy". The original mailing envelope is also included, but is not part of the framed display. According to movie making trivia, Selznick begged Mitchell to criticize every aspect of the production. An intensely private person, Ms. Mitchell gave one criticism of the facade of the design for Tara (which was ignored), and thereafter refused to make any comment whatsoever on the film, before, during and after production. <I>Accompanied by COA from PSA/DNA.</B></I>