American novelist (1892-1977) best known as the author of such crime/noir classics as The Postman Always Rings Twice and Double Indemnity. TLS signed “Jim,” three pages, 6 x 7, personal letterhead, October 29, 1960. Letter to literary agent H. N. Swanson, in part: "I sent, yesterday, one copy of the English edition of Jealous Woman, in the last envelope I had…You caught me a little by surprise yesterday, and I realized after we finished that I was talking wrong in my idea that a TV show would have to play before a paying audience, etc.,—something that has been in the back of my mind is connection with live rights on TV, and how to save them, in spite of the video tape development…If you, after a look at Jealous Woman, and providing Mr. Bruington concurs, think I have a claim on a show based on these characters, then I would send written notice to the producers of this projected show that I feel any show based on these characters must first make a deal with me, and that in event they proceed without including me in, I shall take appropriate legal action…I would make it friendly, and I see no harm in telling these people I have made considerable progress on a similar show of my own, being willing, in case they do make a deal, to make available to them such ideas as I have…To refresh you on how this story came about: I was in between, in 1946, after my release from RKO…and got this up that summer, as a sequel to Double Indemnity, hoping to sell it for pictures. Robinson heard about it and rang me, and you sent it over to him. He didn't go for it, and the deal fell through. Then Ober, after offering it to magazines unsuccessful, sold it to Avon, in New York, as a paperback. TV, at that time, was just beginning, and I didn't have it in mind. Later, though, when I realized the characters were established separately from Double Indemnity, I went to work, with insurance people etc., to get an angle on a TV show…Many thanks for your activity on my behalf. I[t] was wonderful hearing your voice, and a strange coincidence, as I told you. I'll wind up my novel today—this time, I hope to some result." Cain makes a handful of handwritten corrections to the text. In fine condition, with staple holes to the upper left corner of each page.
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