Film producer and cofounder of MGM. TLS signed “Sam,” two pages, 7.25 x 10.5, personal letterhead, November 9, 1961. Letter to Jerry Wald at 20th Century Fox. In part, “I think that a great many people Sunday night - unlike yourself - misunderstood Ed and his purpose in coming out here. The last thing on his mind would be to suggest that he or the government should censor our pictures or dictate in any fashion what we should make. Ed has always fought against censorship or dictation and for the right of everyone to speak his mind freely. What he wanted to get across…was not that Hollywood should make propaganda films but at this particular time it was most important that we exercise great self-discipline in the subjects we choose, bearing in mind the fact that what we do may be seized upon as propaganda for the other side. Today we are at a crucial period in history. Even if the cold war never develops into a hot one, our country still has its hands full all over the world. The pictures we send abroad have an effect in every corner of the globe. Therefore, I feel we each must exercise today a higher degree of self-discipline and self-censorship than ever before. We should never lose sight of the fact that, no matter how entertaining a picture may be or how much money it make, it can do our country a great deal of harm if it plays into the hands of our enemies.” In fine condition, with a pink in notation and swirl on first page, and staple holes to top left. R&R COA.
