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,” one page, 8.5 x 11, Twentieth Century-Fox Film letterhead, February 9, 1943. Letter to famed Hollywood agent H. N. Swanson, in part: "With regard to Double Indemnity, it is my impression that the only serious Hays Office stick—allowing for a number of things would have to be fixed but that are not difficult—is that the story is a 'blueprint for murder.' To get rid of this, I suggest the following: Adapt the story about as it stands down to the evening of the projected murder, except (1) that Nirdlinger, instead of breaking his leg, comes down with some vague illness whose nature is not disclosed to Phyllis, and (2) that the murder plan (never, in the book, revealed in advance by Huff) contemplates Phyllis's going to Palo Alto with Nirdlinger, or at least starting with him. Then, that evening, work up a scene between Huff and Phyllis, at his house, in which he gets cold feet and leaves her no choice but really to take the trip, though she hate it. On the train, work up an observation-platform scene in which Nirdlinger asks what has become of Huff, then calmly reveals he has guessed long ago of the plan to kill him, as well as where and the how. He also reveals something Phyllis didn't know: that his illness is Angina, and that he had welcomed the idea of being pushed off the train, as he has no desire to die the horrible death provided by this disease. Now, still determined to beat the rap in store for him, he steps off the train exactly where Phyllis and Huff expected to get rid of him." In fine condition.
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