Legendary British-born film director of the classics Frankenstein, The Invisible Man and Showboat, among others. As horror movies lost favor, he retreated to a more private and hedonistic life including painting and all-male pool parties, at one point separating from his longtime lover David Lewis, suffering several strokes, finally committing suicide by drowning in his pool (he was afraid of water). His suicide note, to Lewis, read “The future is just old age and illness and pain…I must have peace and this is the only way.” He was later the subject of the film Gods and Monsters. ALS signed “Jimmy,” one page both sides, 8.5 x 11, Tiffany Productions, Inc. Hollywood, California letterhead, January 6, 1931. A somewhat depressed-sounding Whale writes to his former roommate Geoffrey Cooke. In part: “I do not quite know what my plans are but I hope to be able to leave this horrible country soon - - in perhaps a year or so or even less. The money is of course grand but how I loathe some of the price one pays for it. California is wonderful but there are about six really nice people here and what I should do without these I do NOT know! I still share a house with David and he is swell and stops me from certain suicide. Life here is dreadful - the film business is at its lowest ebb and none of us know where we are from one pay day to another.” The David referred to here is David Lewis, Whale’s lover. In 1929, Whale and Lewis, a young story editor and later a producer, began a relationship that lasted more than twenty years. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in Whale’s hand and signed “James Whale” on the reverse. In fine condition, with a couple of small smudges to the text, expected edge toning, scattered light creasing. R&R COA.
