TLS, one page, 8.5 x 11, May 28, 1942. Letter to his fan club members, addressed “Dear Kids.” In full, “We started ‘Casa Blanca’ last Monday and I like it very much and think it is going to be a very fine picture. The leading lady is Ingrid Bergman and other members of the cast are Sidney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre of the ‘Maltese Falcon’ and Conrad Viedt. The plot is one of escaping refugees trying to get back to the coast of Africa. Mayo and I have just returned from three weeks on the boat and a much needed rest. While there, I was on patrol duty with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, which I enjoyed very much. Very soon now, I am going to have a new picture taken for the Fan Club, which is growing so well under the very capable leadership of Eloise Coats, who deserves my praise and appreciation.” The big-budget film, of slightly less than one million dollars, took in slightly more than four million dollars. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards in 1943. The nominations included Best Actor (Humphrey Bogart), Best Supporting Actor (Claude Rains), Best Cinematography (Arthur Edeson, known for The Maltese Falcon), Best Score (Max Steiner, known for Gone With the Wind), and Best Film Editing (Owen Marks). The film would win three awards: Best Picture (producer Hal B. Wallis), Best Director, and Best Screenplay. Bogart lost to Paul Lukas for his role in Watch on the Rhine. In fine condition, with paperclip impression to top edge, light crease to lower left and a mailing fold under Bogart’s bold and crisply penned signature. As fine and as close an association of Bogart to his greatest film as you will find. This actual letter was received by Bogart’s fan club president, and reproduced in her published newsletters sent to members of the club. Exciting as it was for his fan club members to receive an update about his new film, no one could have predicted the iconic place in movie history Casablanca would attain. PSA/DNA Auction LOA and R&R COA.
