TLS signed in pencil “Papa,” one onionskin page, 8.5 x 11, Finca Vigia letterhead, May 1, 1958. Hemingway sends a bitter, profanity-laced letter to writer Peter Viertel, who adapted both The Sun Also Rises and The Old Man and the Sea for the screen. Viertel is perhaps best known for his novel White Hunter Black Heart, made into a film starring Clint Eastwood in 1990. In part [Hemingway’s spelling, capitalization, and punctuation retained]: “Enclose rough draft of a letter I wrote to Buchenwald but did not send as did not want to make any unpleasantness for you with Col. Zanuck [noted film producer Darryl Zanuck, who who had served in the Army Signal Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel and helped document the D-Day landings]. I was a little pissed off at everybody but me making money from Sun Also and a shitty picture to boot…. I suppose I can never go back to Pamplona since the picture: which makes the fucking complete. Naturally nobody believes I could not do anything about it or did not make great sums selling out…. Then right after that along came another dandy picture. Mail largely consists of begging letters or protests on how I could have sold out as I did…. Leland wanted me to take screen credit on Old etc. on acct. had to re-write and throw out and correct etc. various re-writes but refused. So hope that one is any good to you. They are taking it to Brussells. It will make lots of dough. But a way has been figured out and built up so will get no part of it. You think I am crazy when say it will make dough but it will…. Wish to Christ you would write and not do that picture shit. Leave that to swine like Irwin and Hecht…. Last winter I re-read all your books. The only one that is worthless is Line of Departure which is much worse than when I read it. But the Africa one in spite of carelessness re-reads very damned well [Viertel’s experience as the on-scene script doctor for the movie The African Queen served as the fictionalized basis of White Hunter, Black Heart]…. Go ahead and write your damned book. But don’t think you can keep jerking yourself off for pictures and then command any fee at stud.… In writing they can’t yank you when you lose your stuff. What the hell. You get it back the next day or the next week. What if they knock the shit out of you? You can cut that out and go on when you have your stuff going again. Excuse bad letter. Now I have gotten rid of this lousy bitterness about the pictures will write you good and cheerful next time. Have been writing so damn hard every day and sundays is why I haven’t written letters. But anyway this is a fat envelope even if only shit-fat.” After signing, Hemingway adds a handwritten postscript: “Best to Luis Miguel” [evidently the famous bullfighter Luis Miguel Dominquín]. In fine condition, with intersecting mailing folds, and several lines of type a shade or two lighter than the others. An outstanding example of Hemingway’s deep-rooted artistic integrity and his no-holds-barred disdain for Hollywood. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
