Lot #777

Alfred Hitchcock Typed Letter Signed

Description

Hitchcock writes to his assistant director: "The comfortable conditions I had in making ‘Rebecca’ were in a large measure responsible for its success"

TLS signed “Hitch,” one page, 6.75 x 10.25, personal letterhead, July 31, 1940. Letter to Edmond F. Bernoudy, who was assistant director on Hitchcock's 1940 thriller Rebecca. In part: "It looks as though we aren’t going to be able to be together on the next picture I’m sorry to say. On my return from New York yesterday I found that RKO have allocated an assistant to me called Dewey Starkey and I know you will realize that it’s pretty difficult for me to refuse to take what I am led to believe is their number one assistant on the lot.

It looks to me, Eddie, as though this first picture here will have to be a miss as far as we are concerned, but nevertheless I’m going to try and make arrangements for you to come on the next one if you are free because I’m anxious not to sever our partnership. If the company had been a smaller one I would have had no difficulty in continuing our association.

I want to thank you very much, Eddie, for all you’ve done to help me here. I would almost go so far as to say that the comfortable conditions I had in making ‘Rebecca’ were in a large measure responsible for its success as far as I am concerned. Had it been necessary for me to go on making it under the conditions [in] which I started I doubt whether the results would have been the same. Please let us keep in touch and God willing we will be together before you can say ‘Walter Wanger’!" In fine condition, with light staining along a vertical fold. A romantic psychological thriller starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, Rebecca was Hitchcock's only film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Auction Info

• Auction Title: Fine Autograph and Artifacts Featuring Gangsters, Outlaws & Lawmen
• Dates: #656 - Ended January 11, 2023

This item is Pre-Certified by Beckett
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for $75.00

*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.