Sold For $368
*Includes Buyers Premium
Content-rich TLS signed “Ray,” two pages, 8.5 x 11, personal letterhead, June 23, 1947. Lengthy letter to “Swanie,” his literary agent, H. N. Swanson, in full: “Thanks for your letter June 19th.
Radio Program.
I thought the first broadcast was sensational, too. On Saturday, Jim Fonda came down here to see me. He admitted that Trouble Is My Business' won't do, without a substantial rewrite and change of tone. He said that when he played back the broadcast he realized there was a quality in it which he had not been aware of, and that we must make every effort to maintain this quality. The two scripts he showed me were both originals by Milton Geiger. I made a few criticisms and suggestions and told him that, of course, I realized I had no power, under the contract, to approve the scripts. He said that he wanted my approval regardless of this, which was very nice of him. You say you are disturbed that I may be giving some time and creative energy to this radio business. Well, why not? If the program establishes itself as at least equal to the Sam Spade program (the 'Red Wind' broadcast topped it by a long way), it will provide me with a steady source of income sufficient to cover all my expenses. Even if I cut my percentage it would still do this, so I think it is worth a little time and trouble to work with the producer in setting the standard and the tone of the program. Obviously you cannot have a top-notch story every week. When you can't, you have to get by on the personality of your star and the attractiveness of the character he plays. Fonda thinks Milton Geiger is the best writer in the business for this program, and after reading his last two scripts I think he is a much better writer than I said he was when I got a little bit excited over the script I sent you.
Universal-International Contract.
I am in a good deal of trouble over this. The contract requires me to deliver a screen-play by August 1st. This I cannot do, unless I simply throw it together. The story is not set and I don't yet even know how to tell it. My interpretation of the contract is that I shall have fulfilled my technical obligations if, by August 1st, I deliver a screen-play. It does not have to be good, and they do not have to like it. They have to pay me, regardless of its quality. Naturally I don't want to do this. I don't care anything about my reputation as a screenwriter because I don't like screen writing, never have liked screen writing, and never will like it. I am doing this job for the money and to establish a price and a new kind of relationship. I want to do a good job, but it is going to take me a long time because I am not very well and I don't have any steam. It would seem, therefore, only right to tell the Universal people (not Joe Sistrom, who is as understanding and indulgent as any human being could be), but the front office tough guys, that either I have to have more time substantially more time or they will get a very rough script, written simply for technical compliance with the deadline. I don't think they want that. Joe's trouble is that he cannot cast Thunder on the Hill', and therefore would like to go into production with my job not later than September. This is quite impossible.
'Blondes Requiem.’
Herewith a copy of a letter from me to Hamish Hamilton, which is self-explanatory. A couple of days after sending this, I had a letter from a man in the north of England, enclosing a page from a serial story now running in the Sunday Pictorial (England). On this page he had marked a couple of paragraphs lifted from 'The Big Sleep', and had given me the references to the pages in 'The Big Sleep. The serial looked as if it might have been written by Rene Raymond under one of his pseudonyms. I sent this on to Hamish Hamilton.
Letter from CBS re. Pearls Are a Nuisance.
This letter is enclosed. I don't think Fonda intends to use this story, and I don't see how he could. He does want the right to use the two stories in 'Finger Man'. In exchange for this right I am quite sure he will be glad to release 'Pearls Are a Nuisance'. The price offered, however, is much too low. Presumably they want to use the script which was written for a show on the Suspense program, in which Bill Bendix and Allyn Joslin starred.” In very good to fine condition, with staple holes to upper left, and irregular toning to the first page.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$150.00
*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.
