Highly respected and influential American film director (1925–1984) known for his unflinching, usually graphic portrayals of violence, often in oddly poetic slow motion. Cited as a major influence by, among others, Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese, Peckinpah earned a berth in the canon of film with such modern classics as The Wild Bunch, Straw Dogs, and the bizarrely captivating and unforgettably titled Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. TLS, 8.5 x 11, business letterhead, May 9, 1976. Peckinpah writes to film historians William Turner Levy and Victor Scherle. In part: “Thank you very much for your letter of 15th April which has just reached me here in Yugoslavia. Unfortunately, I am at the present time shooting a picture here and will not be back in California when you are there. I am sorry to have missed the opportunity of finally meeting with you, but I am sure it will happen soon….” The “picture” to which Peckinpah alludes is Cross of Iron, starring James Coburn, James Mason, and Maximilian Schell. Folds, marginal pinholes, and light wrinkling, otherwise fine condition. R&R COA.
