TLS, two pages, 8.5 x 11, Essex House letterhead, April 8, 1956. Coward writes to “Dearest Bink” [Hugh Beaumont of the Globe Theater in London] in connection with a contract relating to one of his works, possibly Present Laughter. In part: "In the first place, I would much rather make a film deal for this particular play and so, therefore, the management gets its whack as per contract and everything is fine. To do a spectacular television of the play here before Broadway production would, I think, be very bad business and I would much rather the film rights were sold before television was even discussed. On the other hand, it might be possible, if Vivien [evidently Leigh] were coming, later on to play a limited season on Broadway, to get either NBC or CBS to make a pre-production deal, finance the play, and do a TV spectacular at the end of the run. On the other hand, it might not.... All of which really boils down to the fact that I want to hold on to the live television rights of everything.... My Fair Lady is absolutely enchanting. Rex is wonderful and have seen a lot of Lilli, who is flying home tonight and will tell you a lot of private news. There is now a raging blizzard going on and I will shortly go down to the studio and have this lovely little heart-shaped face carefully made up for its impact on about 60,000,000 people. Oh, how lucky the Americans are!... Of course there are social rumors here that Vivien is breaking up again. But I pay no attention to these as I know you’d have let me know if there were any truth in it....” Under his signature, Coward adds a short handwritten postscript: “All my love, dearest Bink, and forgive me for my adamant attitude over television, but we dreamers must hang together.” In fine condition, with staple to top left, pencil marks and wrinkles to first page, and mild edge toning. RRAuction COA.
