German-born composer (1906–1967) known for writing the music for nearly three-hundred films and television series, including Gone With the Wind and Gunsmoke. ALS, one page both sides, 7 x 10.5, personal letterhead, August 12, 1935. Letter to George Cukor. In part: “I read in the paper that you are going to direct Romeo and Julia [sic] for Irving Thalberg and I would like to tell you an idea I had about the music of this picture. One might call Romeo and Julia [sic] the story of the purest and eternal love and that gave me an idea, that the picture should have a 100% background score of the composer, whose music is also the purest and the most eternal—MOZART!…I only want to mention, that there is a man in town—Dr. Richard Lert, conductor of several Mozart festivals abroad—who possesses in his music collection the most wonderful and most charming compositions of Mozart besides those generally known! I am sure, that with Dr. Lert’s assistance I could give you one of the finest musical scores that ever a picture has had in Hollywood.” Waxman also prints his name and address in the upper left corner. In very good condition, with central horizontal and vertical folds, running to ink on both sides from a spill, not affecting the overall legibility, and a few small edge tears. Waxman would come up short in his attempt to score Romeo and Juliet, with Cukor and Thalberg selecting Academy Award–winning composer Herbert Stothart instead. RR Auction COA.
