Distinguished, Academy Award–winning American composer and conductor (1911–1975) who, over the course of four decades, earned a place among the most influential figures in the field of film music. Among his most notable achievements are the scores for such iconic classics as Citizen Kane, Psycho, and Taxi Driver. ALS signed “Benny,” one page both sides, 7 x 10.25, July 21, 1952. Letter to Arnold Weissberger. In part: “I have just finished the Snows of Kilimanjaro and my how worn out I am. Ten full weeks [of] very hard work, but it turned out very well, even if I say so. Zanuck was most flattering about the music and keeps telling everyone how grand a job I did…The Met now has the score of W[uthering] H[eights] and are looking it over. Webster of Covent Garden wants to see it and the City Center are also looking at…It breaks my heart to have to pay commission ($1500) to M.C.A. for doing nothing and I feel that it is a evil thing to have to pay these leeches and brigands—they have not done one iota of work for me, since we last wrote them except to waive the commission on ‘5 Fingers.’ You see how my blood boils when I even think about them…I expect to spend the summer completing the vocal score of W. H. and then I guess I shall have to forage about for work. Julius Caesar fell through for me. They are using M. Roza [sic] who is on the staff of M. G. M. I was very, very pleased with Houseman's new picture ‘Tribute to a Bad Man’ and I feel that at long last he has made a picture that we all can be very proud of and really cheer for. He did all that he could to get J. C. for me but to no avail. I now have the attitude that a picture is a picture and all that I care about is the price.” In very good to fine condition, with two punch holes and staining to left side, overall rippling, and show-through from writing to opposing sides. A terrific letter with abounding content about his work, particularly interesting in that it focuses on The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Wuthering Heights—adaptations of two canonical pieces of literature. RR Auction COA.
