Wonderful collection of 32 TLSs from Olivia de Havilland, each one page, the majority written on her personal 5.5 x 6.75 letterhead, dating between August 1944 and December 1949, a five-year window that proved to be the most successful of her career—de Havilland won two Best Actress Oscars during that time frame. Each letter of this archive is addressed to Pershing Jung, with the bulk of the content relating to film roles or radio programs, in addition to her graciously forwarding signed movie stills.
A selection of highlighted quotes:
August 3, 1944: “You asked me about the nickname ‘Bunny’; I got it because of a habit I have of wrinkling up my nose.”
June 14, 1945: “Have just started ‘To Each His Own’ with Phil Terry and the same writer-director combination that made ‘Hold Back the Dawn.’ We are still busy with tests; the actual shooting won’t start for ten days.”
January 2, 1946: “My next picture will be a mystery-drama called ‘The Dark Mirror.’ In it I’m to play a dual role—twin sisters.”
June 15, 1946: “Just a note, since I have two broadcasts to do today for the Frigidaire Program.”
July 23, 1946: “Am to be on the Academy Award program on the 31st—if you listen in do let me know how you liked it.” Includes two small newspaper clippings of the actress, both of which are signed in black ink, with one inscribed.
March 26, 1947: “I’ve selected my next vehicle and am quite excited about it. It will be The Snake Pit and we go into production in June.” De Havilland earned her second Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role as Virginia Stuart Cunningham in The Snake Pit.
April 8, 1947: “Thanks ever so much for your lovely letter of congratulations on the Award.” For her role as Jody Norris in the 1946 film To Each His Own, De Havilland won her first Best Actress Oscar at the 19th Academy Awards on March 13, 1947.
July 14, 1947: “Mark Stevens, Leo Genn, and Celeste Holm have been set for ‘The Snake Pit’ and we go into production on Tuesday.”
August 5, 1947: “Our picture is coming along very well. We have two psychiatrists from New York working with us on the film, and the author Mary Jane Ward is also helping us.” Based on Ward's 1946 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, the film tells the story of a woman who finds herself in an insane asylum and cannot remember how she got there.
September 2, 1947: “I am finally getting back to work after a very bad cold which came about as a result of some of the scenes in ‘The Snake Pit,’ in which I was exposed to a lot of water and was kept damp for a considerable length of time.”
March 5, 1948: “I have only two stills from ‘The Snake Pit’ and neither is in the dreadful makeup and hairdo I wear through much of the film.”
March 25, 1948: “I hope next year to be able to do Juliet on Broadway and would like to have Michael Redgrave play ‘Romeo’ if it can be arranged.”
May 5, 1948: “My costumes for ‘The Heiress’ are ready, as is the 2nd draft of the script.” For her role as Catherine Sloper in the 1949 film The Heiress, de Havilland won her second Academy Award for Best Actress.
Also included: a mailing envelope addressed in de Havilland’s hand, postmarked August 9, 1945, containing two ANSs, one of which is forwarding an unsigned glossy candid; four glossy 10 x 8 publicity photos, each signed in black ballpoint by de Havilland, with two inscribed; and an unsigned glamour portrait in the original studio folder. In overall fine condition. Accompanied by eight letters and postal cards from her personal secretary Margo Rhys, dated between 1944 and 1946. With the exception of one or two, all of the TLSs are accompanied by their original mailing envelopes.
