World War II-dated TLS, three pages, 6.25 x 9.5, November 19, 1943. Letter to Oscar-winning film executive Darryl F. Zanuck, regarding the screenplay for the forthcoming biopic about her late husband, in part: "My husband always believed the art of letter writing on business subjects was to deal with them frankly and primarily before involving them in pleasantries—which are always easy and tempting. Therefore I am going directly to the question regarding the Last Scene of the Script which, after all is the raison d'etre of your long letter building up to this climax! I do not like the October version as I explained in my recent letter to Mr. Baker—NOT because it includes the Wilson girls—their husbands and friends as your letter implies—but because it is out of character. The scene at the dinner table (where I am the only other person present) does not appeal to my ego any more than the one in the Living Room stirs my enthusiasm. So your letter brings me this problem, namely:
Should an inexperienced person pit her opinion against that of one of the outstanding Producers in the country—whose Directors are investing millions to produce a picture that will interpret her husband to the World!! My answer to this is the only one that can ever solve such an empasse—Compromise! On page 152 of the October 26th, 1943, '3rd Revised Shooting Final'—WILSON—8th line reading from bottom, omit 'We can take some nice long rides.' On page 155: End scene with Margaret playing 'Old Nassau' instead of that awful 'Old Grey Bonnet' which rises like Bancho's Ghost and which I don't think Mr. Wilson ever cared for—and let his words 'Play it'—close the Scene and the picture.
Thank you for the fine spirit of your letter and the interesting history of your reason for undertaking the Film. I hope sometime to have the pleasure of knowing you personally—and, needless to add, my hopes for the success of the picture are deeper than your own. All of you gentlemen of the Fox Film have shown such an unusual cooperation with me that I regret any ripple on the surface of our relations; but I owe it to Mr. Wilson as well as to you to be frank in—I will say—Helping NOT Criticizing." In fine condition, with a light paperclip impression, and staple holes, to the upper left corner.
Despite its status as a box-office failure, the 1944 biographical feature film Wilson was critically acclaimed and earned a total of 10 Academy Award nominations, winning half of them—Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Cinematography, Film Editing, Sound Recording, and Best Writing, Original Screenplay. Its paltry earnings at the box office so upset Zanuck, who oversaw the film as his own pet project, that for years after he forbade his employees from mentioning the movie in his presence. From the collection of Dr. Lawrence E. Miller.
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