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HEMINGWAY, Ernest.
HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Typed letter signed ("Papa"), to Peter Viertel, Cuba, 19 July, 1954, 1 page, 4to, in excellent condition. "THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA"
A letter to author and screenwriter Peter Viertel, discussing producer Leland Hayward and the proposed filming of "Old Man and the Sea," by director Fred Zinnemann. "Leland called, and I said we'd agreed; Zinnerman [sic] best; better to do Old Man later and with him..." (as it happened the production was taken over in mid stream by John Sturges who received the director's credit) "...same as you said and wrote. Leland wants you to do the script. Has somebody else who has done something which will turn over to you. No dates specified. He seemed sort of cooled on Spence [Spencer Tracy]; maybe everybody has. It all sounded as though put-off was the Word. I think it is just as well. None of us want to do it right now and I'm not in shape yet..." On another note, "What gives with Ava and L.M.? Riddle me that one. Kohner said John should like to make a picture of "Death in the Afternoon." You should be getting valuable experience now to write a script for it. Don't catch kidney stones."
Sturges did not go on to make Death in the Afternoon, but Old Man and the Sea, was released by Warner Brothers in 1958, with Hemingway personally approving the adaptation of his novel and managing to have his way in securing Spencer Tracy for the lead. However, problems dogged the production and the previously close relationship Hemingway and Tracy shared, foundered. The film was finally shot in the Warner Brothers tank, with stock footage borrowed from Disney. Problems aside, Tracy excelled in the role, and the picture was nominated for 3 Academy Awards, including Best Actor. The addressee, Peter Veirtel wrote screenplays for Old Man and the Sea, and The Sun Also Rises.. And according to Jeffrey Meyer's book, Hemmingway had an affair with Mrs. Viertel; Peter Viertel's Book "Dangerous Friends..." (1992) also alludes to this.
Hemingway, Ernest
Hemingway, Ernest
HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Typed letter signed ("Papa"), to Peter Viertel, Cuba, 19 July, 1954, 1 page, 4to, in excellent condition. "THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA"
A letter to author and screenwriter Peter Viertel, discussing producer Leland Hayward and the proposed filming of "Old Man and the Sea," by director Fred Zinnemann. "Leland called, and I said we'd agreed; Zinnerman [sic] best; better to do Old Man later and with him..." (as it happened the production was taken over in mid stream by John Sturges who received the director's credit) "...same as you said and wrote. Leland wants you to do the script. Has somebody else who has done something which will turn over to you. No dates specified. He seemed sort of cooled on Spence [Spencer Tracy]; maybe everybody has. It all sounded as though put-off was the Word. I think it is just as well. None of us want to do it right now and I'm not in shape yet..." On another note, "What gives with Ava and L.M.? Riddle me that one. Kohner said John should like to make a picture of "Death in the Afternoon." You should be getting valuable experience now to write a script for it. Don't catch kidney stones."
Sturges did not go on to make Death in the Afternoon, but Old Man and the Sea, was released by Warner Brothers in 1958, with Hemingway personally approving the adaptation of his novel and managing to have his way in securing Spencer Tracy for the lead. However, problems dogged the production and the previously close relationship Hemingway and Tracy shared, foundered. The film was finally shot in the Warner Brothers tank, with stock footage borrowed from Disney. Problems aside, Tracy excelled in the role, and the picture was nominated for 3 Academy Awards, including Best Actor. The addressee, Peter Veirtel wrote screenplays for Old Man and the Sea, and The Sun Also Rises.. And according to Jeffrey Meyer's book, Hemmingway had an affair with Mrs. Viertel; Peter Viertel's Book "Dangerous Friends..." (1992) also alludes to this.
Hemingway, Ernest
Hemingway, Ernest