Autograph Collection.- Movie & Theatre Actors

Collection of letters by several prominent actors and actresses, all addressed to film critic Jympson Harman, including: Lya De Putti (typed letter expressing her disappointment for being misquoted "as saying that British reporters use methods which would not be tolerated by the American press" and adding "I have only the very highest admiration and love for my British newspaper friends", one page, 4to, New York, 15 July 1929; Charles Laughton (typed letter congratulating him "on the Jessie Matthews job - I think it is really splendid", one page, 4to, 34 Gordon Square, 7 April 1937, together with four candid shots of Laughton in a garden); Mary Pickford (typed letter thanking him for sending "a birthday wire and, even if I don't approve of birthdays, I do appreciate it", one page, 8vo, Claridge's, 9 April 1938); Ramon Navarro (typed letter thanking Harman "for not only what you wrote about me in that article, but in many others", one page, 4to, n.p, 29 July 1938); Ronald Colman (typed letter saying "I am looking forward to returning to England, but at present I cannot name an exact date until certain discussions regarding production next year are concluded", one page, 4to, Beverly Hills, 14 December 1938); John Gielgud (typed letter saying "I had no idea that Beaumont was going to give the 'Rebecca' news to any daily paper. I rang up the Sunday Times myself and gave it to Clowes for Sunday, thinking you would be announcing it tomorrow anyway, but Pope must have been told separately by Beaumont and I was not aware this had been done", one page, oblong 8vo, Queen's Theatre, 26 May 1939); Gracie Fields (typed letter saying "As for what is going to happen to us - I can only say to you as I have said to everyone else - I want to see what it's like to be Gracie Stansfield for a little while, one page, 4to, Capri, 3 February 1940; with a postcards from Capri signed by Fields); James Stephenson; George Arliss (autograph note thanking Harman for sending some cuttings, one page, 8vo, Maida Hill, 21 August 1943); Jack Train (autograph letter saying how grateful he is for a positive review Harmon wrote on the Evening News, one page, 4to, Ruthin, 24 September 1943); William Armstrong; Robert Donat (typed letter referring to his next stage appearance, one page, 4to, Westminster Theatre, 5 March 1946); Laurence Olivier (typed note saying "I shall be delighted for you to reproduce the extract of the Agincourt speech from the shooting script. I hope it is elaborate enough to be of interest in your booklet", one page, 8vo, New Theatre, 6 April 1946); Dennis Price; David Niven (autograph letter reading "I have just discovered that my great-grandfather founded your paper and my grandfather was managing director. The fact that neither of them left any money to me is not your fault, but in future I expect to be treated with the greatest care and decorum!", one page, 4to, The London Film Studios, 16 October 1947); Wallace Bosco (autograph letter offering Harmon "my sincere congratulations on your Silver Jubilee. I don't think I have missed many of your film criticism through all the years I have stuck to the film business...After all- there are not so many of us left that can go back to 'Ivanhoe'. By the way did I hear or read somewhere...that Laurence Olivier was going to make it in colour. What a lovely subject it would make and what a glorious part from him especially now so much time and money can be spent", three pages, 8vo, 16 Warrington Crescent, 8 February 1948); Margaret Leighton (typed letter saying "How very kind of you to have thought of me in connection with this new novel, 'Son and Stranger'. I have not read it but I have it on order", one page, 4to, London, 9 October 1950); Gloria Swanson (typed letter reading "I have just returned to New York after an extensive three-month tour of the 33 principle American cities, in connection with 'Sunset Boulevard'. Among a mass of other things awaiting my attention were clippings of the London critics...this practically on the eve of my departures for London itself. Therefore I will have the pleasure of thanking you personally for the wonderful things you wrote about me and the picture", one page, 4to, New York, 14 October 1950); Samuel Goldwyn (tiped letter wishing Harmon "a merry Christmas and a great deal of happiness in the coming year", one page, 4to, Los Angeles, 21 December 1950); Alec Guinness (autograph letter reading in part "I have just read your article on me in the Home Chat. I'm most touched by the kind and overgenerous things you say - in fact the whole thing is very encouraging...Why each job I do seems to me such a horrible failure on my side that I am always genuinely surprised when I am offered another part!", two pages, London, 13 February 1952; with two autograph thank-you notes from Guinness); Diana Dors (autograph note thanking Harman "for your very nice report on 'Value for Money' and the lovely things you wrote about me", one page, oblong 8vo, Berkshire, n.d. [1955]); Vivien Leigh (autograph note saying "I thought it might interest W. Frankovich to know Lady M's name was Gruoch!", two pages, 4to, Stratford-Upon-Avon, 28 July, n.y. [1955]); Joan Crawford (two autograph thank-you notes, n.d., and two typed notes apologising for being tired at a dinner party, London, 5-7 November 1956); Sophia Loren (brief typed note "I had heard about you and what a wonderful person you were, even before coming here. Reading you, I discovered you lived up to your reputation", one page19 December 1957); Bebe Daniels (two typed thank-you notes, n.y.); Susan Kohmer (autograph note thanking Harmon "for your comments on my performance in the Imitation of Life...your words were most encouraging and I greatly appreciated them", one page, 8vo, Los Angeles, 1 May 1959); David Tomlinson (Christmas card with printed greetings and handwritten message "many thanks for your kind article about me. I hope I won't let you down!", n.d.); Eleonor Smith; Richard Attenborough (typed letter signed 'Dickie A.', reading in part "I more than appreciate the problem facing you with the review of 'The League of Gentlemen' and I cannot tell you how touched I was that you should go to such pains about our Company and the film, were most flattering and I know that all my colleagues would wish me to thank you on their behalf", one page, 4to, Richmond Green, 25 April 1960); also including a black and white photograph of Jack Warner as Constable George Dixon, signed and inscribed to Harman, v.s. (55)

***Jympson Harman started working as a columnist for the London Evening News in 1921 and over his 4-decade-long career became one of the most powerful film critics in Great Britain, having reviewed over 10,000 films.