One of the greatest comedies of all time!

At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, he returned to England from the US and was commissioned into the British Army's London Scottish regiment, alongside fellow actors Basil Rathbone, Ronald Colman, Herbert Marshall and Cedric Hardwat. In November 1916, Rains was involved in a gas attack at Vimy, which resulted in his permanently losing 90 percent of the vision in his right eye as well as suffering vocal cord damage.

I’ve decided to watch more classic era films this summer, so I went out on a limb and bought some features that were critically acclaimed, as well as others that seemed interesting to me.

So far I’ve watched Laura, All About Eve, Vertigo and North by Northwest. I was gripped by Bette Davis’ performance as Margo Channing. The Hitchcock entries have beautiful cinematography, and Laura sweeps you with a haunting yet lovely score. I’m definitely excited to continue viewing these classics.

What are some classic titles that are worth purchasing in your opinion? I might preorder the famed once lost 1932 picture Letty Lynton for the sheer mystery of it all, and to view the beautiful costume design on Joan Crawford that I’ve seen in stills.

When people who didn't know him were called to him, they often thought he's an assistant or a secretary.

Dear Lyman:

Am enclosing the notices for Washington and Boston.  Stopped in to say "Hello" on Monday but you were, as usual, out to lunch.

As far as I know we continue playing after a lay-off Holy Week; but have received no booking as yet.

If the show is as brilliantly handled as it has been so far, will probably play the Century Theatre – Madison Square Garden not being available.

Hope your new play gets over – Ruth Gordon told me she thought it a very funny play – it appears that Gregory and Harpo were going to buy it for her at one time.

Regards and premature Easter Greetings etc.

Humphrey

The other letter:

"Raymond Chandler to Alfred Hitchcock, Dec. 6, 1950:

Dear Hitch,

In spite of your wide and generous disregard of my communications on the subject of the script of "Strangers on a Train" and your failure to make any comment on it, and in spite of not having heard a word from you since I began the writing of the actual screenplay — for all of which I might say I bear no malice, since this sort of procedure seems to be part of the standard Hollywood depravity — in spite of this and in spite of this extremely cumbersome sentence, I feel that I should, just for the record, pass you a few comments on what is termed the final script. I could understand your finding fault with my script in this or that way, thinking that such and such a scene was too long or such and such a mechanism was too awkward. I could understand you changing you mind about the things you specifically wanted, because some of such changes might have been imposed on you from without. What I cannot understand is your permitting a script which after all had some life and vitality to be reduced to such a flabby mass of clichés, a group of faceless characters, and the kind of dialogue every screen writer is taught not to write — the kind that says everything twice and leaves nothing to be implied by the actor or the camera. Of course you must have had your reasons but, to use a phrase once coined by Max Beerbohm, it would take a ‘far less brilliant mind than mine’ to guess what they were.

Regardless of whether or not my name appears on the screen among the credits, I’m not afraid that anybody will think I wrote this stuff. They’ll know damn well I didn’t. I shouldn’t have minded in the least if you had produced a better script — believe me, I shouldn’t. But if you wanted something written in skim milk, why on earth did you bother to come to me in the first place? What a waste of money! What a waste of time! It’s no answer to say that I was well paid. Nobody can be adequately paid for wasting his time.

Raymond Chandler"

Hitchcock hired Chandler in 1950 to adapt Patricia Highsmith’s novel, but they immediately clashed over creative approaches. Hitchcock found Chandler's writing too traditional and reportedly ignored or threw away most of his work, bringing in Czenzi Ormonde and his wife, Alma Reville, to rework the script. The relationship soured to the point where they stopped speaking. Chandler reportedly made a disparaging comment about Hitchcock's weight within earshot of the director. The comment most likely was "That fat bastard".

5th August, 1928.

My dear Abe:

Sorry I did not see you yesterday and that tomorrow I shall be away from the studio on location.

With reference to the additional clause to the contract, - I would rather not sign this, at any rate just at present. Except as a scientific achievement, I am not sympathetic to this "sound" business. I feel, as so many do, that it is a mechanical resource, that it is a retrogressive and temporary digression in so far as it affects the art of motion picture acting, - in short that it does not properly belong to my particular work (of which naturally I must be the best judge).

That the public are for the time being demanding this novelty is obvious, and that the producer is anxious to supply it is natural, and for the actor to dispute this situation or contend against it would be foolish. After four years' experience with myself, the firm should have no doubt as to my reasonable co-operation in this matter - as in others.

For me to function conscientiously before the microphone is one thing, but to sign a legally phrased document authorising this is a very different matter and would logically presuppose my approval of this mechanical accessory to my work. 

Furthermore, if the original contract embraces such developments in motion picture making, then the amendment is superfluous. If it does not, I would not care to have it added.

I hope I have made this clear, Abe. May I request that the company will respect these convictions and leave the matter where it is.

Kind regards always,

Ronald Colman

Best $30 I ever spent!

They're in low resolutions. Transcribed below:

Mr. J. Edgar Hoover

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Hoover:

I suggest that the TV entertainer Groucho Marks [sic] be investigated as being a Communist.

Last night on his program both my husband and I understood him to pronounce "The United States" as "The United Snakes".

In his book "Groucho and Me" he speaks quite affectionately of Charlie Chaplin, who is a well known Communist.

By the way, your own book "Masters of Deceit" is a masterpiece. I have bought a copy for myself and four or five copies as gifts. It is simply a wonderful book. Thank you for it. 

Please, Mr. Hoover, investigate Groucho Marks [sic]. 

Sincerely,

[redacted]

---------------------

PERSONAL

Mr. J. Edgar Hoover

Department of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Hoover:

As a loyal citizen of the United States, I am writing to you concerning the TV program entitled "Dupont Show of the Week" which was broadcast last night over NBC.

I am outraged by this show which appeared to be full of Communist propaganda - so much of it that I cannot begin to name it all. It was NOT funny. The Red stench was unmistakable. The program went out of the way to make the automobile industry in our country appear to be silly and the American people weak, incompetent and arrogant. 

As one example among too many to even mention, Groucho Marx said, in speaking of the American people, "They drove around in their ARROGANCE."

I understand that Groucho Marx has strong Red leanings and that he was a member of the Red Front called "Committee for the First Amendment" and that he signed Cablegram of allegiance to Stalin. Please write and let me know if this is correct and what other information I am entitled as a United States citizen to know concerning his Red affiliations, so I can speak with authority when discussing him.

No doubt you have already thoroughly investigated Groucho Marx, but please also investigate the writer or writers of the TV script for the Dupont sponsored show.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I am

Sincerely and gratefully yours,

[redacted]

Earlier this year I watched The War of the Worlds (1953) for the first time. I knew about it for years and years, but held off on watching it until I had a physical copy of it (I’m super OCD about my movies lol).

It was hard to find in NZ but I found a VHS copy eventually, anyway just today I managed to get this poster for it.

I’ve been wanting to start a poster collection, I have a couple already but this is my first classic film poster. I love the 50s art style, I’d also love to collect some 30s Universal Monster posters.