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Lot 1045
A Leslie Howard signed contract for Gone With the Wind
10 December 2019, 14:00 PST
Los AngelesSold for US$3,570 inc. premium
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A Leslie Howard signed contract for Gone With the Wind
Mimeographed Document Signed ("Leslie Howard," "Daniel O'Shea"), 18 pp, dated January 12, 1939, between Howard and Selznick International Pictures, for the use of Howard's services in the film in the role of Ashley Wilkes, at $7500 per week, with a handwritten change initialed by both parties on page 14. Selznick's desire to have Howard play the role is evidenced by the fact that Howard made more money per week than the 3 other main players, Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, and Olivia de Havilland, combined. In addition, Howard's ability to negotiate a deal to produce and star in Selznick's film Intermezzo (1939) was the icing on the cake. Considering Howard was not keen on playing the role of Ashley, thinking himself too old and the character of Ashley too spineless, he certainly came out the better for it, both career-wise and financially. Accompanied by an interoffice memo from George Cukor (the first of the three directors assigned to GWTW) to David O. Selznick, on Selznick International Pictures letterhead and dated December 12, 1938, arranging for Selznick to be present at a meeting between Howard and his agent, purportedly to negotiate the deal.
Provenance: the collection of Tom Heyes.
8.5 x 11 in.
Provenance: the collection of Tom Heyes.
8.5 x 11 in.