Original Typed Letter Signed by Olivia de Havilland to Alan Dent Regarding Vivien Leigh and Gone With the Wind
signed
1968 · Paris
by DE HAVILLAND, OLIVIA, VIVIEN LEIGH, ALAN DENT, GONE WITH THE WIND
Paris: 8 1/4” x 11”, 1968. Original Typed Letter Signed by Olivia De Havilland to Alan Dent Regarding Vivien Leigh and Gone With the Wind. Dated October 13, 1968. Typed on Ms. de Havilland’s personal printed onionskin typing paper, two sheets with two lines of text and signed in full “Olivia de Havilland” on the verso of the second page. Near fine condition with some minor handling and evidence of a removed staple to the upper left corner. The letter is a response to an inquiry from Alan Dent while he was writing his biography of his close personal friend, actress Vivien Leigh titled Vivien Leigh. A Bouquet. Dent had asked for information about de Havilland’s experience of co-starring in the film Gone With the Wind. Dent had asked 6 questions and received a thoughtful and generous reply to each one; when she and Leigh first met and what her initial impressions were, what were Leigh’s most likable qualities, did they ever quarrel, how did she rate Leigh as an actress for both stage and screen, how beautiful did she consider Leigh to be, and were there any personal anecdotes she was willing to share. Dent has written several editorial notes in the margins. Gone with the Wind was produced by David O. Selznick, directed by Victor Fleming, and stars Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, and Olivia de Havilland. Vivien Leigh won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role and Olivia de Havilland was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. The film won 10 Oscars, including Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay and was nominated for 5 more, including Best Actor in a Leading Role (Gable). (Inventory #: 23190E)