An Archive of Correspondence Material Related to Actress Constance Cummings
1970s
by CUMMINGS, CONSTANCE
1970s. An archive of autograph letters, postcards signed, news clippings, magazine articles, and miscellaneous ephemera related to the life and career of the actress Constance Cummings, in correspondence with her friends Victor Scherle and William Levy, authors of ‘The Films of Frank Capra’ and ‘Affectionately, T. S. Eliot: The Story of a Friendship: 1947-1965.’ Miss Cummings enjoyed an obviously warm personal and professional relationship with Scherle and Levy which was enhanced by their shared interest in the director Frank Capra. Cummings starred in Capra’s film ‘American Madness’ with Pat O’Brien, Walter Huston, and Sterling Holloway and writes of that experience in one of the letters in this archive, which also includes two photo clippings of scenes from that film. She writes in a letter dated March 6, 1974: “Frank Capra was one of the first really important directors I ever worked with. And I remember with gratitude how gentle and helpful he was to me, a beginner in films. But I do not claim any personal credit for this. Indeed Frank was always kindly and good natured, as highly talented people so often are, and he was both respected as one of Hollywood’s leading talents and regarded as a personal friend by everybody in the studio from the highest to the lowest!” All of the material is in near fine to fine condition. Constance Cummings (1910 - 2005) was an American-born British actress, known for her work on both screen, stage, and in television. Some of her best known films include ‘Movie Crazy’ with Harold Lloyd, ‘Channel Crossing,’ and ‘This Man is Mine.’ On stage, she played in Eugene O'Neills' ‘Long Day's Journey into Night’ opposite Sir Laurence Olivier, to great acclaim (later recreating the role for a television version). In 1979, she won a Tony Award for Best Actress for her performance in the play ‘Wings’ by Arthur Kopit. (Inventory #: 18669E)