One Foot in Heaven. The Life of a Practical Parson by Hartzell Spence. Signed by Thirty Memeber of the Cast and Crew of the Film. With Four B&W Production Stills from the Film
signed
1941 · New York & Los Angeles
by SPENCE, HARTZELL (FREDERIC MARCH, MARTHA SCOTT, NORMAN VINCENT PEALE)
New York & Los Angeles: Whittlesey House / Warner Bros, 1941. Later printing. Signed by thirty members of the cast and crew for the Oscar nominated film One Foot in Heaven to the young actress Carlotta Jelm who played the character Eileen Spence, the daughter of William and Hope Spence played by Frederic March and Martha Scott, in the film and whose signed inscriptions read: “All happiness to Carlotta, Fredric March.” and “To my daughter Eileen - my best wishes always, Martha Scott.” The book is also signed by Norman Vincent Peale who served as a technical advisor for the film, “To Carlotta with best wishes, Norman Vincent Peale.” With signatures of director Irving Rapper, cinematographer Charles Rosher, assistant director Jesse Hibbs, Peter Caldwell who played her brother, “It was good being your brother, Peter Caldwell.” and others. Near fine copy with a trace of use in a very good lightly used and dust soiled dust jacket with thin tape repaired splits to the spine folds and a few small chips and tears. With four production stills: two of Fredric March and Martha Scott on their wedding day, posed in front of an oversized prop of the book; one of Fredric March, Martha Scott, Carlotta Jelm, and Peter Caldwell (the young actor playing the son and the book’s author, Hartzell Spence) all posed as if for a formal family portrait, and one of Fredric March and Peter Caldwell sitting in an audience as March gives the boy a stern look. All stills are in fine condition and three have binder punch holes. The book and film tell the true story of a happy family headed by a warm and dedicated pastor, who with his wife and children moved from one parish to another, serving each community with dedication, wisdom, and humor. The fil also starred Beulah Bondi as a wealthy member of his congregation, Gene Lockhart as a member whose wife sings (poorly) in the choir, Grant Mitchell as the architect of the church improvements, and a skeptic played by Jerome Cowan. (Inventory #: 19801E)