signed unbound
1975
by FRIEDKIN, William (1935 - )
1975. unbound. In these letters, each written on 7.75 x 5.75-inch personal letterhead and signed "Billy," Friedkin critiques his work -- sometimes very harshly. The first letter: 2 pages, July 2, 1975, in full: "This has already been done -- and recently -- it's called 'PULP' with Michael Caine, Mickey Rooney & Lionel Starder. It's so close to yours they're like brothers, but I really don't think the world is ready for two. I'll read 'STOPS ALONG THE WAY' this weekend -- while I'm working on prevention of your hook shot." Five days later, Friedkin was in a much happier mood: 2 pages, July 7th 1975, in full: "This is a good script - I enjoyed the characters and the convolutions, which is more than I can say for 99% of what I've read lately. I hope we can do something one day - aside from three on three that is...I'd very much like to read 'A Gun Play'." The last letter, 2 pages, July 12, 1975, finds Friedkin very critical: "I'm not an expert on treatments. I don't know what to make of this - it speaks for the most part like a pitch for 'Real Estate in Arizona,' which is, I suppose, the nature of the form. Anyway, I have no feelings about this project one way or the other. My own way of working is; if I like an idea, I'll go ahead with it, and not resort to the intermediary or 'treatment' stage. It seems to me that if a guy writes a dynamite treatment, the script may not be much better, so why not do a script instead? Why leave the fight in the locker room? See you at the Garden." All three letters are in near fine condition. Legendary American film director, producer, and screenwriter best known for directing The French Connection in 1971 and The Exorcist in 1973.
(Inventory #: 265680)