ALVAH BESSIE - TYPED NOTE SIGNED 03/28/1940 - HFSID 344473
Price: $200.00
ALVAH BESSIE
The screenwriter and author who was blacklisted as part of the
Hollywood Ten signs this letter
Typed note signed: "Alvah Bessie" in pencil. 5½x8½. New York,
May 28, 1940. Typed on personal letterhead to "Dear Mr. Davenport" in
full: "Let me thank you kindly for your letter. It's good to know that my
opinion on the theater- for whatever they may be worth- are valued. Sincerely
yours". Alvah Cecil Bessie (1904-1985) was an American novelist,
journalist and screenwriter. Bessie became initially known for his translations
of avant-garde French literature, including Songs of Bilitis by Pierre
Louÿs and The Torture Garden by Octave Mirbeau. He fought as a
volunteer in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade during the Spanish Civil War and upon
his return, wrote a book about his experiences, Men in Battle. Bessie
then joined the American Communist Party and worked as the film reviewer for
the left-wing magazine The New Masses. Bessie wrote screenplays for Warner
Brothers and other studios during the mid and late 1940s. He was nominated
for an Academy Award for Best Original Story for the patriotic Warner's film
Objective Burma (1945).
His career came to a halt in 1947, when he was summoned before the
House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). In 1950, he became one of the
Hollywood Ten when he was imprisoned and blacklisted. Lightly toned. Normal
mailing folds. Otherwise, fine condition.
Following offer submission users will be contacted at their account email address within 48 hours. Our response will be to accept your offer, decline your offer or send you a final counteroffer. All offers can be viewed from within the "Offer Review" area of your HistoryForSale account. Please review the Make Offer Terms prior to making an offer.
If you have not received an offer acceptance or counter-offer email within 24-hours please check your spam/junk email folder.
