DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR. - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 03/22/1992 - HFSID 192258

DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, JR
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. sends a typed letter offering advice.
Typed Letter Signed: "Douglas Fairbanks Jr", 1p, 8½x11. New York, New York, 1992 March 22. To Mr. Charles Barch, St. Marys, Georgia. In full: "I received your letter and am flattered that you have written to me for an opinion. However, I feel it is impossible to answer (on paper) a question such as yours. As I am sure you already know, it takes years of study and experience to successfully master the art and there are various ways to describe it. Although I would like to answer responsibly, I don't have the time -nor the ability- to give you an abridged version. There is a book titled: 'The Art of Acting', by Sir Henry Irving, that was published in the latter part of the 19th century. If you can locate a copy, I believe it might be helpful. Barrymore, Gielgud and Olivier studied the craft assiduously for years before they were ever noticed. Nevertheless, your students are very fortunate to have such a dedicated teacher. I am not worried -your pupils are in good hands! Sincerely." Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (1909-2000), the son of the dashing actor of the 1920s and Anna Beth Sully, the daughter of an industrialist, was raised by his mother after his parents' divorce in 1918. At the age of 13, he starred in Lasky's Stephen Steps Out, an unsuccessful attempt to exploit the Fairbanks name. Although the younger Fairbanks, a movie producer as well as an actor, appeared in some 75 films, his father took little interest in his son's career, and the two did not become close friends until the early 1930s. His feature films included Stella Dallas (1926), Little Caesar (1930), The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), Gunga Din (1939) and Sinbad the Sailor (1947), and Fairbanks also appeared in a number of made-for-TV movies and hosted the anthology series, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Presents (1952-1955). In the 1930s, he was married to actress Joan Crawford. Lightly creased. Left vertical fold and lower horizontal fold touch signature. Overall, fine condition.