GEORGE S. KAUFMAN - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 06/07/1945 - HFSID 189592

GEORGE S. KAUFMAN
George S. Kaufman sends a typed letter about the movie Anything Can Happen.
Typed Letter Signed: "George", 1p, 8½x11. New York City, 1945 June 7. On his personal letterhead to Harold. In full: "Sam and I talked over the 'Anything Can Happen' play, and both feel, with all the other complications, that it is not worth folling (sic, fooling) with without an unequivocal letter from Mrs. Papa, etc. A letter giving us carte blanche with no reservations so far as the writing of the play is concerned. Could this be put up to her? By the way, I assume there is nothing in her RKO contract that gives them any other rights than the picture, in any direct or indirect way. I'm in the country mostly these days -- Holicong, Pa." While we could find no reference to Anything Can Happen being produced as a play, it was released as a film (by Paramount, not RKO) in 1952. Based on a colorful memoir by George and HELEN PAPASHVILY (the "Mrs. Papa" mentioned in this letter), the film starred Jose Ferrer as Giorgi Papashvily, an Eastern European immigrant who falls in love with an American girl. The winner of two Pulitzer Prizes (Of Thee I Sing, 1932 and You Can't Take It With You, 1937), GEORGE S. KAUFMAN (1889-1961) brought satirical, hilarious dialogue to his collaborations and his own plays, including Strike Up the Band, and screenplays (Animal Crackers, A Night at the Opera). Kaufman, who often collaborated with such noted American writers as Moss Hart and Edna Ferber, wrote Silk Stockings with Abe Burrows in 1955. His other New York shows include I'd Rather Be Right (11/37-7/38) and Of Mice & Men (opened in 1937). Kaufman, who often collaborated with such noted American writers as Moss Hart and Edna Ferber, wrote Silk Stockings with Abe Burrows in 1955, ten years after this letter, and directed the original production of Guys and Dolls. SAM HARRIS produced two of Kaufman's New York shows, I'd Rather Be Right (11/37-7/38) and Of Mice & Men (opened in 1937).Lightly creased. Receipt stamp at upper right margin. Lightly soiled at upper right margin beneath date, ink note (unknown hand) at upper right corner. Overall, fine condition.