HELEN HAYES - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/26/1935 - HFSID 177510

HELEN HAYES
Helen Hayes sends a typed letter to Edward J. Mannix at M-G-M about Metro exercising their option in her contract.
Important Typed Letter Signed: "Helen Hayes", 2p, 5x6¾, separate sheets affixed to 5½x7 board. St. Paul, Minn., 1935 April 26. To Edward J. Mannix at M-G-M, who had notified her that "Metro had renewed my option." Since his letter was dated April 1st, Hayes wants to know "is that April Fool, or do you really mean to do something about making me come out, the way you threatened last year? I can think of several reasons why Metro took up that option. I will name them off, and then if you will just check off the right one...1-April Fool 2-Lonliness (sic) 3-The hope to reduce income tax by putting out more Hayes pictures 4-Mr. Mayer had indigestion that day 5-You're going to act mean and try to interfere with my signing contracts for the stage and Radio. Or maybe this option is merely protection for you to keep me from going over to Tiffany and making the picture of the age; in which case you don't aim to force me to live up to my contract with you, but just to keep me from doing pictures with anyone else. I wouldn't mind that last so much. Would you please let me know, Eddie, because I'm worried and I want to be signing up for my next season's production. The only thing I liked about that option was your signature, which meant you were back in harness, again, well and strong." Hayes had won the 1931-1932 Academy Award for Best Actress for the title role in The Sin of Madelon Claudet, her first role. After portraying Vanessa in Vanessa, Her Love Story in 1935 for M-G-M, Hayes returned to Broadway and enjoyed the greatest triumph of her stage career in the title role of Victoria Regina (1935-1938). She did not return to Hollywood until 1952. Mounting stains lightly show through to corners. Paper clip rust stain on first page, impressions on both at upper margins. Fine condition.