MARSHALL "MICKEY" NEILAN - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/02/1952 - HFSID 67429

MARSHALL "MICKEY" NEILAN
The silent film director writes playwright/critic Louis Sobol to clear up a misunderstanding about receiving an inheritance.
Typed letter signed: "Mickey [and in print] The Neilan.", in black ink, 1 page, 8½x11. Hollywood, California, January 14, 1938. To "Dear Lou ", of Louis Sobol, N.Y. Journal-American, In full: "A friend mailed me a clipping of your ditty of March the 28th. in which you say that I am in the chips again due to inheriting a small fortune form that late Walker Inman brother of Doris Duke. Well sweetheart Walker flew me last Sunday from Georgetwon [sic]S.C. to Atlanta where I caught a crate back to this jerk village and for a departed friend he was active as hell. In addition to this he is the proud father of three weeks son so I imagine Walker is going to be with us I HOPE for some time. Reading the article I at once smelt a mice and says I to myself y little pal Lou has run into one Joe Frisco. Joe has for two years carried the idea that Walker has passed on and incidently [sic] he tells the tale that he will upon the settling of the estate inherit a bit of loot...this is a good beginning for a bite as Joe still likes this means of collecting abit [sic] of pilfer. Sorry I missed seeing you while in Gods country but as MacArthur says I'LL RETURN. I am heading a company to be known as Marshall Neilan Telecraft Inc. I am backed by Seattle aviation money with no help from the present not departed Walker Inman. I was in the hospital for eight months and had to lay low for two years but I got a clean bill of health the other day and now I'm ready for action which I know you will wish me luck on in my new venture. Good luck fella see you soon,". Marshall Neilan (1891-1958) was one of the most prolific silent film directors during the early ages of the art. Credited with over 100 films, his works include Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917), Don't Ever Marry (1919) and Swing it Professor (1937). Stumbling into his first acting role after a lucky run-in with director Allan Dwan, Neilan started in the business as an actor, appearing in over 130 movies including The Country Boy (1915), The Cycle of Fate (1916) and Daddy-Long-Legs (1919). In 1919 he co-founded of Associated Producers, Inc. where he began his production company. As his popularity grew, he was picked up by Metro-Goldwyn Pictures to a do a variety of movies with Louis B. Mayer. The two disagreed on every decision, and a major fall out eventually led to Neilan quitting the company. In his late career he returned to acting in brief cameo appearances. The last film he appeared in before his death was A Face in the Crowd (1957), featuring Andy Griffith and Patricia Neal. Russian-born Louis Sobol (1896-1986) was a writer, actor and small time producer who frequently wrote as a Broadway and film critic for various New York City papers. Normal mailing folds. Creased. Pencil notes (unknown hand) at lower margin. Stamped at top margin. Otherwise, fine condition.