NEIL HAMILTON - CONTRACT DOUBLE SIGNED 07/30/1943 CO-SIGNED BY: CHARLES BEYER - HFSID 292034

NEIL HAMILTON and CHARLES BEYER
Hamilton retains Beyer (himself a former actor) as his exclusive agent for movies only. This contract, found in the desk of W. C. Fields, was in Debbie Reynolds' collection of Hollywood memorabilia.
Contract signed twice : "Neil Hamilton", "Charles Beyer", 8 pages, 8½x11. Also initialed "N. H". Hollywood, California, 1943 July 30. Hamilton retains Beyer as his agent for motion pictures only, for a term of three years commencing November 17, 1943. A popular leading man of the silent film era, James NEIL HAMILTON (1899-1984), starred in such films the The White Rose (1923), Beau Geste and The Great Gatsby (both 1926). He stared in over 35 D.W. Griffith and Paramount silents before 1930. Relegated to secondary roles in later talkie films, he found new success in TV character roles, notably as Commissioner Gordon in the Batman series (1966-1968). Hamilton, who went by his middle name, was married to Elsa Whitner from 1922 until his death. CHARLES BEYER (1893-1953) played supporting roles in numerous films between 1916 and 1929. His films include The Man Who Paid (1922), Weekend Husbands (1924), The Unguarded Hour (1925), Cabaret (1927), Taxi 13 (1928), Side Street (1929) and The Delightful Rogue (1929). Later in his acting career, he went by the screen name Charles Byer. He was also a famous agent, working with such film stars as W. C. Fields, May Robson and Victor MacLaglen.This contract has a colorful provenance. It was among papers in the desk of W.C. Fields, acquired by Debbie Reynolds for her museum of Hollywood memorabilia, and sold by her at auction in 2010. Staples at left edge. Lightly toned at edges. Lightly creased. Fine condition.