NIGEL BRUCE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 12/07/1941 - HFSID 145100

NIGEL BRUCE
Actor Nigel Bruce wrote this letter in 1941 to remind the recipient to see the Alfred Hitchcock movie Suspicion and about his memories of the first World War. Bruce starred in Suspicion with Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine; it was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.
Autograph letter signed "Nigel Bruce". 2 pages, 6x7. Beverly Hills, California, 1941 (sic, 1940) December 7. To Norman Jones. In full: "Thank you indeed for your very nice letter. I'm glad you like my little contribution that has come from me in the film you have seen. Please thank Peter Sulton also and don't miss Hitchcock's new feature Suspicion when it comes to dear old England as I [think] that you will Both like it very much & in my opinion Hitchcock as a director is unbeatable. Best wishes to you Both in the New Year & I hope our Beloved little England wont have to go through another 1940. I fought against those Brutes from Aug 4th 1914 to the Armistice & spent 2½ years in Hospital with a fractured right thigh so I love 'em. Best wishes to you Both." Although clearly dated "1941", by content it was written on December 7, 1940. In Suspicion (1941), Bruce portrayed Cary Grant's likeable business partner Beaky Thwaite who dies under mysterious circumstances. The film was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. With Basil Rathbone, British actor Bruce (1895-1953) portrayed the famous crime-solving pair of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson in 14 films, beginning with The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1939. For the next six years, their legendary performances in Sherlock Holmes mysteries such as The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939), Pearl of Death (1944) and Dressed to Kill (1946) caused them to be symbolically linked with the detective duo created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930). After serving in World War I, Bruce began his acting career performing both in London and on Broadway; he made his first British film in 1931 and in 1934 began work in Hollywood. His movie credits include Treasure Island (1934), Rebecca (1940) and Hong Kong (1951). Creased, light diagonal crease touches the "N" in Nigel and the "r" in Bruce. Shaded and nicked at upper horizontal fold.