ROBERT MULLIGAN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 09/03/1985 - HFSID 287519

ROBERT MULLIGAN
ALS from the Oscar-nominated director to Rex McGee (1985), correctly predicting that McGee would become a successful writer. Obtained from McGee's personal collection.
Autograph Letter signed: "Bob Mulligan", 1 page, 7¼x10½. Los Angeles, California, 1985 September 3. To Rex McGee, Los Angeles. In full: "It was good to hear from you the other day and I am delighted you've got some writing to do. I was sure it would happen for you and am sure you'll do a fine job. You are a talented guy. I wish you the very best. You deserve it. Your friend". ROBERT MULLIGAN (1925-2008) was a director with credits on almost 30 movies and TV shows, though he'll probably be best remembered for directing To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), an effort that earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Director. Mulligan got his start as a copywriter with The New York Times before moving to television in 1951, with directing credits on Suspense (1952-1954), The Philco Television Playhouse (1955) and The DuPont Show of the Month (1958-59), among others. Mulligan moved to the silver screen in 1957 with Fear Strikes Out, his first movie with future partner Alan J. Pakula, who produced To Kill a Mockingbird. Mulligan was known for getting Oscar-caliber performances out of his actors. Gregory Peck, the lead in To Kill a Mockingbird, won an Oscar for his performance in that movie. He also got Oscar-nominated performances out of Mary Badham (To Kill a Mockingbird, 1962), Natalie Wood (Love with the Proper Stranger, 1963), Ruth Gordon (Inside Daisy Clover, 1965) and Ellen Burstyn (Same Time, Next Year, 1978). REX McGEE (b. 1936) assisted famed director Billy Wilder on his later films and wrote freelance articles, and screenplays which were optioned but not produced. McGee found greater success after moving back to his native Texas. He wrote the screenplay for Pure Country, starring George Strait (1992), now being made into a stage musical. He scripted a documentary film about Texas, and also the TV movie Where There's a Will (2006). He co-wrote Brokeback Mountain (2005). This letter is from McGee's personal collection. Normal mailing folds. Lightly creased. Otherwise, fine condition.