Description:

Ernest Hemingway Boldly Signed "The Old Man and the Sea" Film Rights Contract Dated 1 Month After Receiving Pulitzer Prize For Book

A 2pp typed carbon copy of a legal contract boldly signed by American writer Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), as "Ernest Hemingway," above his printed name "Ernest Hemingway" in the bottom right corner of the first page. June 24, 1953. New York, New York. Countersigned by Hemingway's longtime copyright attorney Alfred Rice (1907-1989), as "Alfred Rice," in his role as witness and Notary Public of the State of New York, at the center of the second page. The document is filled out in Rice's handwriting and bears his notary hand-stamp. The contract is stapled to an oversized taupe-colored protective wrapper. Isolated gentle folds and wrinkles to the watermarked paper, and a few scattered smudges not affecting the legibility of the text. The actual size of the contract is 8.5" x 13" while the wrapper measures 9" x 14.125."

Ernest Hemingway signed this legal contract granting "sole and exclusive right to produce one motion picture only from the literary work written by the undersigned and entitled 'The Old Man and the Sea'" to Hollywood movie producer Leland Hayward (1902-1971). Subsequent clauses of the "Assignment" outline the license term of the agreement, extending 10 years from the film date of release in the United States, and not to exceed 15 years from the release date worldwide, with an exception granted for television rights after 5 years. Ownership rights would "revest in the undersigned" after expiration.

Hemingway had written "The Old Man and the Sea" in 1951, and the novella was published in both serial magazine form and book form in 1952. Hemingway's story was about an elderly Cuban fisherman named Santiago who hunted and captured an 18'-long marlin, only to lose its carcass through shark attacks. The adventure story was a true fish tale that recalled other epic contests between humans and animals, such as Herman Melville's "Moby Dick." "The Old Man and the Sea" had been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction just one month earlier, in May 1953, and Hemingway would also receive the Nobel Prize in Literature for the same work in October 1954.

The Warner Brothers film adaptation of "The Old Man and the Sea" was released in August 1958, with major city premieres in October 1958. The movie was produced by Leland Hayward, directed first by Fred Zinnemann and later by John Sturges, and based on a screenplay by Peter Viertel adapted almost verbatim from Hemingway's original prose. Hemingway's roles in the movie production included that of a technical adviser, as well as a second unit director of open-water fishing sequences. Hemingway also counseled the cast, which included Spencer Tracy in the role of Santiago, during filming in Cuba.

The license terms of this contract would expire well after Hemingway's suicide in 1961; 10 years after the August 1958 release date of "The Old Man and the Sea" was in 1968.

Comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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