Description:

Spencer Tracy ALS to Mrs. Ernest Hemingway: He Starred in "The Old Man & The Sea"

A 1p autograph letter signed by Hollywood actor Spencer Tracy (1900-1967) as "Spencer" at lower right. April 7, 1956. N.p. On watermarked laid stationery, accompanied by its original transmittal envelope boldly engrossed by Tracy to "Mrs Ernest Hemingway" on the front cover. Expected wear including flattened paper folds and a few extra wrinkles, else near fine. 7.25" x 10.375." The envelope, letter-opened at top, is slightly bent and water-stained along the bottom edge. Inscribed "1956 - Spencer Tracy" in another hand along the top. Accompanied by an outer manila envelope from the Phoenix Book Shop (New York, New York.)

Tracy wrote this thank-you note to Mary Hemingway (1908-1986), the fourth wife of American novelist Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), during the early days of film production for the Warner Brothers film adaptation of Hemingway's novella of the same name, "The Old Man and the Sea."

Tracy wrote in full:

"April 7, 1956
Dear Mary,
My present has affected and pleased me more - much more - than I am able to express.
It is far and away the most beautiful I have seen.
I shall cherish it.
My deepest thanks to you both.
Believe me,
Spencer."

Hemingway had written "The Old Man and the Sea" in 1951 and the novella was published in 1952; it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in May 1953, and the Nobel Prize in Literature in October 1954. 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. Spencer Tracy took on the starring role of Santiago in the movie.

Hemingway and Tracy had a tumultuous relationship. The writer hated Tracy's performance as Santiago, telling A.E. Hotchner, his close friend, literary editor, and biographer, that Tracy "looked like a fat, rich actor trying to play a fisherman." Hemingway maintained that not only was the character of Santiago miscast but that his entire work was hijacked by clumsy film interpretation, a process which Hemingway colorfully likened to someone "pissing in your father’s beer." Hemingway walked out of the New York City movie theater playing "The Old Man and the Sea" after only ten minutes.

This item 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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