Description:

Leigh Vivien 1913 - 1967 Vivian Leigh ALS with exceptional theatrical content
ALS on light grey card stock, 6" x 4" with Vivien Leigh's personal letterhead. Dated "Nov 7th "(61), and signed by Vivien Leigh "With my love Vivien Leigh". Accompanied by the postmarked mailing envelope partially autographed by Leigh with "Miss Joyce Huddart" scripted in her hand. Lacking the original stamp. Near fine condition.


Vivien Leigh writes a letter to her close friend, Joyce Huddart. One can project that she perhaps met Joyce during her period acting in the theaters of London. Joyce was head of wardrobe and also participated as stage crew for the London Tower Theatre, and the two corresponded regularly over a period of many years. Vivien Leigh's ultimate passion was for roles in theater. She was quoted as saying, "I'm not a film star - I'm an actress. Being a film star - just a film star - is such a false life, lived for fake values and for publicity. Actresses go on for a long time and there are always marvelous parts to play."

This letter to Joyce was written during an interesting period of her life. She had completed her filming of The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone a 1961 British romantic drama film based on the play by Tennessee Williams. The film centered around an acclaimed American stage actress, Karen Stone, and her businessman husband off on holiday to Rome where upon he suffers a fatal heart attack while on the plane. Karen decides to stay in Rome and is pursued by a highly paid professional gigolo, Paulo portrayed by a young Warren Beatty. Ridiculed by the Contessa, chastised by her friend Meg and abandoned by Paolo, Mrs. Stone is soon utterly debased enough to surrender herself to a ragged, mysterious young man who has been following her obsessively. In the end, it seems as if Mrs. Stone has literally given up her life.

The following is an interesting commentary about the film by Penny Stalling of Flesh and Fantasy (1978):

"Tennessee Williams wanted the lead in The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone to go to Katherine Hepburn, after seeing her performance as the scheming mother in Suddenly Last Summer. But Hepburn, who resented the way her advancing years had been treated in that film, had no intention of inviting comparison between herself and the lonely middle-aged actress who buys the attentions of a male hustler. Although the public was intrigued by rumors of an off-screen liaison between the film's subsequent stars, Vivien Leigh and Warren Beatty, Spring was a disappointment at the box office. It seems that audiences were uncomfortable with the film's depressing theme, and with the painful similarities between the lives of Vivien Leigh and the mentally unstable Mrs Stone."

This comment was a testament to both Leigh's public and private life, as there was no doubt that by this time Leigh's burgeoning mental problems were making her increasingly disabled.

In 1960, Vivien Leigh was also performing in the stage play,Duel of Angels, which Vivien alludes to in her letter to Joyce when she stated "Playing "Duel" at the moment which is a huge success -" , Duel was being performed at the Helen Hayes Theatre, in New York City. However at the exact timing of the letter, Leigh was touring in Australia and New Zealand (accompanied by her then husband), which would account for the "Sydney / NSW AUST" postmark.

The letter reads in full:

"Nov 7th

My dear Joyce - Thank you for your very sweet birthday card - The company gave me a lovely partyand did a cabaret which was wonderfully amusing + brilliant - we are enjoying the long Season playing "Duel" at the moment which is a huge success - I trust all is well with you.

With my love

Vivien Leigh"

A wonderful early autographed letter to her personal friend, written about a year after her divorce from Sir Lawrence Olivier.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000