5 March 2014

Confidential telegram from Hitch


Alfred Hitchcock and Joan Fontaine made two movies together, Rebecca (1940) and Suspicion (1941). In 1942, Hitch wanted to work with Joan again on a new project called Shadow of a Doubt, but Joan was unavailable. Eventually Hitch settled for Teresa Wright instead. Shadow of a Doubt, which also starred Joseph Cotten, was released in 1943 and was to be Hitchcock's personal favourite.

Production on Shadow of a Doubt began in April 1942, with the actual shooting starting in August. On 8 June 1942, Alfred Hitchcock sent a telegram to Joan Fontaine, asking her to be part of his new film. "S", whom Hitch refers to in his telegram, is presumably Jack Skirball, the film's producer.


Via: telegrams from last century

Transcript:

VIA WESTERN UNION- STRAIGHT WIRE

June 8, 1942

JOAN FONTAINE
THE CAMPBELL HOUSE
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIF.

DEAR JOAN DO YOU WANT TO PLAY THE LEAD IN MY NEXT CONFIDENTIALLY BECAUSE S DOES NOT KNOW [redacted] I'VE TELEGRAPHED YOU LOVE

                                                                                              HITCH

Charge to: [redacted] Jack Skirball Productions

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