When "Double Indemnity" came out in September 1944, Billy Wilder got mixed up in a conflict with David Selznick, following Selznick's advertising campaign for his film "Since You Went Away" (in an earlier post From Hitch to Billy, you can read all about it). A few months later, however, things had apparently settled down, and on 1 December 1944 Selznick was gracious enough to write Wilder the following letter.
Source: rr auction/ image reproduced with owner's permission
Transcript:
David O. Selznick
Culver City, California
December 1, 1944
Dear Billy:
I had the great pleasure, at long last, of seeing "Double Indemnity" the other evening. Please accept my most sincere congratulations on a truly fine job. When are you coming to work for me?
Cordially,
David (signed)
Mr. Billy Wilder
Paramount Pictures Inc.
5451 Marathon Street
Hollywood 38, California
dos: is
Nice follow up. Though I doubt Wilder would ever have wanted to work for Selznick.
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