Missy and The President

Barbara Stanwyck and Ronald Reagan made one film together, the (only mildly interesting) western Cattle Queen of Montana (1954). In a letter to Ella Smith dated 16 May 1972, Reagan (then governor of California) talks about the film and how it was to work with a "pro" like Barbara. (More letters to Ella Smith, author of the biography Starring Miss Barbara Stanwyck, regarding Barbara's consummate professionalism can be found here).

Apart from Reagan's letter to Smith, also seen below is a correspondence between Barbara and "Ronnie" from 1981 following Barbara's tribute at the Film Society at Lincoln Center, their respective letters again referring to Cattle Queen. The letter from Barbara looks like a draft, not the actual letter she sent to the President.

Incidentally, Barbara also knew Nancy Reagan (then Davis) from when the latter was still an actress; the two women played together in East Side, West Side (1949).

Source: icollector.com

Transcript:

May 16, 1972

Miss Ella Smith

Assistant Professor

Department of Dramatic Arts

The University of Connecticut

Storrs, Connecticut 06268

Dear Miss Smith:

"Cattle Queen of Montana" was the only picture I ever made with Barbara Stanwyck, although I have known her for many years. She is one of the best thought of and most respected performers in all the industry.

Working with her I discovered why. She is a pro. Her only intolerance is of those who won't take our profession seriously, and who come to work without their lines learned or who are late and careless in their work. She is ready every day exactly on time, her lines learned perfectly for each day's shooting, prepared to undergo whatever has to be done to make the scene better for the audience who will eventually see the movie.

In "Cattle Queen", for example, there is a scene where she is bathing in a mountain lake. The director was prepared to shoot this with a double because the temperature of the water was in the mid-forties. Naturally, the scene would not be as good if the camera had had to play far enough away for use of a double. She insisted on doing the scene herself. She is most helpful to other performers, sacrificing many times some personal advantage in the scene and throwing the scene to another when she thinks it will benefit the overall story.

You asked about the S.A.G. award. Nothing illustrates more her personality and attitude. Those who know her were concerned that if she suspected she was getting an award she wouldn't be there, so they invited her to come down and present the award to me. She was standing off-stage, fully expecting to come out and make the presentation of the first such award to me, when she heard me making the presentation to her.

Thanks for letting me comment about this very wonderful gal in our business.

Sincerely,

"signed"

RONALD REAGAN

Governor

Source: Bonhams

Transcript:

Dear Mr President

Thank you so much for the lovely message you sent me to the Film Society at Lincoln Center. I deeply appreciate your taking the time to do this and I must tell you it surprised and delighted the audience. 

My prayers and best wishes for you in your difficult job.

Gratefully

Barbara 

P.S. Ronnie - If I had known during the filming of "Cattle Queen" that you were going to be President of our country I would have given you first billing!!

Love to you and Nancy,

Missy

Source: icollector.com

Transcript:

Aug 2nd

Dear Barbara

I'm very late in responding to your nice letter of June 17 and I'm sorry. Let me say however it isn't all my fault. It sometimes is quite a spell before mail gets through the bureaucratic maze and lands on my desk.

Nancy and I were happy to hear from you and wish we could have been at Lincoln Center. Nancy sends her love as do I and we were both delighted that you were honored. You deserve it. 

Incidentally I appreciate your willingness to give me top billing in the picture but it might have set me back - RR as .......?

Anyway thanks and from both of us, warmest regards.

Sincerely 

Ron

Above: Barbara Stanwyck flanked by fellow Republicans Ronald Reagan and Charlton Heston in the 1960s. Below: Reagan and wife Nancy photographed aboard a boat in California in 1964; the couple was married from 1952 until Ronald Reagan's death in 2004.