Lot 350

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Description:

Ernest Hemingway 2x Signed "The Old Man and the Sea" Film Rights Agreement With Warner Bros & Spencer Tracy.

A 4pp printed legal agreement twice signed by American writer Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961): first, as "Ernest Hemingway," above his printed name "Ernest Hemingway" on the fourth page; and second, as "EH" next to a crossed-out word in the right margin of page 3. October 17, 1955. N.p. The contract is stapled to an oversized blue-colored protective wrapper. Isolated gentle folds and wrinkles, else near fine. The actual size of the wrapper is 9" x 13.375."

Ernest Hemingway signed this legal agreement binding five principal parties of the proposed movie production of "The Old Man and the Sea": the "Producer," Leland Hayward Productions, Inc.; the "Author," Ernest Hemingway; the "Artist," Spencer Tracy; the "Director," Fred Zinnemann; and the "Distributor," Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. The document outlines many important parts of the business arrangement, including an overview of how profits would be shared: 33 1/3 % of box office receipts (after deductions) would go to the producer, with 8 1/3 % shares going to the "Producer," "Author," and "Artist" (Leland Hayward, Ernest Hemingway, Spencer Tracy, respectively.)

The sixth clause of the document, found on page 2, pertains to the contingency of early termination of the Director's contract, and these terms almost certainly went into effect with "The Old Man and the Sea" project when the film's first director, Fred Zinnemann (1907-1997), left the project in June 1956 after having completed more than 40 days of filming. Contemporary Hollywood newspapers reported that both Zinnemann and movie producer Leland Hayward (1902-1971) supported Zinnemann's departure, though Zinnemann may have resigned specifically because of creative differences with Jack Warner over a critical flashback scene. The document clause states: "In the event the Director's employment under said agreement of employment is terminated for any cause set forth…and in the event said photoplay, as released, was not directed entirely by the Director, then and in that event the percentage of the Producer's Share assigned to the Director…shall be reduced…" Fred Zinnemann was replaced with John Sturges (1910-1992).

Hemingway had written "The Old Man and the Sea" in 1951, and the novella was published in both serial magazine form and book form in 1952. 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. The adventure story was a true fish tale that recalled other epic contests between humans and animals, such as Herman Melville's "Moby Dick." "The Old Man and the Sea" was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in May 1953, and Hemingway also received the Nobel Prize in Literature for the same work in October 1954.

The Warner Brothers film adaptation of "The Old Man and the Sea" was released in August 1958, with major city premieres in October 1958. The movie was based on a screenplay by Peter Viertel adapted almost verbatim from Hemingway's original prose. Hemingway's roles in the movie production included that of a technical adviser, well as a second unit director of open-water fishing sequences. Hemingway also counseled the cast, which included Spencer Tracy in the role of Santiago, during filming in Cuba.

Hemingway and Tracy had a tumultuous relationship, perhaps because they were too similar. 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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