?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 2,000 - $ 3,000
QUEEN OF GREECE ENCOURAGES STEINBECK AND ELIA KAZAN TO MAKE A FILM STEINBECK, JOHN. Two Autograph Letters Signed, "John" or in full, to his literary agent Elizabeth Otis ("Dear Elizabeth" or lacking salutation). The first, describing his plan to attend Spain's Holy Week and the Seville Fair with his wife Elaine (who would be taking photographs) with the aim of writing several pieces about the celebrations, noting the possibility that Elia Kazan would be joining them on a further trip to Greece, and remarking that the Queen of Greece has offered resources to Steinbeck and Kazan if they agree to make a film about Greece. The second, a formal letter authorizing McIntosh & Otis to make disbursements from his funds to his wife's mother or his two sons during his trip to Europe. Each 1 page, 4to, ruled paper or personal stationery; horizontal folds. [New York], 10 February 1954
"Following is a projected plan for your files and so that you can have something definite to sell. As you know I am going to Spain in March to attend the Holy Week ceremonies and the Feria in Seville. These two celebrations are unique in the world as far as I know--a complete return to the middle ages. Before I saw this a couple of years ago I tried to read up on it and found singularly little in English had been done. . . . Therefore I will try to do several pieces on the subject and Elaine will photograph the whole thing. . . . ". . . There is a strong chance that Elia Kazan will join us in Spain. If that is so we will probably fly to Greece to set up the Greek morning[?] Picture we have been discussing. To fill you in--the Queen of Greece told us that if Kazan and I would work together on a film about Greece, the Greek government would give us every facility, even financing. "I have a story and it would be a good thing business wise to visit the Queen . . . ." Although Elia Kaza had worked with Steinbeck for two of his films, Viva Zapata (1951) and East of Eden (1955), the two never collaborated on a film about Greece, despite the Queen of Greece having offered financing and locations for such a film in 1954 and again in 1962, when Steinbeck visited Athens and the Aegean islands.
