BIB_ID
448672
Accession number
MA 23840.145
Creator
Jhabvala, Ruth Prawer, 1927-2013, sender.
Display Date
Delhi, India, 1964 August 16
Credit line
Gift of James Ivory, 2022.
Description
1 item (10 pages) ; 22.7 x 17.4 cm + envelope
Notes
Year from postmark.
Envelope addressed to Mr. James Ivory, c/o Ismail Merchant, Gool Villa, 32, Motlibai Street, Bombay 8, postmarked August 17, 1964. Envelope has 21st-century comments inscribed by James Ivory on verso: "Probably the most important letter Ruth ever wrote to me concerning our work: an astute criticism of my attempts, as co-screenriter, to touch up the dialogue she had written, leading to possible disastrous results. I think-- or hope-- this letter did have the effect on the way I thought from then on about screenwriting that she intended so forcefully."
Envelope addressed to Mr. James Ivory, c/o Ismail Merchant, Gool Villa, 32, Motlibai Street, Bombay 8, postmarked August 17, 1964. Envelope has 21st-century comments inscribed by James Ivory on verso: "Probably the most important letter Ruth ever wrote to me concerning our work: an astute criticism of my attempts, as co-screenriter, to touch up the dialogue she had written, leading to possible disastrous results. I think-- or hope-- this letter did have the effect on the way I thought from then on about screenwriting that she intended so forcefully."
Provenance
James Ivory.
Summary
Discussing in great detail the additions Ivory has made to the script for "Shakespeare Wallah," which she thinks do not work, and giving detailed explanations for her opinions concerning, principally, character and dialogue; trying to reassure Ivory that her objections are not meant to hijack his film, but to make it as good as it can be; asking Ivory if he could come to Delhi so they could work together.
Catalog link
Department