This is a letter written to Irving Drutman from Ira Gershwin. The letter discusses a lawsuit that Gershwin was involved in as well as intimate details of the writing process for “A Star is Born.” The letter is three pages long and is in excellent condition with no damages and all of the writing completely legible.  

Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the 20th century. He was a recipient of the 1932 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for “Of Thee I Sing” and three of his songs were nominated for an Academy Award.

The letter reads as follows:

April 16, 1954

Dear Irving,

Congratulations on your new apt. may it see you healthier, wealthier, and (I don't know about) wiser (your Solomon-like judgments in many fields are supreme: I give you your views on Gershwiniana). As for the apt. itself, have no idea whether ill be able to mecca it this year; good possibility, though, that Lee will be East-bound in the fall.  

So you quit “Waterfront.” Well, last night “Waterfront” (via Sam Spiegel) got after me to do a lyric for its Lenny Bernstein theme but I pleaded incapacity (thus far anyway; both Sam and Lenny, among others, are coming to help grace the grooming board tonight) because I’ve just been through a siege of depositionitis in the Song Writers Vs. BMI suit and also because I don't know what the hell is going to happen to one shot in “A Star is Born” for which Harold [Harold Arlen] and I wrote three songs – two of which are eminently suitable – but from which we’ve been informed the choreographer couldn't get any notions (each contains lyrically “an optimistic idea” and “the picture already has same” in a number called “lose that song face”). As you probably know, Harold is hospitalized in N.Y. and can’t come out and I don't wish to do a new number with any other composer for this picture, particularly for loyalty reasons to Harold. I’ve seen only about a third of the film – all of it was double A – and I’ve heard from many that the rest is just as good. I don't know what the studio intends to do about the shot in question. Probably an outside number will be the interpolated. Such possible going-on will cause me to lose little sleep but I'm afraid Harold would consider it a great blow. Incidentally I doubt whether any picture wince Von Stroheim [Erich von Stroheim] days has been as long in the shooting, but expensive as it is, it undoubtedly still will make money as, despite her occasional truancy, Judy is still tops among actress-singers. So much for “A.S.I.B.” [“A Star is Born”]

Haven’t seen “the Country Girl” which finished shooting last week; will probably see a rough cut in a couple of weeks. Perlbeg + Seaton [William Perlberg and George Seaton] will probably see a rough cut in a couple of weeks. Perlbeg + Seaton believe its Cosby’s [Bill Cosby] best job ever, so far as acting is concerned. Since it's a highly dramatic script the 4 or 5 musical shots Harold and I worked on are secondary, and, outside of one number, “The Land Around Us,” have no production value, but P+S sound no whit [not at all] displeased with the somewhat documentary musical effort submitted. 

Lee [Lee Gershwin] is dandy and I'm fine – family fine, that is – and both of us send you love and if you do get out this way – it’ll be a pleasure to have you visit us. 

Ira

 

This item will ship exactly as photographed in Excellent Condition. It also comes with:  
FREE $10,000.00 Certified Insurance Appraisal, &
Certificate of Authenticity!

  
This piece can be viewed at our Brand New gallery APR57 at 200 W 57th Street, New York, NY 10019. We ship anywhere around the world! 
  
Appraisal Value: $10,000.00
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Specifications of Piece
Industry:	Music
Occaision:	Correspondence between friends
Type:	Letter
Subject:	Ira Gershwin
Year / Circa:	1956
Approx. Dimensions:	8.5" inches (wide) x 5.5" inches (high)
Condition:	Excellent
Appraised Value:	Comes with FREE 10,000.00 Certified Insurance Appraisal Certificate!