The legendary 1964 Broadway run of Hamlet directed by John Gielgud is one of the most famous productions of Shakespeare’s most important play. Audacious for its time in concept and execution, it placed the actors in everyday clothes within an unassuming “rehearsal” set, with the Ghost of Hamlet’s father projected as a shadow against the rear wall and voiced by the director himself. It was also a runaway critical and financial success, breaking the then-record for most performances of a Broadway show. This was in no small part due to the starring role played by Richard Burton, whose romance with Elizabeth Taylor was the object of widespread fascination. Present throughout, and ever attentive to the backstage drama and towering egos on display, was the actor William Redfield, who played Guildenstern. During the three months of the play’s preparation, from rehearsals through out-of-town tryouts to the gala opening night on Broadway, Redfield wrote a series of letters describing the daily happenings and his impressions of them. In 1967, they were in 1967 collected into Letters from an Actor, a brilliant and unusual book that has since become a classic behind-the-scenes account that remains an indispensable contribution to theatrical history and lore. This new edition at last brings Redfield’s classic back into print, as The Motive and the Cue—the Sam Mendes-directed play about the Gielgud production that is based in part on the book—continues its successful run in London’s West End.

Sarah Bernhardt, London, his own acting—Edwin Booth commented on these and hundreds of other subjects in letters to William Winter, friend of twenty years and drama critic for the New York Tribune. Since he wrote neither autobiography nor diary, the letters constitute the fullest and most detailed record of Booth's career between 1869 and 1890, and arc a new and significant source of information about the actor. The 125 letters which Daniel Watermeier has selected and arranged in this volume are fully annotated; each is preceded by a headnote which provides an introduction to its content and narrative continuity from one letter to the next. Mr. Watermeier's introduction includes biographical sketches of Edwin Booth and William Winter and sets the context of their friendship. With few exceptions, the Booth-Winter letters have not hitherto been made public. They represent a major addition to studies of Edwin Booth and to the history of the American theater. Originally published in 1971. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Rare correspondence from Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, Jane Fonda, and other Hollywood luminaries from the silent film era to the 1970s. Letters from Hollywood reproduces in full color scores of entertaining and insightful pieces of correspondence from some of the most notable and talented film industry names of all time—from the silent era to the golden age, and up through the pre-email days of the 1970s. Culled from libraries, archives, and personal collections, the 135 letters, memos, and telegrams are organized chronologically and are annotated by the authors to provide backstories and further context. While each piece reveals a specific moment in time, taken together, the letters convey a bigger picture of Hollywood history. Contributors include celebrities like Greta Garbo, Alfred Hitchcock, Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra, Katharine Hepburn, Marlon Brando, Elia Kazan, Cary Grant, Francis Ford Coppola, Tom Hanks, and Jane Fonda. This is the gift book of the season for fans of classic Hollywood. With a foreword by Peter Bogdanovitch. “This is, quite simply, one of the finest books I’ve ever read about Hollywood.” —Leonard Maltin

How would you like to get a personal letter or phone call from your favorite star? Or to have them send you an autographed item that can help you raise money for a charity? This book shows you exactly how to make those things happen! "The Actor's Detective Guide to Writing Letters to Celebrities," is part memoir, part "how to" guide. It tells the story of how a love for writing letters to famous people benefited the author, both personally and professionally. It's something anyone can do. In this easy to follow book, you'll find examples of letters (and letter writers) that have been successful in getting notable people to respond personally. It also explains the "do's and don'ts" of contacting celebrities, very clearly laying out the steps of how to write to the stars in a way that compels them to get back to you. A grammar school teacher recently read the book, and she said that it was extremely useful to her in getting her 4th grade students excited about writing. (Of course, kids are more enthusiastic about composing letters to LeBron James, J.K. Rowling, Will Smith or Justin Bieber than they are writing ones to Grandma, but it's a good start.) In this age of texting and 140 character tweets, letter writing has become a lost art. This book hopes to instill that passion back into its readers, and to remind them how powerful a personal letter can actually be in making a connection with someone they admire.

Published to coincide with the centenary of Gielgud's birth, this is the remarkable autobiography of one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, seen through his frank, mesmerizing, and intimate letters. of photos. Line drawings.