Asta Bidspirit | LANG FRITZ: (1890-1976)

LANG FRITZ: (1890-1976) - ‘It is very important to me that you will have great success with this, your first work’   LANG FRITZ: (1890-1976) Austro-Hungarian born film director whose works include the ground-breaking futuristic Metropolis (1927) and the influential film noir precursor M (1931). A good series of seven T.Ls.S., Fritz Lang , thirteen pages (total), 4to, most Beverly Hills, California, April 1963 - November 1964, all to the writer Alfred Eibel, in German. Lang writes to his correspondent concerning their project to write a book about Lang, extracts from the letters include -   (i) 'Unfortunately I'm not really in a position to delve further into your project at the moment. I'm head over heels working on my next film, going to Rome and Capri in two days and then having to go back to Munich and then Berlin and London…..I won't be able to deal with your project for four to five months, with the best will in the world. I'm very sorry, but unfortunately I can't give you any further information at the moment. I just want to tell you that…..about 8 to 10 days ago, a book on the same basis as you intend to do yours has been published by Seghers in Paris. It's called ”Fritz Lang” and was written by Luc Moullet' (25 th April 1963)   (ii) 'I read that the book about me has already been published….business and health reasons have prevented me from writing to you…..I've been taking the trouble to look up old files for the last few days and will try to send you some photocopies of American articles I've written…..I'm also very   anxious that you will include in this book an essay by my long time collaborator and editor of my films, Gene Fowler….' (22 nd January 1964)   (iii) 'I have reviewed the material you have sent to Hollywood for use in the book and I shall comment on that first…..I have the following very important things to say; the ”Writings by Fritz Lang” you have given are from Germany, as far as I can remember, mostly from the press offices of the respective companies for which I make the films….have been written by Thea von Harbou and are not mine…..I would not like these articles to be published in your book under my name. If you would send me the German articles from the period 1919 to 1933 in German, I would read them as soon as possible and write back to you immediately which articles are, to the best of my knowledge and belief, mine. I will send you a number of original articles of mine…..Preface by Fritz Lang to ”Famous Films” by H. A. V. Bullied, delivered as speech at the occasion of showing of ”M”. The Frog and I by Fritz Lang (referring to an insert shot for ”You Only Live Once”)…..Why Am I Interested in Murder? By Fritz Lang…..The Freedom of the Screen by Fritz Lang (published in Theatre Arts December 1947)…..Happily Ever After by Fritz Lang (published in Penguin Film Review…..1948), I Do Not Believe in Censorship by Fritz Lang….. These articles are very important to me, and since you yourself write that you are very poor in terms of material from me and about me from 1936 to 1956, this is certainly a full substitute for any German articles that are missing. I am also sending you a number of the interviews and articles about me you have requested…..regarding your request regarding the manuscript Unter ausschluss der oeffentlichkeit (Translation: With the Exclusion of the Public) I would be happy to authorise you to publish it…..Chapters 2 and 6 you are planning are not entirely clear to me. In chapter 2 you write ”Filmography from 1919-1962” and in Chapter 6 write ” New Filmography”. About what do you want to write in this chapter? My coming to Europe has been postponed from February to March 1964. I will let you know in good time when and where I can be reached in Europe and I hope that we will still have time to sit down and talk in detail about the individual articles so that there are no errors in your book, which could give rise to unwanted criticism' (1 st February 1964)   (iv) 'I hope you enjoyed my stay and long conversations….I know it was very tiring and certainly not always easy….but believe me I was very happy…..and everything I said was in sincere favour to you…..My house is always open to you…..I remember that you promised me four examples of your book…..Unfortunately these books have still not arrived…..I was in Washington until November 9 th , but the mentioned booklets had not arrived there by then. Neither are they here in Beverly Hills….and I am now in a terrible dilemma…..But maybe you made a mistake and you still have the booklets in your possession. If so, please forward them to me immediately in Beverly Hills. And be so kind as to send me the four copies of your book you promised me by air mail at the same time. Of course, I will pay you for the postage costs' (10 th November 1964)   (v) 'Unfortunately I only got around to replying to your long letter of 26 th December today. I'm sure you've had some wrong thoughts, God knows what,