Letters from Hollywood: Inside the Private World of Classic American Moviemaking

Letters from Hollywood collects 135 pieces of correspondence—letters, memos, and telegrams—reproduced in full color from notable figures in film history. The collection spans from the silent era through the 1970s and includes contributions from Greta Garbo, Alfred Hitchcock, Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra, Katharine Hepburn, Marlon Brando, Elia Kazan, Cary Grant, Francis Ford Coppola, Tom Hanks, and Jane Fonda. Sourced from libraries, archives, and personal collections, the correspondence is organized chronologically with annotations by the authors providing backstories and context. Each piece documents a specific moment in time, and together they form a broader picture of Hollywood history during the classic film era.