[Film & Theater] Allen, Woody. (b.1935). Archive of Ten Autograph Letters. An excellent archive of ten autograph letters signed and one T.L.S. "Woody" on his personal letterhead, almost all with transmittal envelopes, 11pp., written between Oct. 19, 1994 and Jan. 13, 2000 to a sympathetic friend "Bruce" who is also the author of nearly sixty books. Fine content often mentioning his frustration in having had strict visitation rights following the Soon-Yi scandal. In part: "...Thanks very much for your kind and supportive letter...thanks in advance for the poster and books. Who knows, maybe it will turn Satchel's mind in a new direction...Thanks for the wonderful book...I'll be sure to go over the book with Satchel providing I win my court fight & get to see him again. It's been nearly a year - which is better than my daughter - that's been nearly five. Great court system - don't ever J-walk...My beef is not against lawyers who are hired guns & make no bones about it but judges who are incompetent & dishonest & who have lots of power. Working on a new film, never see any of my children & have to hope when they get older & see what's been done to them they'll phone...Unfortunately, I don't see Satchel - his Mom stopped sending him & the judge won't enforce his own order of visitation...doing a film & finishing a film & playing jazz...Deconstructing Harry has done reasonably well despite its outspokeness...Thanks for the [birthday] card. Three more years til I get a half price pass to the movies...I'm filming all day & night...I was a big Lash Larue fan and saw his films at The Republic Theater...received your manuscript which had some nice laughs in it...have a good next thousand...". Overall fine.

A seldom encountered collection of letters from the irreverent American actor, comedian, director, screenwriter, author and musician. As a comic, he developed the persona of an insecure, intellectual, fretful loser. By the mid-1960s Allen was writing and directing films, first specializing in slapstick comedies before moving into more dramatic material influenced by European art cinema during the 1970s. Allen's career was briefly rocked by a scandalous relationship with his step-daughter, Soon-Yi Previn, 37 years younger than he and the adopted daughter of his lover Mia Farrow. Satchel Allen, now using the name Ronan, is the brilliant (only) biological child of Allen and Mia Farrow. In speaking of his daughter, Allen refers to his adopted daughter Malone (Dylan). At the end of a bitter custody battle, a judge ruled that Allen's behavior had been "grossly inappropriate", denied visitation with Malone, and only limited visitation with Ronan who now apparently refuses to associate with his father in any way. Allen's letters are scarce, and those with content are very rarely encountered.