Olivier, Laurence. (1907–1989). Interesting Letter to George Cukor about "Love Among the Ruins.". TLS signed “Larry,” one page, 5.5 x 7, personal letterhead, November 27, 1973. Letter to director George Cukor. In full: “I am a hell of a coward not to have got on to you before you left. Let me grovel before you about this, and now I have to grovel again about the opinion—which can be wrong as all get out but it does insist and therefore has to be sincere—I don’t honestly like the feeling of the film Love Among the Ruins, and what makes me feel so badly about not liking it is my opinion is an absolute polarization from yours and from Kate’s, whose opinions I respect more than almost anybody else’s I can think of. I am dreadfully sorry but try as I may I just can’t change my opinion or make my love and deep admiration for you both alter it to come into line with yours. I can’t imagine why this is and there must be something wrong with me. I hope it isn’t serious and I hope that it won’t make both or either of you feel differently about thinking of me for such a heavensent [sic] partnership at some other time. It was marvellous to see you last week and I can’t tell you how Joanie and I ate up your most generous and delicious words of praise for what you saw.”
Whatever his original misgivings, Olivier did indeed star with Katharine Hepburn in the 1975 British television film, directed by George Cukor. The show took home several Emmy Awards, including Hepburn and Olivier for Outstanding Performance, and Cukor for Outstanding Directing.
Whatever his original misgivings, Olivier did indeed star with Katharine Hepburn in the 1975 British television film, directed by George Cukor. The show took home several Emmy Awards, including Hepburn and Olivier for Outstanding Performance, and Cukor for Outstanding Directing.
Olivier, Laurence. (1907–1989). Interesting Letter to George Cukor about "Love Among the Ruins.". TLS signed “Larry,” one page, 5.5 x 7, personal letterhead, November 27, 1973. Letter to director George Cukor. In full: “I am a hell of a coward not to have got on to you before you left. Let me grovel before you about this, and now I have to grovel again about the opinion—which can be wrong as all get out but it does insist and therefore has to be sincere—I don’t honestly like the feeling of the film Love Among the Ruins, and what makes me feel so badly about not liking it is my opinion is an absolute polarization from yours and from Kate’s, whose opinions I respect more than almost anybody else’s I can think of. I am dreadfully sorry but try as I may I just can’t change my opinion or make my love and deep admiration for you both alter it to come into line with yours. I can’t imagine why this is and there must be something wrong with me. I hope it isn’t serious and I hope that it won’t make both or either of you feel differently about thinking of me for such a heavensent [sic] partnership at some other time. It was marvellous to see you last week and I can’t tell you how Joanie and I ate up your most generous and delicious words of praise for what you saw.”
Whatever his original misgivings, Olivier did indeed star with Katharine Hepburn in the 1975 British television film, directed by George Cukor. The show took home several Emmy Awards, including Hepburn and Olivier for Outstanding Performance, and Cukor for Outstanding Directing.
Whatever his original misgivings, Olivier did indeed star with Katharine Hepburn in the 1975 British television film, directed by George Cukor. The show took home several Emmy Awards, including Hepburn and Olivier for Outstanding Performance, and Cukor for Outstanding Directing.