Kelly, Grace. Extraordinary autograph letter signed ("Gracie"), while shooting Mogambo....

Description

Kelly, Grace. Extraordinary autograph letter signed ("Gracie"), while shooting Mogambo. 5-pages (8 x 10.5 in.; 203 x 267 mm), on separate leaves of "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures 'Mogambo' Production Location New Stanley Hotel...Nairobi, Kenya Colony East Africa" air mail stationery, no date ("Sunday"), written during the filming of Mogambo to "Dear Prudy" - Prudence Wise, close friend of Kelly's who also served at times as roommate and private secretary. Usual folds with .25 x 3.5 in. clear mylar strip adhered diagonally above Kelly's signature, with tiny hole on last page. Grace Kelly writes a close friend while on location in Africa shooting Mogambo. "Clark & I went shooting the other day - shot game for the natives and a guinea hen - we ate for dinner - It was simply delicious...It is now 7:30 am waiting for Gable to have his bath and pick me up for dinner - he got rather high cocktailing with old Ava next door..." Kelly writes in full: Dear Prudy Ava [Gardner] just arrived in camp and with her came your letter I'm sorry I haven't written very much - but mother told me she was sending you that letter so I didn't want to send more of the same news The other letter I wrote - I sent to Florida - I hope your mother will forward it - Oh God! I just this very minute thought - How dumb can I be? I sent the other letter to Mallory St. - Anyway all I said in it was to tell John when you want to come back to the apt. after Christmas - This is the first day off we've had in a long time. It's about 4 o'clock and [Clark] Gable and I are sitting in front of my tent sipping warm beer - It's a disgrace how fat I'm getting - The food is so starchy and I am always so hungry - Haven't heard from Phillippe - but then of course I haven't written -Excuse the horrible writing but am leaning on my knees and the wind is blowing - Ava just came into my tent and she & Clark are running a scene they are going shoot tomorrow - so it's hard to concentrate. There really isn't too much news we've been working hard. It's hot as can be during the day - I miss New York so much this time of year - I imagine the stores are so beautiful - Please give my love to everybody and apologize to them all for my not writing - My baby giraffe - the one named after me - arrives in camp tomorrow she is so sweet - I'll send pictures as soon as I get them - Clark & I went shooting the other day - shot game for the natives and a guinea hen - we ate for dinner - It was simply delicious - Later - It is now 7:30 am waiting for Gable to have his bath and pick me up for dinner - he got rather high cocktailing with old Ava next door - about 6 o'clock we all went out in the wagon with Bunny Allen - a divine looking guy - who is the white-hunter in charge of the camp - We went to see the lion down the road - a lioness & her two grown sons - they were just beautiful - we were able to get quite close to them - They put out game every few days for them to feed - in order to tame them a bit - I took pictures with the movie camera - so I hope they turn out - but it was rather dark - Got a letter from Sherman today as well as old John Foreman - Was in the sun alot today and my poor nose is like a red light - Am sitting by a kerosene lamp as I write this being eaten by mosquitos. The hippos are starting their series of evening grunts & Gable should be along any minute so I will sign off - with love - Gracie - From the collection of William J. Bell.

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