Mickey Knox, February 17, 1964: Difference between revisions

Dear Mickey,<ref>{{NM}}’s letter to [[w:Mike Knox|Mike Knox]]. Nothing came of the idea of having [[w:Orson Welles|Orson Welles]] (1915-84) play Henderson and [[w:Sonny Liston|Sonny Liston]] play Dahfu in a film version of Saul Bellow’s ''Henderson the Rain King'' (1959). Knox attempted unsuccessfully to convince [[w:Orson Welles|Orson Welles]] to buy the rights.</ref>

This is the worst day in the world to write you a letter because I’m in a foul mood and have forty other letters to get through before the day is done. But if I don’t write you today another month will go by, because what with the serial taking up almost all the time, I try to take care of all the mail once a month. Anyway, there’s very little in the form of news. I’m simply working my ass off, and going out very little, seeing very few people, and keeping my nose over the top of a pencil. In return, things have been quiet and nice here. Bev’s pregnancy has been going along pleasantly and my life has been for me remarkably stable. Sometimes a week goes by before I get a chance to do some serious drinking. So that’s it on the news.

The biggest excitement in New York this year culturally has been “Dr. Strangelove” and the arrival of the [[w:Beatles|Beatles]], who, surprise, sounded kind of nice when I saw them on television. And “Dr. Strangelove” you’ve got to see. It’s the only great movie I know which is great not because it’s great as a movie but because it’s sociologically great that the thing was made.

P.S. I think ''Henderson the Rain King'' could make a great movie, so here’s wishing you luck on that. I’m sure you’ve thought of this, but it occurs to me that [Orson] Welles might be interested in playing Henderson; and it might be interesting to try to get Sonny Liston to play ''Dahfu''. If you can get a picture started, I’ll go and talk to Liston because I’m on fairly good terms with his manager, [[w:Jack Nilon|Jack Nilon]].