CAGNEY JAMES: (1899-1986) American Actor, Academy Award winner. An interesting A.L.S., Jim, three pages, 8vo, Verney Farm, Stanfordville, New York, 25th November 1971, to a friend. Cagney sympathises with his correspondent over the loss of their mother and comments on his own weight and diet ('This is what happens to old acrobats when they stop burning up the calories…I used to be heavier than I look, now I look heavier than I am') and continues in a social manner, 'Had our first sleigh ride yesterday before the snow plows (sic) took over', also remarking 'Teaching the Kennedy kids had to be as demanding as teaching the current crop, despite the present permissiveness'. The actor also writes of former colleagues, 'Kanin has milked his friendship (?) with Tracy and Hepburn for all there has been in it. First a piece on Kate for “Life” or “Look” then a piece on Spence for another mag. Now the book on both. A friend of mine read part of it and said “That wasn't Tracy we know”. My friend doesn't know Kate so he couldn't comment on that phase'. VG

Garson Kanin (1912-1999) American Writer and Director whose book Tracy and Hepburn - An Intimate Memoir was published in 1971.

Spencer Tracy (1900-1967) and Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) American Actors and Academy Award winners, famous for their on screen partnership.