Otto Preminger négocie le contrat la comédienne Jean Seberg pour Bonjour Tristesse

Deux lettres d’Otto Preminger au père de la comédienne Jean Seberg, accompagnées d'un double dactylographié de réponse.

Jean Seberg fait ses débuts au cinéma dans le rôle-titre de Jeanne d'Arc dans Sainte Jeanne (1957) d’Otto Preminger, d'après la pièce de George Bernard Shaw ; elle a été choisie parmi 18 000 candidates dans le cadre d’un télécrochet ; mais les critiques sont sévères et le film est très mal reçu. Cependant, Preminger promet de lui donner une seconde chance dans son film suivant, Bonjour tristesse (1958), tourné sur la côte d'Azur en France d'après le roman éponyme de Françoise Sagan.

Il adresse ces deux lettres au père de Jean Seberg qui, à vingt ans, est encore mineure, au sujet de ses droits.

"Please forgive the delay in answering your letter, but I have been out of town until this morning. I was surprised and shocked to hear that Jean finds it difficult to get out along on the salary she is making. For most of the time, until now, Carlyle Productions paid all her expenses and bought all her clothes for appearances which we requested, like publicity trips, photographic sessions, openings, etc. This is actually not provided for in the contract, nor is it usual in the picture industry.

Carlyle Productions also, did not exercise its contractual right for a twelve weeks lay-off period during the first year of Jean's contract, but continued to pay her salary during the time her services were not required. According to industry practice, we would have the right to ask Jean to make her permanent residence either in Los Angeles or in New York. Jean chose New York as her residence. She is to live here on her salary and cannot expect additional expense monies, unless we request her to render services outside of New York.

I thought we have treated Jean particularly well and generously and that she had a very good opportunity to make substantial savings during the past year.

It was very nice to see you again. Warmest regards to you and Mrs Seberg". Mr Seberg transmet la lettre à Jean et écrit, au crayon, en marge : "Jean, this sounds reasonable to me. You may destroy this now. Daddy".

Le père de Jean Seberg répond et conteste point par point ses affirmations, et lui demandant un chèque de $1,500 (double dactylographié, 1 p. in-4, [5 mars 1958]).

Enfin Otto Preminger répond à son tour sur les exigencies de Jean et son père. "Apparently I did not succeed in making my position quite clear to you. The idea of Jean's employment contract is that she works for Carlyle Productions either here or in California for the salary she receives. Exploitation of a picture is part of her work. Whenever she leaves New York on our request we, naturally, pay her expenses. If, following your suggestion, we agreed to pay Jean daily expenses of $25, while she works for us in New York, that would simply mean raising her salary by $175 par week".