Ida Lupino: “My fondest dream is that when the war is over, my husband, Captain Louis Hayward, now somewhere in the Pacific, and I may slip away to some quiet rendezvous for a year—perhaps, two—just by ourselves.  Ever since we were married we have looked forward to a leisurely honeymoon, but our picture careers never permitted it.  Now I’m determined we shall have it.  This separation has been cruel and we feel we are missing a lot of living.  There are many thoughts and hopes to share before we get caught again in the drive we call daily life.  Perhaps we shall compose music during this glorious ‘out of the world’ period.  With our new emotional experiences, we should be able to turn out something really worth while.

“When our men return they will need a little time to readjust back to themselves.  They can’t be expected to swing back to the old routine at once.  I’ve spent many hours planning Louis’s homecoming and it shall be as happy as possible.”

Dearest:

You have to forgive me for this long silence,   but as my cable, which was sent a couple of weeks ago, might have relieved you of any fear you might have had for my safety,I won’t go into the reason at any length,except to say that it has been an unavoidable silence, due to my travelling aroundon a special job——This letter may be held up,asGodonly knowswhen I’ll be near a censor who can do the necessary “looking over this effort”—-( Christ….what in Hell’s name is the matter with this bloddy machine?)………..I’m not usually this bad….maybe it’s because I have left this torturous machine alone for so long that it quite naturally hates me pounding on it now… In the olddays I could do my own censoring…but now the Powers that Be,insist on all officers below the rank of Major, having their mail looked at…Why they think that field officers and above are more to be trusted that we “humble folk” Jesus only knows…however that’s the Service for you……Heigh-Ho…

It is four days away from our anniversary, andI feel a trifle low being away from the States…I would have liked to have gone shopping for something nice for my “little one” but this too is an impossibility in this region.

It’s a wonderful idea for you to take six months away from the “grind!…and it shoulddo you a great deal of good—-particularly if you have learnd to RELAX, and consequently can add a few pounds to that fragile little frame of yours….I wonder how you’ll look when we shall see each other again?——Recent Studio pictures of you,don’t meant anything,and so I can’t really tell from these; I guess you are still a pretty thing…

I wonder what we’ll do when this whole dreary business is over?…I’m seriously thinking of leaving the States for a year or so——perhaps I’ll go to S. America,and try and figure out “a place in the world”….I certainly want to be of more use to people, than I was in Hollywood: I’ll need a year away from everything, to get aline on myself….. By the way, if you happen to hear in the Studios of that Gilded City..of a good 16 m:m Sound camera for sale, you might cable me the particulars and price..A Wall I6m:m Single System Sound job would do..or better still…a Scrudp-Maurer camera of the same type…these might run into a few thousand dollars..but I expect this…also if you hear of a good buy in the way of a boat…such as a 50ft yawl,ketch, or sloop…PLEASE let me know at once…Incidentally, you tell the “jerk”that wanted my Unit number that theres no such thing for a Marine officer..MY MAIL ADDRESS IS CORRECT, NOW, AND ALWAYS FOR ALL COMMUNICATIONS… vie the heading on this letter……Tell that silly Bastard..he’s crazy…..

A Great deal of love for you my little “poppett”

Two or three thing stand out in my mind, as important things for one’s morale….here they are….

(2)

‘The whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men: They are commemorated not only by columns and inscriptions in their own country, but in foreign lands; also by memorials graven not on stone, but on the hearts of men’

…………………………………………………………………..

‘The next time Frank Sinatra sings in the Hollywood Bowl, I hope they flush it’…..

………………………………………………………………….

and

’ Love is grand

But Nature’s tricky;

Watch out, girls,

‘Cause here comes Dickey. /

Give my fondest to all the lads, and lassies in that fair City…. I do hope things are not too tough for ‘em…

‘voir Baby Mine….

My fondest love

Louis ~

LOUIS HAYWARD, FORMER MOVIEITE, HEADED TARAWA CAMERAMEN

TARAWA, G.I., —After the furious battle for the former Jap Central Pacific island of Tarawa, Marine Capt. Louis Hayward (above), former movieite and husband of actress Ida Lupino, relaxes from his duties as head of a Marine photographic unit and lets someone else photograph him.

CREDIT LINE (ACME)

12/4/43

swsm:

Ida Lupino, one of my heroes.

As I child I fell in love with a film she directed, The Trouble With Angels.

Not only was she one of the first woman directors, but in WWII she served as a Lieutenant in the Women’s Ambulance and Defense Corps.

Here is the link to the episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents that she directed called “Arthur”: http://www.idalupino.com/hitchcock.html