Cat. #001640232: MERYN LEROY

Bold vintage inscribed blue ballpoint pen signature on a 3x5-inch tan card, dating to the 1950s. Browned tape remnants to all four corners; otherwise, in good condition for its age. Former actor and comedy writer Mervyn LeRoy embarked upon a prolific directing career in 1927, producing a string of grittily realistic films, reflecting the hardships of Depression-era America, while at Warner Brothers in the 1930s. His 1930 gangster film Little Caesar launched Edward G. Robinson into stardom and inaugurated the genre with which Warners would make its name. In 1938, LeRoy switched to M.G.M. and turned his hand to glossier and, for the most part, less satisfactory fare. His other achievements include producing The Wizard of Oz (1939) and taking over the direction of Mister Roberts (1955) from an ailing John Ford.