Scarce and one-of-kind handwritten, boldly signed two-page 1961 letter in blue fountain pen on hotel stationery, discussing his favorite film and stage roles. In good condition, with two mailing folds. Note that the image of the star shown here alongside the scan of the autographed portrait is not included. Perhaps surprisingly, preeminent serial and B-movie villain Eduardo Ciannelli began his career as an opera and musical comedy baritone of some note in his native Italy. It was his resemblance to racketeer Lucky Luciano which landed him the role of the eloquent, but deadly gangster Trock Estrella in Maxwell Anderson's Broadway hit "Winterset" (1935), after which he was whisked off to Hollywood to play ruthless psychopaths on a permanent basis. After reprising his role in the film version of Winterset (1936), Ciannelli went on to play the vile Johnny Vanning in Bette Davis' Marked Women (1937), Franz Jorg in The Girl from Scotland Yard (1937), the evil Indian cult leader in Gunga Din (1939), Mr. Krug in Foreign Correspondent (1940), the High Priest in the horror gem The Mummy's Hand (1940), the titular madman in the Republic serial Mysterious Dr. Satan (1945), Marco Minelli in Dillinger (1945), Dr. Van Glock in The Creeper (1948), and Mahri in The Monster from Green Hell (1957). In 1940, he did an about-face as the lovable, effusive Italian speakeasy owner in Kitty Foyle, and earned his only Oscar nod in the process.

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