The Powell & Pressburger Pages Dedicated to the work of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and all the other people, both actors and technicians who helped them make those wonderful films. A lot of the documents have been sent to me or have come from other web sites. The name of the web site is given where known. If I have unintentionally included an image or document that is copyrighted or that I shouldn't have done then please email me and I'll remove it. I make no money from this site, it's purely for the love of the films. [Any comments are by me (Steve Crook) and other members of the email list]

Submitted by Malcolm Pratt who reminds us it's quoted in some books & on the ToH laserdisk.

Dear Messrs. Powell and Pressburger,

Recently I had the belated pleasure of seeing your picture "Tales of Hoffman." (sic) Perhaps you will not mind my writing you a fan letter about it.

From my earliest theatre going days I have been a lover of Grand Opera. The physical drawbacks of the average operatic presentation have often bothered me - in fact it is hard for me to remember a production which did not make heavy demands on the imagination. The only satisfactory frame of mind to bring to the theatre was to say to oneself, "Well - you can't have everything."

Your production of "Tales of Hoffman" (still sic) has proven that you can have everything. For the first time in my life I was treated to Grand Opera where the beauty, power and scope of the music was equally matched by the visual presentation.

I thank you for outstanding courage and artistry in bringing to us Grand Opera as it existed until now, only in the minds of those who created it.

     Sincerely,
     Cecil B. DeMille