SOURCE MATERIAL

May I express my admiration, my undying devotion and my astonishment for a parenthetical reference in Kristine McKenna’s piece on Jeremy Brett (Film Clips, June 9): “He played Audrey Hepburn’s ardent suitor in George Cukor’s 1964 film adaptation of ‘My Fair Lady.’ ”

Gadzooks! How could this happen--an actual admission that a theatrical or literary work existed prior to being photographed. And in Los Angeles. Blasphemy!

Not long ago, I played charades with some young friends, and whenever I offered the category of “a book” or “a play”--”The Prince of Tides,” say, or “The Man Who Came to Dinner”--they were outraged when stumped; these existed only as movies. I wonder if I’d tried the Bible--no, they’d remember the John Huston film.

Thanks for remembering Brett. Nice man and a good actor.

CECIL SMITH

Palm Desert