TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX LETTERHEAD - Beverly Hills, CA - TYPEWRITTEN

                December 30, 1943

Laurel and Hardy Feature Productions
523 West Sixth Street
Los Angeles, California

Gentlemen:
    This letter, when accepted by you, will confirm our mutual understanding and agreement relative to the amendment of that certain lending agreement between us, dated May 29, 1941, as follows, but not otherwise:
    Whereas, we have heretofore by letter dated November 18, 1943, advised you of our desire that the services of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to be rendered in connection with the production of the first motion picture to be produced and created by us during the second optional period of said lending agreement between us, dated May 29, 1941, and whereas, it is our mutual desire to cancel said notice of starting date, it is, therefore, hereby mutually understood and agreed that said letter dated November 18, 1943, advising you that December 20, 1943, would be the date of the commencement of the rendition of the services by the first motion picture under the terms and conditions of said agreement between us, be and the same is hereby cancelled, and withdrawn with the same force and effect as if the said letter had never been sent to you.
    It is mutually understood and agreed, that the said Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy have neither rendered services, nor have you become entitled to compensation as a result of either our transmittal of your receipt of said notice of starting date hereinbefore mentioned.
    It is further mutually understood and agreed that the above mentioned second optional one (1) year period during which we may utilize the services of the said Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, in connection with the production of two motion pictures pursuant to the terms and provisions of the said agreement between us, shall and the same is hereby extended for a period of sixteen (16) weeks and six (6) days, so that said period during which we may so utilize the services of the said Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in connection with the production of two motion pictures will now expire on the 31st day of December, 1944.
    It is further mutually understood and agreed that for the purposes of determining the commencement date of the third optional one-year period described in subsection © of Article Third of said lending agreement, in the event the option therein granted is exercised, the above mentioned second optional one-year period shall be deemed to have commenced on the 1st day of January, 1944.
    All of the terms and conditions of the aforementioned lending agreement shall remain in full force and effect except as herein specifically modified.
    If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, will you idly cause this letter to be executed in quintuplicate under the word "Accepted" at the end hereof, and return (4) copies for our files.
                Yours very truly,
                TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION
                By Its Assistant Secretary

                ACCEPTED:
                LAUREL AND HARDY FEATURE PRODUCTIONS
                By
Stan Laurel Signature                 Its President
                OLIVER HARDY


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