Description:

ARCHIVE OF FAMOUS LASKY PARAMOUNT FILM CORPORATION
Fine archive of material from the vaults of the Paramount Famous Lasky Film Corporation, consisting of contracts, inter-office communications, copyright certificates, notarized depositions, release forms, box office accounting sheets, shoot referendums (with pay scales to performers), etc., all related to the 1928 silent film titled Forgotten Faces, starring Clive Brook, William Powell and Mary Brian. Forgotten Faces, originally titled A Whiff of Heliotrope, was a highly-acclaimed film about a criminal with a conscience who would go to any lengths to give his daughter a better life. It would be legendary actor William Powell's last silent film effort before his successful adaptation to "talkies" and international fame. Some of the more interesting items in this vast archive include: Paramount Famous Lasky Films assignment of distribution contract with International Film Service, dated March 30, 1928, boldly signed by Studio mogul ADOLPH ZUKOR; six different "Consent to Assignment of Right to Make Motion-Picture Photoplays" contracts signed by acclaimed author and pioneer screenplay writer RICHARD WASHBURN CHILD, dated 1928 - 1931, ascertaining that he is "in fact the author of said work and as such, is able to negotiate in good faith with the film studio"; a grouping of approx. 20 Assistant Director Daily Reports, accounting for the amount of days in which it took to film Forgotten Faces, the amount of film footage shot, the pay scales for the various actors (Powell received a paltry $7.50 one day!) and the Main Title Billing Page which lists B. P. Schulberg (Bud Schulberg, director of the feted film On the Waterfront) as the Associate Producer and the then-unknown David O. Selznick as Film Editor-in-chief. Also included in this lot is perhaps the complete legal file pertaining to the production of Forgotten Faces, consisting of over 150 pp. of writs, copyright entitlement forms, litigation, collaborations, etc. providing great insight into the inner workings of the "closed" studio system which prevailed from the 1920's to the late 1940's. Last but not least is a very rare advertisement broadside, 24" x 12", in which Paramount Pictures advises movie theatres, whether equipped for sound or not, that they can both play Forgotten Faces with great results. A near-complete file on the creation of a silent film - important source material! Very good condition overall.

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January 21, 2010 10:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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