A Claudette Colbert Group of Set Stills from Her Films

A Claudette Colbert Group of Set Stills from Her Films Including The Man from Yesterday, The Phantom President, Three Cornered Moon, Torch Singer, Tonight is Ours, I Met Him in Paris, Midnight, Arise, My Love, and Skylark. Please note that there may be some duplication of photographs in each film folder. The Man from Yesterday (aka Woman of Flame) (Paramount Pictures, 1932). Starring Claudette Colbert. Director Berthold Viertel. Approximately 55 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., many with photographer 'A.E. Freudeman' stamped to verso. The Phantom President (Paramount Pictures, 1932). Starring Claudette Colbert. Director Norman Taurog. Approximately 60 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., many with photographer 'A.E. Freudeman' stamped to verso. Three Cornered Moon (Paramount Pictures, 1933). Starring Claudette Colbert. Director Elliott Nugent. Approximately 40 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., some with photographer 'A.E. Freudeman' stamped to verso. Torch Singer (Paramount Pictures, 1933). Starring Claudette Colbert. Directors Alexander Hall and George Somnes. Approximately 85 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., many with photographer 'A.E. Freudeman' stamped to verso. Tonight is Ours (aka The Queen is in the Parlor) (Paramount Pictures, 1933). Starring Claudette Colbert, Fredric March. Director Stuart Walker. Approximately 35 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., many with photographer 'A.E. Freudeman' stamped to verso. I Met Him in Paris (aka She Met Him in Paris) (Paramount Pictures, 1937). Starring Claudette Colbert. Director Wesley Ruggles. Approximately 35 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., almost all with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, many with 'Set Dressing (36)' stamped to verso. Midnight (Paramount Pictures, 1939). Starring Claudette Colbert. Director Mitchell Leisen. Approximately 75 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., many with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some with 'Set Dressing (36)' stamped to verso. Arise, My Love (Paramount Pictures, 1940). Starring Claudette Colbert, Ray Milland. Director Mitchell Leisen. Approximately 120 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., most with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, many with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso. Skylark (Paramount Pictures, 1941). Starring Claudette Colbert, Ray Milland. Director Mark Sandrich. Approximately 140 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., many with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, many with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso, one featuring Claudette Colbert. Actress Claudette Colbert's repertoire ran the gamut from sophisticate to down-on-her luck shopgirl, and her range as an actress was just as impressive. During her reign at Paramount Pictures, she was sought after by directors such as Cecil B. deMille, Preston Sturges, and Mitchell Leisen, and she had the pick of her leading men from Ray Milland to Gary Cooper to Fred MacMurray (with whom she formed a film partnership yielding seven films). Yes, she only wanted to be photographed from one side of her face, but what a face it was! Colbert offered audiences an All-American heroine whose persona was the antithesis of Paramount's other leading lady, Marlene Dietrich, but there was room for both in the hearts of American filmgoers. By the end of the 1930s, Colbert was one of the few contracted players from the decade still at Paramount, but she had made the most of her years in residence there and forged an outstanding canon of memorable films. 8 x 10 in. or smaller Footnotes: The collection of Paramount Pictures set stills that is being offered in this auction is an extraordinary historical archive from the late 1920s to the early 1970s. Sets stills were taken for continuity purposes and to document the arrangements of the sets and props, etc, during the making of a film. Not only does this collection photographically document the changes in filmmaking through the decades, it details the changing styles of architecture, interior design (the Art Deco sets from the 1930s are astonishingly beautiful), fashion, cars, and more. In the cases of location shooting, one can see the evolution of various southern California towns and landmarks, from the tony nightspots of Hollywood to the open spaces of Brentwood to the artistry of the Paramount Ranch. The photos give a unique behind-the-scenes look at the stars during filming; some vamp for the camera while others avoid it, some study their scripts or confer with the director, and some look incredibly bored. Equally interesting is the appearance of the stars' lookalike stand-ins and famous extras such as Bess Flowers. The unsung heroes of filmmaking, the crews, are seen as well, holding the booms, adjusting the lights, holding the clapper boards, and waiting, waiting, waiting. And speaking of unsung heroes, the talent, imagination, style, and creativity of the art directors and set decorators for these films cannot be overstated. Most of the fashion designers of the 1930s and '40s, such as Edith Head, are recognized for their contributions, as well they should be; however, the set decorators and art directors are grossly overlooked. Masters of their profession such as Hans Dreier, Robert Usher, William Flannery, Hal Pereira, Ernst Fegte, Sam Comer, Walter H. Tyler, A. Earl Hedrick, and so many others, deserve their place in the sun, and hopefully, the future owners of these historic photographs will appreciate their artistry. Lot to be sold without reserve. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing