A Billy Wilder Group of Set Stills from His Films

A Billy Wilder Group of Set Stills from His Films Including The Major and the Minor, Five Graves to Cairo, The Lost Weekend, The Emperor Waltz, A Foreign Affair, and Ace in the Hole. Please note that there may be some duplication of photographs in each film folder. The Major and the Minor (Paramount Pictures, 1942). Starring Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland. Director Billy Wilder. Approximately 135 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., some with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso, one featuring Ginger Rogers. Five Graves to Cairo (Paramount Pictures, 1943). Starring Anne Baxter, Franchot Tone. Director Billy Wilder. Approximately 100 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., many with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, one date stamped (Jan. 1949) and some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso, one featuring Erich von Stroheim. Together with 25 smaller photos, 4 x 5 in. The Lost Weekend (Paramount Pictures, 1945). Starring Ray Milland. Director Billy Wilder. Approximately 65 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., some with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso, 2 featuring Ray Milland and one featuring director Billy Wilder. Together with approximately 25 smaller photos, 4 x 5 in. The Emperor Waltz (Paramount Pictures, 1948). Starring Bing Crosby, Joan Fontaine. Director Billy Wilder. Approximately 60 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., almost all with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some date stamped (July-Sept. 1946), some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso, two featuring Joan Fontaine and one featuring Bing Crosby. Together with 39 smaller photos, 4 x 5 in. A Foreign Affair (aka Foreign Affairs Operation Candy Bar) (Paramount Pictures, 1948). Starring Jean Arthur. Director Billy Wilder. Approximately 35 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., almost all with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso. Together with 30 smaller photos, 4 x 5 in. Ace in the Hole (Paramount Pictures, 1951). Starring Kirk Douglas. Director Billy Wilder. Approximately 230 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., one featuring Billy Wilder. Together with approximately 230 silver gelatin photographs, 4 x 5 in., many with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some date stamped (July-Sept. 1950), some with 'Interior Decorating' stamped to verso, 2 featuring director Billy Wilder and 2 featuring Kirk Douglas. Writer and director Billy Wilder's canon of films is arguably the most diverse of classic Hollywood's directors; from blistering accounts of alcoholism (The Lost Weekend [1945]) and the underbelly of stardom (Sunset Boulevard [1950]) to possibly the best film noir (Double Indemnity [1944]) and comedy (Some Like It Hot [1959]) ever made. One of his favorite leading men, Jack Lemmon, who appeared in 7 of his films, said of Wilder: 'He's given us all a lifetime of joy and insight into human behavior with a major body of work that I think is probably unequaled by any other filmmaker.' 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