A Group of Set Stills from Paramount Pictures 1920s Films

A Group of Set Stills from Paramount Pictures 1920s Films Including The Mighty, Woman Trap, The Wolf of Wall Street, Darkened Rooms, Illusion, Why Bring That Up?, Fashions in Love, The Dance of Life, Sweetie, The Man I Love, A Dangerous Woman, Show Boat, The Love Doctor, Innocents of Paris, The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu, Stairs of Sand, Close Harmony, and The Wheel of Life. Together with a group of unsorted set stills from the 1920s or early 1930s. Please note that there may be some duplication of photographs in each film folder. The Mighty (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Starring George Bancroft. Director John Cromwell. Drama. Approximately 25 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., some with photographer 'A.E. Freudeman' stamped to verso. Woman Trap (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Starring Evelyn Brent, Chester Morris. Director William Wellman. Crime. Approximately 20 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., some with descriptions handwritten in ink to verso, one featuring Chester Morris. The Wolf of Wall Street (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Starring Nancy Carroll. Director Rowland V. Lee. Drama. Approximately 25 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in. Darkened Rooms (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Starring Evelyn Brent, Neil Hamilton. Director Louis J. Gasnier. Mystery. Approximately 25 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., some with photographer 'A.E. Freudeman' stamped to verso. Illusion (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Starring Buddy Rogers, Kay Francis. Director Lothar Mendes. Drama. Approximately 50 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., some with photographer 'A.E. Freudeman' stamped to verso. Why Bring That Up? (aka The Early Bird) (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Director George Abbott. Approximately 40 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in. Fashions in Love (aka The Concert) (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Starring Adolphe Menjou. Director Victor Schertzinger. Comedy. Approximately 20 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in. The Dance of Life (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Directors John Cromwell and A. Edward Sutherland. Approximately 25 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in. Sweetie (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Director Frank Tuttle. Approximately 35 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., some with photographer 'A.E. Freudeman' stamped to verso. The Man I Love (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Director William Wellman. Approximately 15 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in. A Dangerous Woman (aka Women Who Needed Killing) (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Director Rowland V. Lee. Approximately 25 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in. Show Boat (aka Magnolia) (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Directors Harry A. Pollard and Arch Heath. Approximately 10 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in. The Love Doctor (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Director Melville W. Brown. Approximately 15 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., some with photographer 'A.E. Freudeman' stamped to verso. Innocents of Paris (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Starring Maurice Chevalier. Director Richard Wallace. Approximately 25 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in. The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Starring Warner Oland, Jean Arthur. Director Rowland V. Lee. Approximately 25 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in. Stairs of Sand (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Starring Jean Arthur, Wallace Beery. Director Otto Brower. Approximately 10 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in. Close Harmony (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Starring Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Jack Oakie. Directors John Cromwell and A. Edward Sutherland. Comedy/Musical. Approximately 10 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in. The Wheel of Life (Paramount Pictures, 1929). Starring Richard Dix. Director Victor Shertzinger. Drama. Approximately 15 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in. 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