Under the Hammer

This June, Bonhams and TCM are pleased to present Mavericks ... Working Outside the Margins of Hollywood on 8 June in Los Angeles. This auction includes collections from the estates of actor Marlon Brando, producer Philip D’Antoni, directors Larry Cohen and Russ Meyer, and collector Stanley Simon. The auction offers a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind movie memorabilia including Universal Horror and Alfred Hitchcock photographic archives, the Library of Marlon Brando, the Golden Globe Award® for The French Connection (1971), the prop baby from It’s Alive (1974), an early playscript for Everybody Comes to Rick’s, which became Casablanca (1942), and original props from Russ Meyer's independent films.

Here, Helen Hall, Director of Entertainment Memorabilia, and Caren Roberts-Frenzel, Junior Specialist of Entertainment Memorabilia, select their favorite lots going under the hammer.

Lot 158

A Marlon Brando group of presentation and association copies

This lot features just over 300 books, all signed to Marlon Brando from friends, associates, and authors. They give a fascinating insight into the private life of the screen actor legend, his friendships, his interests, and the causes that interested him. One of my favorites is the autobiography of Russell Means, Where White Men Fear to Tread. Means was a prominent member of the American Indian Movement, and he and Brando became close friends after Brando became a vocal and active supporter of the movement for Native American rights. The book is inscribed by Means to Brando, “To Marlon - A humble man who has not taken the credit he deserves for what he has done for my people.”

— Helen Hall, Director of Entertainment Memorabilia

Lot 180

A first draft script for The French Connection

Philip D’Antoni was the producer of The French Connection, for which he won an Academy Award® and a Golden Globe.® Ad-man-turned-producer, D’Antoni was apparently responsible for introducing the idea of the now-infamous car chase scene to the film which was absent from the initial script. This first draft script bears copious annotations by D’Antoni regarding various scenes, the characters, and the script and gives a wonderful insight into his creative thought process and the genesis of the film.

— Helen Hall, Director of Entertainment Memorabilia

Lot 27

A King Kong large archive of photographs

Collectors of vintage film photographs are usually purists who desire every photograph from a particular film or subject, no matter how small the difference between each shot. Stanley Simon collected King Kong (1933) photographs for over 60 years, and as such, was able to amass rare original studio keybook stills and photos stamped by the photographer or studio long before these types of photos became collectors' items. The beauty of this incredible collection of Kong photos is the time and dedication given by Simon, making it of historical importance as well as one of the rarest collections in private hands.

— Caren Roberts-Frenzel, Junior Specialist of Entertainment Memorabilia

Lot 103

A costume continuity file of Kim Novak and Vera Miles for Vertigo

One of my favorite lots in this auction is a group of wardrobe notes and test photos for Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958). Most people are not aware that actress Vera Miles was slated for the dual roles that were eventually played by Kim Novak so memorably. After much pre-production wardrobe planning, costume creations, and wardrobe fittings, Miles became pregnant and was no longer able to play the role. It is fascinating to read the notes and see the photos which so meticulously detail how each costume is made, as well as how each was then remade to accommodate a completely new actress in the role. Rare wardrobe plot book photos which were used for continuity and extensive notes on accessories and fabrics are a testament to Hitchcock’s painstakingly detailed filmmaking practices.

— Caren Roberts-Frenzel, Junior Specialist of Entertainment Memorabilia

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