WalterFilm Online Photo Museum

An archive of (94) vintage original 8 x 10” silver gelatin prints. Many of the scenes from this early gangster feature are represented from this large collection of images. There are shots in speak-easy’s and of gang gun street warfare. Up and coming star Louise Brooks appears in (10) of the stills.

With the outbreak of city gang wars between Gunner Gallagher (Fred Kohler) and Lefty Schroeder (Duke Martin), criminal lawyer John Phelan (Thomas Meighan), feared in the underworld, brings temporary peace, while district attorney Franklin Ames (Wyndham Standing) investigates. Nada Winthrop (Marietta Millner), daughter of a powerful capitalist, is sought by both men. Though Nada loves John, she disapproves of his criminal practice; and when he frees Gunner Gallagher on bail, she announces her engagement to Ames. When Ames discovers that her father is the secret brain of the underworld activities and Winthrop has him killed, John takes the district attorneyship to avenge his friend. Snuggles, (Louise Brooks) Gunner's girl, threatens to inform on Winthrop unless John releases Gunner, and he concedes; John is about to resign when Snuggles, rejected by her man, confesses.

The collection contains:
665- 1, 2-6, 9-15, 16, 17, 19, 25-31, 34-41, 43-45, 46, 46 (different shots), 47, 50-52, 53, 53 (different shots), 54-58, 62-64, 66-71, 73, 74, 77-81, 84-89, 91, 92, 94-97, 99, 100-113, 115-119

94 files, last one added on Dec 20, 2009

Paramount Production 635

The first full feature to be directed by the legendary woman director Dorothy Arzner. Arzner was the only female Hollywood film director to gain prominence during Hollywood film making's golden age of the 1920's, 30's and 40's. This film starred Esther Ralston. Her 1926 film of the same name dubbed this incredible beauty "The American Venus." She had come from a vaudeville family and grown up in the theatre and film. To capitalize on her beauty and wholesomeness, this vehicle was created in which she plays the dual role of Lola Dauvry and Celeste de Givray. The obvious highlight was a stunningly staged fashion show. There is not a designer credit for the film, but the clothing (and sets) was obviously influenced by art deco, and the work of Erte. Incredible in this collection are those images of the fashion show and the portraits of the gowns, with great detail on the versos. Also incredible is the fact that this is the most complete archive of photos on this title, Arzner's first feature, and a lost film.

This set of stills came from the Ladies Wardrobe department, under the direction of Frank Richardson. Richardson worked at Paramount for many years and was given screen credit in 1947 as Wardrobe Supervisor for his work on the Cecil B. DeMille epic UNCONQUERED.

Some of the costume portrait stills are stamped on verso by photographer Eugene Robert Richee. The scene stills are not stamped on verso. Many of the costume portraits include details on the garment, including the materials used, colors, furs and feathers used and the final cost of the gown. Some are stamped "LASKY COMPANY" on the verso. Jesse L. Lasky produced this film along with B. P. Shulberg and Adolph Zukor.

A fantastic collection depicting many of the ideas in fashion for 1927.

Stills: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 67, 68, 71, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 96, 98,99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 145, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 167, 168, 171, 172, 173, 174, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186 and (39) Un-Numbered wardrobe portraits. (196 Total)

197 files, last one added on Dec 21, 2009

An archive of 103 vintage original silver gelatin prints. A very substantial (and likely the largest extant collection) of images for this silent version of the Sidney Howard play THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WANTED (remade in 1940 with Carole Lombard and Charles Laughton).

The story is similar to that of Cyrano de Bergerac, with Tony (Jean Hersholt) the successful Italian immigrant rancher who asks his friend to court for him a beautiful waitress Amy (Pola Negri), who he feels he does not have a chance with.

This film gave the well know Negri a chance to break her usual character and play the good girl and her performance was excellent.

The stills in this collection are:

664-2, 4-6, 8, 9, 11, 13-26, 28-32, 35-45, 47-62, 64-68, 69-75, 77, 79, 80-87, 89-93, 95, 96, 98, 101- 107, 109, 110, 113, 115-119, 121-124, 155

VERY FINE CONDITION

103 files, last one added on Dec 20, 2009

Spectacular archive of 118 vintage original 8 x 10” silver gelatin prints. This collection originated in the Paramount wardrobe department and is likely the only extant archive of nearly all the scene production stills taken for this lost feature starring the incredible Pola Negri. Negri is present in at least three quarters of the images. With her in many of the stills are Nils Asther (as Raoul), and other actors Mary McAllister, Richard Tucker, Philp Strange and Paul Lukas. Rowland V. Lee was writer and director.

Born into a family of poor peasants, Rachel, a street entertainer in 1850’s era Paris becomes the leading actress in the Comédie Française through the patronage of three influential men: Baron Hartman, the wealthiest man in France; Count Vareski, a relative of Napoleon; and Dr. Durande, the leading newspaper publisher in Europe. All three men are in love with her, but she throws them over when she falls in love with Raoul Duval, who is about to be appointed ambassador to Russia. Durand threatens to publish Rachel's love letters to Raoul, but to protect Raoul's reputation Rachel pretends that she has only been toying with his emotions. Raoul goes to Russia, and Rachel, exhausted by life and love, dies peacefully. 

This setting and melodramatics gave Negri chance for ample changes in costume. The film was epically made with stunning sets, including a recreation of the Comedie Francaise.

Most of the stills have “Ladies wardrobe Frank Richardson” typed on verso. Many also feature the “Paramount Pictures and photograph by Gene Robert Richee” stamp on verso.

An excellent collection from a lost film featuring a legendary silent screen star. This rare set of stills is likely the largest extant collection of images for this film and is all that is left of it.

The run of stills present are:
670- 4, 7, 8, 11, 12-16, 19, 20, 23-26, 28, 29, 31-33, 35-37, 39-46, 48, 51, 52, 52 (mis-numbered different shot), 54-57, 61, 64, 66, 67, 69-71, 82-85, 87, 89, 91, 92, 94, 96, 97, 99, 100-107, 109, 112, 114-116, 118-120, 122-124, 128-132, 133 (two prints), 135-138, 141, 144, 145, 147, 148, 150, 151, 155, 158, 159, 162, 166, 168, 171-173, 175-178, 180, 181, 186, 187, 192-197

OVERALL FINE CONDITION

117 files, last one added on Dec 20, 2009

Superb archive of 144 vintage original 8 x 10” silver gelatin prints. This is likely the most complete collection of images for this Dorothy Arzner directed feature with an Academy Award nominated performance by Ruth Chatterton.

This was the story of an impoverished couple at the height of the depression, the husband a wife beater. They have a child and the husband sells the baby to a wealthy family unbeknownst to his wife. She works her way up the show business ladder, in clubs and vaudeville and becomes a world famous opera singer. She then searches for her son.

Scene stills depicting the entire story are included. There are also superb portraits of stars Ruth Chatterton, Frederic March, Phillippe De Lacy and others, photographed and stamped by Gene Robert Richee and Otto Dyar. Ruth Chatterton appears in many superb gowns from the period and many of stories violent pre-code images are featured.

This run of stills contains:
784- 2-13, 15-20, (there are two prints on 19), 23, 25, 28-39, 42, 43, 45, 46, 49-57, 60-63, 65-83, 85, 87, 82 (mis-numbered), 89, (there are 6 stills which appear to be numbers in the 90 series for which the numbers cannot be read on the still), 95, 96, 98-100, 102, 103, 105-116, 118, 119, 119 (different), 120-131, 133, 134, 136, 137, 138, 140, 141, 144-152, 156, 158, 159, 161-167, 169, 171-173, 175

The stills are in over-all VERY FINE condition.

143 files, last one added on Dec 20, 2009