Description: Here we have a special and very rare premiere program for the 1939 movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame starring Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara. On the cover is a signed original Ernest Bachrach silver gelatin photograph of Charles Laughton as the Hunchback. Signed and dated in pencil by Ernest Bachrach '39. This special premiere program could very well be from the 1st inaugural Cannes Film Festival held in 1939. The Hunchback of Notre Dame was the first and only film shown at the inaugural film festival before being canceled due to the outbreak of World War 2. Hollywood stars of the moment like Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Tyrone Power, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Mae West, Norma Shearer, Paul Muni, James Cagney, Spencer Tracy and George Raft arrived thanks to an Ocean Liner chartered by MGM (Metro-Goldwin-Mayer). A cardboard reproduction of the Cathedral of Notre Dame had been built on the beach. On August 31, the opening night gala took place with the private screening of the American film The Hunchback of Notre Dame starring Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara and directed by William Dieterle. The next day, on September 1, German troops invaded Poland. As a result, the festival was postponed for 10 days and it would be resumed if the circumstances allowed it. However, the situation only worsened and on September 3, France and the United Kingdom declared war against Germany, sparking the Second World War. The French government ordered a general mobilization and this prevented the festival from continuing so it was finally cancelled. If this program is not from the 1st Inaugural Cannes Film Festival in 1939. It would most likely be from the World Premiere at Radio City in New York, on December 29, 1939. Ernest Bachrach had one of the longest careers as a studio portrait photographer of the Golden Era. Bachrach was with RKO-Radio Pictures from it's founding until it's purchase by Desilu in 1958. While meeting the demands of a publicity department, Bachrach managed to impose a personal aesthetic on his work, a considerable feat in Hollywood. He was one of the most prominent Hollywood photographers of the period; today, his work is arguably the most collectible of his peers. While it is not exactly certain which event this program came from. It is signed and dated by Ernest Bachrach in 1939. The 1st Inaugural Cannes Film Festival was held on Aug 31, 1939. The premiere at Radio City, New York was held on December 29,1939. This would give creedence to it coming from one of these two premiere events as they were the only showings that were held in 1939. The political history between countries so deeply outlined in this program would lean toward it being from the 1st Cannes Film Festival held in August 1939. The French Cannes Film Festival was established out of controversy created by the Venice Mostra Film Festival held in Italy in prior years; and the existence of collusion between Italy and Germany in determining the awards. The program also fits in with the decor of the formal Cannes Film Festival Dinner and screening of the movie. I would very much lean toward it being from the Festival. This could very well be a good find as the festival would not resume again until 1945. Program is 8 x 10 and in very good condition.
Price: 250 USD
Location: Shelton, Washington
End Time: 2024-11-07T07:08:47.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Industry: Movies
Object Type: Program
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
